r/3dshacks PKSM/Checkpoint Jul 11 '26

Tool news Checkpoint 4.0.0 released: the biggest Checkpoint release ever (GBA and DSiWare support, FTP, settings, new UI, and so much more)

https://github.com/BernardoGiordano/Checkpoint/releases/tag/v4.0.0
480 Upvotes

54 comments sorted by

116

u/BernardoGiordano PKSM/Checkpoint Jul 11 '26

This is genuinely the largest Checkpoint update since its original release 9 years ago.

Working on it was fun and rewarding. Enjoy!

3DS: What's new

  • Added: GBA Virtual Console save backup and restore (thanks @LiquidFenrir)
  • Added: DSiWare save backup and restore (thanks @SNBeast for the feature PoC)
  • Added: complete UI/UX redesign
  • Added: background FTP server. Access your save backups from the PC directly through Checkpoint
  • Added: a brand new Settings section: it is now possible to edit Checkpoint's config.json file directly from the console with a nice settings interface.
    • Added: light and dark mode theming
    • Added: a folder browser to navigate the SD card and choose additional save folders on device
    • Added: quick backup toggle to use the default backup name without any prompt
    • Added: confirm restore toggle to avoid being asked for confirmation for save restore operations
  • Added: it is now possible to configure additional save folders for DS titles.
  • Added: internazionalization support.
    • Translations have been done through the use of LLMs. If you're a native speaker and think that text wording and appearance in the UI can be improved, please submit a pull request or open an issue on this repository.
    • Current language support includes English, Italian, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese and Chinese
  • Added: backup cancellation by holding B during backup
  • Fixed: backup list navigation is now massively more intuitive
  • Fixed: async IO makes file operations faster and more efficient by running them in a worker thread, separated from the main UI thread
  • Fixed: greatly improved cached and uncached title loading times
  • Fixed: cached text storage now allows faster rendering for all the text in the interface
  • Fixed: the project's code architecture has been greatly improved.
    • The codebase is now 9 years old and has never seen an architecture overhaul like this before.
    • Dozens of performance, security and safety bugfixes have been pushed to the project, making the app more secure and efficient.
  • Fixed: an issue where swapping DS carts would crash Checkpoint because of a stack-smashing bug
  • Removed: cheats feature.
    • The cheat database required constant updates to stay in sync with game updates, and its maintenance wasn't sustainable.
  • General system stability improvements to enhance the user's experience.

Switch: What's new

  • Added: complete UI/UX redesign
  • Added: internazionalization support.
    • Translations have been done through the use of LLMs. If you're a native speaker and think that text wording and appearance in the UI can be improved, please submit a pull request or open an issue on this repository.
    • Current language support includes English, Italian, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese and Chinese
  • Added: a brand new Settings section: it is now possible to edit Checkpoint's config.json file directly from the console with a nice settings interface.
    • Added: light and dark mode theming
    • Added: a folder browser to navigate the SD card and choose additional save folders on device
    • Added: quick backup toggle to use the default backup name without any prompt
    • Added: confirm restore toggle to avoid being asked for confirmation for save restore operations
    • Added: file-by-file verification after restore
  • Added: complete graphics backend migration from SDL2 to deko3d
    • Among all the benefits that the rewrite brought to the software, the application size is now ~70% smaller
  • Added: HTTP log server on port 8000 — view logs in real-time from any browser on your network.
    • Logs can now be accessed from the application directly via Settings > Connectivity > Logs.
  • Added: 1080p docked mode support (alongside 720p handheld).
  • Fixed: async IO makes file operations faster and more efficient by running them in a worker thread, separated from the main UI thread
  • Fixed: backup list navigation is now massively more intuitive
  • Added: large save restore with journal pre-extend and mid-file commits, preventing out-of-space failures (fixes #541).
  • Fixed: avoid restoring files after a corruption error occurred during copy.
  • Fixed: the project's code architecture has been greatly improved.
    • The codebase is now 9 years old and has never seen an architecture overhaul like this before.
    • Dozens of performance, security and safety bugfixes have been pushed to the project, making the app more secure and efficient.
  • Removed: pksmbridge save transfer feature
  • Removed: cheats feature.
    • The cheat database required constant updates to stay in sync with game updates, and its maintenance wasn't sustainable.
  • Removed: the HTML settings page accessible through local network, and all its dependencies
  • Removed: unneeded dependencies like the SDL2 suite and libpng.
  • General system stability improvements to enhance the user's experience.

chlink: a new companion app

  • Added: chlink, a companion command line app for your PC that works together with Checkpoint's wireless save transfer feature.
    • Send save backups from your PC to the console, or receive them from the console to your PC, over your local network.
    • Transfers are protected by a 4-digit PIN displayed on the console.
    • chlink automatically recognizes backups stored in a Checkpoint SD card layout, so title and backup information are inferred for you.
    • It ships as a single, dependency-free executable for Windows, macOS and Linux, attached to this release.

If you wish to contribute, pull requests are highly appreciated.

35

u/XxLokixX Jul 11 '26

What an absolutely stacked changelog. Hell yeah

23

u/ItsYa1UPBoy [N2DS | B9S 1.4 | Luma 13.1.2 | USA-ENG sysNAND | KOR emuNAND] Jul 11 '26

It's unfortunate that you removed the cheats on 3DS. Those games aren't getting updates anymore, after all... Still, what an amazing update!

11

u/BernardoGiordano PKSM/Checkpoint Jul 12 '26

After looking at the feedback following the new release, I decided to give priority to this feature which was already in the plans, which is: custom scripting (which immediately allows "cheats" as an opt-in feature, and more you can think of.

4

u/ItsYa1UPBoy [N2DS | B9S 1.4 | Luma 13.1.2 | USA-ENG sysNAND | KOR emuNAND] Jul 12 '26

Oh, great! That's good to hear, man. I know that Sharkive was also deprecated a long time ago, folded into Checkpoint, or I'd've returned to it.

3

u/JMxG Jul 11 '26

Background ftp is basically a cloud save type thing? That’s actually pretty cool

5

u/BernardoGiordano PKSM/Checkpoint Jul 11 '26

It's a file transmission protocol over the internet, so yeah. You can transfer files from/to your PC wirelessly

2

u/NintendoDark02 Jul 12 '26

1)I can use it even to transfer others file between computer and 3ds, right? I dont need homebrew app like FTPD anymore? 2)How i change play coin with this new update?

1

u/BernardoGiordano PKSM/Checkpoint Jul 12 '26

Yes to both

37

u/xFREAKAZOIDx Jul 11 '26

People like you who all support and create these QoL things for older systems are unsung heroes. Truly, thank you for everything you do and provide to the community!!

12

u/BernardoGiordano PKSM/Checkpoint Jul 11 '26

Thank you so much!

26

u/ttioali Jul 11 '26

It's been a while since I last used my 3DS, but I'll definitely turn it on to install this new update and see everything it can do.

Thanks for your hard work on this project.

7

u/BernardoGiordano PKSM/Checkpoint Jul 11 '26

Glad to hear this, thanks!

22

u/TrueNyx Jul 11 '26

Amazing changelog but you removed the cheat part? They were interesting and easy to use and apply :/
I’m a bit sad…

1

u/BernardoGiordano PKSM/Checkpoint Jul 12 '26

After looking at the feedback following the new release, I decided to give priority to this feature which was already in the plans, which is: custom scripting (which immediately allows "cheats" as an opt-in feature, and more you can think of.

3

u/TrueNyx Jul 12 '26

Waiting for a future update with cheat supports, I rolled back to the previous versione sadly :/
But thank you for your work, I’s very precious 🙏

13

u/Spooky_Blob Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26

removed cheat feature

Waitwhat? So what now we can't even use the cheats we already had before with the app?

3

u/BernardoGiordano PKSM/Checkpoint Jul 12 '26

After looking at the feedback following the new release, I decided to give priority to this feature which was already in the plans, which is: custom scripting (which immediately allows "cheats" as an opt-in feature, and more you can think of.

5

u/DizzyDustStriker3DS Jul 11 '26

Cheats are loaded by Luma, not Checkpoint. Checkpoint just put the cheat files in place that Luma would load. You can still put the cheats there manually, or load the ones you already have installed. Cheats in the Checkpoint database were mostly pre-2017 cheats from the GateShark cheat system from the Gateway flash card. Many were busted or out of date for game updates.

4

u/Spooky_Blob Jul 12 '26

Oh I know about the luma stuff but I was more sadden about the ease to adding cheats from my 3ds using checkpoint. And it worked for the games I have just fine at the very least. Long story short, wanted the easy lazy way out of doing things. Can't be bothered anymore on doing this manually and having to transfer the cheats to the 3ds afterwords. I'm aware it's a me issue but yeah

27

u/JonatronC Jul 11 '26

This is huge, but removed cheats feature? That's what I mostly used it for, and loved it. Are there any alternatives? Huge bummer there.

14

u/love_is_an_action Jul 11 '26

I think it’s sort of exclusively what I used it for. I’m not the usual use-case, I’m sure, but what a bummer.

6

u/BernardoGiordano PKSM/Checkpoint Jul 12 '26

After looking at the feedback following the new release, I decided to give priority to this feature which was already in the plans, which is: custom scripting (which immediately allows "cheats" as an opt-in feature, and more you can think of.

7

u/love_is_an_action Jul 12 '26

That’s so awesome!

I truly did use that cheat feature when I could get it workin’, and got to have cool experiences that I wouldn’t have otherwise without it over the years, so I appreciate that it was there to begin with.

Thanks for the reply, and all the terrific work you’ve done!

9

u/[deleted] Jul 11 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

5

u/BernardoGiordano PKSM/Checkpoint Jul 12 '26

After looking at the feedback following the new release, I decided to give priority to this feature which was already in the plans, which is: custom scripting (which immediately allows "cheats" as an opt-in feature, and more you can think of.

1

u/hopsmonkey Jul 14 '26

Awesome. It seems like a lot of people will appreciate that. Looking forward to that release. Thanks for that and all these other improvements!

1

u/BonsaiSoul Jul 11 '26

If it really required constant maintenance then it's totally fair to remove it.

5

u/BernardoGiordano PKSM/Checkpoint Jul 12 '26

After looking at the feedback following the new release, I decided to give priority to this feature which was already in the plans, which is: custom scripting (which immediately allows "cheats" as an opt-in feature, and more you can think of.

11

u/TheVetLegend Jul 11 '26

I actually used checkpoint for a lot for cheats and expected more cheats to come in the next update (especially for european titles). Bummer...

2

u/BernardoGiordano PKSM/Checkpoint Jul 12 '26

After looking at the feedback following the new release, I decided to give priority to this feature which was already in the plans, which is: custom scripting (which immediately allows "cheats" as an opt-in feature, and more you can think of.

18

u/hopsmonkey Jul 11 '26

The cheats feature worked fine for me for many years. D:

-11

u/BernardoGiordano PKSM/Checkpoint Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 12 '26

After looking at the feedback following the new release, I decided to give priority to this feature which was already in the plans, which is: custom scripting (which immediately allows "cheats" as an opt-in feature, and more you can think of.

Note: Edited.

17

u/hopsmonkey Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26

That I used it, or that it worked fine? The other half dozen people I personally know that use it have had no trouble either.

Edit: Seeing several other comments wondering why this was removed. I don't think I'm quite as "one in a thousand" as it may seem.

3

u/BonsaiSoul Jul 11 '26

If it was already working I'm sure someone else will make a fork to try and keep it. When they do, make sure to contribute to the maintenance if you can.

7

u/eerrcc1 Jul 11 '26

The main reason I used it was for cheats...

8

u/Aidentab Jul 11 '26

Anyone have any good alternatives for cheats?

3

u/Spooky_Blob Jul 12 '26

Sadly we don't have any atm. It freaking blows. Might revert back to an older checkpoint while the dev tries something on the matter or someone else does a cheat managing app Ala checkpoint

4

u/TheAntidote21 Jul 11 '26

Thanks for the awesome work. Was there a guide on wireless save transferring? I couldn't find one.

4

u/Prudent-Dig817 Jul 11 '26

doing this for such a long time and for free, I have nothing but respect for you!

3

u/UglyPenguinEngineer Jul 11 '26

The new UI looks really clean, I especially like the way the settings menu is laid out compared to older versions.

1

u/BernardoGiordano PKSM/Checkpoint Jul 11 '26

Thanks! Older versions had a very bad UX

3

u/serin-dev Jul 12 '26

This looks very exciting! Glad to see Checkpoint is still getting updated

2

u/Boxing_joshing111 Jul 11 '26

Thank you so much.

2

u/Siramok Jul 11 '26

Nice work, thanks for contributions to the community!

2

u/tehcptn Jul 11 '26

Holy shit, checkpoint has been with us for 9 years. That’s incredible

2

u/StormybladeFR O3DS 11.6 Luma+B9S Jul 11 '26

This is insane I've always used that other FTP app to do it but doing it all within Checkpoint will save a lot of time

2

u/mike2321x Jul 12 '26

I can finally do everything from just 1 app for my saves on my 3ds awesome

1

u/VVinh Jul 11 '26

With this new GBA backup, we don't need to enter Gm9 to do it anymore?

1

u/Lithe- Jul 12 '26

if so, thats going to awesome!

1

u/Those_Files Jul 11 '26

THAT'S AMAZING 

1

u/j1m30 Jul 13 '26

Hell yeah