Custom Bootloader

[digerati1338]

I have an idea for a sansa bootloader that would load the original firmware by default, and rockbox if you hold |<< instead of the other way around.

I have some coding experience and have built rockbox before.  Is this something that would be easy to do or is it too difficult to be worthwhile?  If someone could point me in the right direction that would be great.

[saratoga]

Its pretty easy to do this on most ports.  I haven't tried the sansa, but looking at the bootloader, theres a simple block like so:

if()
  printf("Loading original firmware...");
...
else
 printf("Loading Rockbox...");

Looks like all you need to do is negate the condition inside the if and you'd have it.

[digerati1338]

I thought it would be really simple like that.  Ill try it later tonight when I have some time.  Thanks.

[digerati1338]

Found the file and changed it, but I can't seem to find any helpful information for building a bootloader and I'm a little bit confused.  

From what I've read, it isn't recommended because bugs in the code could brick your player.  I'm not too worried about this since I can just use recovery mode if it bricks.

To compile it do I just make a build dir and then run ../tools/configure, select my target, hit B to build bootloader, and then run make?  Do I need to run make zip or make install?

[007quick]

It is to my experience that you are correct. Just run configure select B then run make. You should get the appropriate file in your build dir.

[digerati1338]

The build worked like a charm.  Thanks for the help.  

[dylan21223]

Could you post it online with the link?

[digerati1338]

I posted it in the Unsupported builds section.

http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=9792.0