TAStm32

Please see the "Projects" section for an overview of the current status of this project!

Please see the "Wiki" section for the technical details of the serial communication protocol!

Overview

This project aims to create an easy-to-use, multi-system TAS replay device to be used on actual consoles. The name of this project comes from the fact that it is powered by a STM32F4 microcontroller.

Installation

Install the latest Python 3 release

Log out/log in to refresh the PATH variable

py -3 -m pip install pyserial
py -3 -m pip install psutil

clone this repo

Linux installation

Install Atollic TrueStudio (not STM32CubeIDE).
In the project properties, under C/C++ Build > Settings > Build Steps > Post-build steps, delete the ".exe" from arm-atollic-eabi-objcopy.exe. Then switch to the other configuration at the top (Debug/Release) and do the same there. Click Apply / OK.
Right-click on the project > Build Configurations > Set Active > 2 Release.
Open Src/usbd_desc.c and change USBD_MANUFACTURER_STRING to something unique (e.g. "Ownasaurus & your_name"); this is so you can be sure that your modified firmware is running on the TAStm32.
Project > Build Project and check that the console shows no errors. The last line before "build finished" should be "arm-atollic-eabi-objcopy -O ihex TAStm32.elf TAStm32.hex".
sudo apt install dfu-util (not STM32CubeProgrammer)
Set your board into DFU mode (switch on) and plug it in.
cd Release/
dfu-util -a 0 -s 0x08000000:leave -D TAStm32.binary (omit ":leave" if you are using the hardware switch to select DFU mode)
Unplug the board, turn off the switch, plug it in again. ls /dev should show /dev/ttyACM0.
Optional: sudo apt install usbutils; (then run) usb-devices. Among all the devices you should see "TAStm32 Virtual ComPort" with your custom manufacturer string.
sudo usermod -a -G dialout your_username; then log out of ALL shells/sessions (if you're not a power user, just reboot).
Set up your Python environment configuration system of choice (I use pyenv) to use a reasonably recent version of python3 in the TAStm32 directory.
pip install pyserial psutil

Usage

Dumped TAS movies are available in the TASBot projects repo

Scripts to dump your own TASes

Once you've prepared a movie dump, use it with the TAStm32. Here is one example example is here:

py -3 tastm32.py --console snes --players 1,5 --dpcm --clock 14 --transition 2123 A --blank 1 smb3_agdq.r16m

Special Thanks

TheMas3212 - The main contributor to this project. Aided with all things python, designing the serial communication protocol, helping with PCB design, and debugging throughout the whole process.

CraftedCart - Designed the awesome-looking 3D case

total (@tewtal) - Helped with NES/SNES protocol and debugging. Provided his code as a reference

booto (@booto) - Helped fix N64/GC protocols, serial-over-USB, and debugging

DwangoAC (@dwangoac) - warmly accepting me into the TASBot community

micro500 (@micro500) - spent a lot of time teaching me how console replay devices work at a low level

true - for teaching me hardware concepts, helping me choose the perfect MCU for the job, and explaining a lot of low-level things to me

Tien Majerle (@MaJerle) - the owner of https://stm32f4-discovery.net/ helped me with the function which jumps to the DFU bootloader code

Ilari - for being an extraordinary wealth of knowledge on most topics

Serisium (@serisium) - helped with debugging and PCB design

rcombs (@rcombs) - helped with optimizing the N64 protocol

Sauraen (@sauraen) - N64 four-player support and Linux notes

If I accidentally forgot to credit you, please let me know so I can fix it!

Ownasaurus

iMonZ/TAStm32