PS3 cobra plugin .sprx that modifies XMB - need help!

[create961]

Hi all, I am a beginner to console development, and I am trying to create a .sprx plugin that adds a menu item to the "Games" section of the XMB. I have tried and failed for 2 days to achieve it. I used AI and tried to look in webMANmod for help, which provided a lot of information on how its done but in the end it did not work in hundred tries. With main issue being not being able to know what causes the failure.

The basic idea is (as far as I know) to intercept the VSH call, patch the xml and return the patched version with the new entry.

I have attached the code, but it is just one attempt of dozens that failed. Also have attached a dbg.txt that I got.

 

[aldostools]

Hello @create961
My recomendation is that develop your plugin with incremental steps without touch dev_flash at the beginning:

1- Create manually the expected XML files that you want that your pluging produce.
2- Test the outcome of your custom XML in RCPS3
3- Once you get correct results with your custom XML, modify your code to write the XML to a copy of category_game.xml stored in the internal HDD
4- Copy the produced category_game.xml to PC and test it in dev_flash folder of RCPS3
5- Once you get correct results in RCPS3, change the path to write the XML to /dev_blind
6- Take in count that for your tests you will need to reload XMB manually or use a different code in xmbReloadGame(), since your current code does not update the cached XML unless you logoff/logon or launch a game/app like RELOADXMB or Remote Play plugin.

 

[create961]

Hello @create961
My recomendation is that develop your plugin with incremental steps without touch dev_flash at the beginning:

1- Create manually the expected XML files that you want that your pluging produce.
2- Test the outcome of your custom XML in RCPS3
3- Once you get correct results with your custom XML, modify your code to write the XML to a copy of category_game.xml stored in the internal HDD
4- Copy the produced category_game.xml to PC and test it in dev_flash folder of RCPS3
5- Once you get correct results in RCPS3, change the path to write the XML to /dev_blind
6- Take in count that for your tests you will need to reload XMB manually or use a different code in xmbReloadGame(), since your current code does not update the cached XML unless you logoff/logon or launch a game/app like RELOADXMB or Remote Play plugin.

Thank you @aldostools that is good advice, I will try it and return with results.