Ability to back up saves from Controller Pak onto SD card

[rehan-mohammad]

Description

Hi, I am wondering if there is the possibility for the cartridge to interface with the controller pak in order to copy the contents of the memory card onto the SD card, and vice-versa. I have seen that the EverDrive has this functionality. Would be useful to avoid needing multiple controller paks.

How to solve the problem

I think this could be solved by having a menu with an option that essentially backs up the entire content of the Controller pak to a file, as well as an option to transfer the same file back. That is if this functionality is technically possible.

Describe alternatives you've considered

Main point of reference is the Everdrive implementation:

Additional context

No response

[networkfusion]

For this to be performed, we are waiting on libdragon to fix some funtimental issues with CPak support (for instance DragonMinded/libdragon#326 and DragonMinded/libdragon#105)

Although the ED64 OS supports it, it suffers from the same, if not worse issues.

In addition, it would be better if only the pages for a game were backed up and restored, rather than the whole pak.

[lexrj]

Having a mechanism to back up an old card entirely would be really appreciated for folks who have old and aging cards that they want to save or move to something like a foreverpak. Being able to split it is of course great, but there is definitely a strong case for grabbing the whole card like everdrive 64 x7 does.

[networkfusion]

For note: keep an eye on https://github.com/bryc/CPak-Lib-Sim

[wickjames086]

I understand that the upcoming CPak backup feature will allow for multiple CPak backups using a single physical CPak. However, I’d like to request an "auto backup" feature similar to the EverDrive 64. This would automate the process, creating and restoring CPak backups when switching games.

For users with large game libraries loaded onto the flashcard, manually managing CPak backups could become cumbersome. An automated solution would greatly enhance the user experience by streamlining this process.

I recognize that the SC64's primary focus is on homebrew development and addressing the shortcomings of the EverDrive 64 in that area. Even so, features like "auto backup" for CPak data could significantly improve the experience for a broader user base, including N64 fans who use the flashcard for extensive game libraries.

The convenience of automating this process would benefit users with large collections, reducing manual effort and making the SC64 a more versatile tool for all N64 enthusiasts.

Thank you for considering this addition.