Real SDK

[Quaeton]

Obviously the PSSuite C# SDK isn't the real native programming enviroment for big game developers and the Vita firmware. So, my question is how does this 'real' SDK get released into the public like the PSP C SDK? Is it by a leak from a developer?

Is it just a case of decrypting the firmware and seeing how the different functions are defined? For example if the native programming language for Vita is C then usual functions: if while for etc. will apply and will form the basics of the SDK. Then extensions on the SDK will include finding other functions like sceTouchScreen sceRearTouchScreen or something like that?

[m0skit0]

AFAIK the PSPSDK was not leaked. It was made from scratch using information gathered from PSP, and specially (IIRC) the Bubble Bobble game with debug info on the retail version helped a lot to make a working SDK and figuring out the functions names used by the official SDK.

Is it just a case of decrypting the firmware and seeing how the different functions are defined?

You actually don't need anything from the firmware. If you are able to RE the executables (e.g. PRXs on PSP) then you can create tools to make your own.

For example if the native programming language for Vita is C

Common mistake: programming languages are not native to anything. ALL devices have only ONE native language: machine code. Anything else (.e.g assembly, C, C#, Java, whatever) is for us humans. Machines do not understand a thing about that.

[jrbo]

AFAIK the PSPSDK was not leaked. It was made from scratch using information gathered from PSP, and specially (IIRC) the Bubble Bobble game with debug info on the retail version helped a lot to make a working SDK and figuring out the functions names used by the official SDK.

Is it just a case of decrypting the firmware and seeing how the different functions are defined?

You actually don't need anything from the firmware. If you are able to RE the executables (e.g. PRXs on PSP) then you can create tools to make your own.

For example if the native programming language for Vita is C

Common mistake: programming languages are not native to anything. ALL devices have only ONE native language: machine code. Anything else (.e.g assembly, C, C#, Java, whatever) is for us humans. Machines do not understand a thing about that.

If we were to somehow obtain the Vita SDK (real sdk) then wouldn't trying to break into the system using mod chips or hacks be useless since you have the full sdk?

[Quaeton]

AFAIK the PSPSDK was not leaked. It was made from scratch using information gathered from PSP, and specially (IIRC) the Bubble Bobble game with debug info on the retail version helped a lot to make a working SDK and figuring out the functions names used by the official SDK.

So the debug information was a 'sort of' leak?

So what about the complier? How did developers get to understand the structure of an EBOOT.PBP since this is specific to the PSP not the C language?

If we were to somehow obtain the Vita SDK (real sdk) then wouldn't trying to break into the system using mod chips or hacks be useless since you have the full sdk?

Even with the full SDK you would still need to hack into the system to find an exploit. Programs made from the real SDK can only be executed through an exploit, or with the official key to sign it.

[m0skit0]

Depends on what SDK we're talking about: if the game developer's SDK or Sony's internal PSV development SDK (e.g. kernel SDK and such). For the first, then no, you'll most likely still need a hardware hack for a more advanced control.

[Yoti]

So what about the complier? How did developers get to understand the structure of an EBOOT.PBP since this is specific to the PSP not the C language?

1) PSP ELFs are similar to plain Linux ELFs
2) .PBP is a very simple container, just look and try to change something here and there

[m0skit0]

So the debug information was a 'sort of' leak?

Kind of...

How did developers get to understand the structure of an EBOOT.PBP since this is specific to the PSP not the C language?

No structure is specific to C language. C is a multi-purpose programming language and as such it doesn't define anything related to file structure. As Yoti said above, PBP is a mere Sony-specific ELF container.

[WeThrowPSPs]

I believe some people are working to get a dev kit to run unsigned arm assembly language. Like on the original Japanese psp firmware when we were able to run unsigned MIPS elfs

[wololo]

If we were to somehow obtain the Vita SDK (real sdk) then wouldn't trying to break into the system using mod chips or hacks be useless since you have the full sdk?

No. The SDK helps you building binaries, but will not contain anything related to encrypting/signing them. So, you would create binaries that can potentially run on the Vita, but they would need to go through Sony to get signed.

Mod chips and hacks are usually here to bypass the verification process for signatures/encryption.