VitaShell, TheFlow’s famous homebrew that’s installed on almost every HENkaku-enabled device, got QR scanning functionality with version 1.7 and obviously, it’s already been put to good use. Rinnegatamante, the guy who’s given several great contributions to the scene (such as Lua Player Plus, VitaDB and other homebrew/plugins), decided to add QR codes to every homebrew and plugin that’s hosted on VitaDB.

QR code for mGBA on VitaDB

What exactly are QR codes? How can I benefit from their addition to VitaDB?

QR codes are images with a particular dot pattern whose purpose is to deliver a string of text when read by a QR code scanner. The string of text usually leads to a web address which means that QR codes can have a variety of purposes. On VitaDB, you can now easily download and install any homebrew by just scanning the QR code with VitaShell 1.7 (or newer). To get a homebrew through the QR scanner, you need to do the following:

• Go to VitaDB on your computer/smartphone/tablet.
  

  Scanning the QR code via VitaShell

• Select the homebrew you wish to install and press on the “Get QR Code (VPK)” button.
• You’ll get a QR code that you’ll have to scan with your Vita on your screen.
• To scan the QR code, open up VitaShell (must be version 1.7+ so MolecularShell won’t work as that’s based on VitaShell 1.43), hold the L and R trigger simultaneously and point the Vita’s rear camera at the QR code.
• The PSVita will scan it, tell you the name of the VPK and ask whether you want to install it.
• After choosing “yes” (as per the screenshot), the VPK will automatically install!
  

  Installing a VPK after scanning a QR code. mGBA in this case

The ability to install VPKs directly from VitaDB by just scanning a QR code can be useful in a variety of situations like when you want to install VHBB the first time or if you prefer to browse VitaDB on your smartdevice/PC. QR code scanning can also be used as a fallback method if VHBB doesn’t work for some reason.

You can also download plugins from VitaDB in ZIP, SUPRX or SKPRX format (different plugins are in different formats) but they won’t be directly installed so you have to do changes to taiHEN’s config.txt yourself. Downloaded plugins are saved to ux0:download/.

Conclusion

In order to use this feature of VitaDB, you need, as stressed before, VitaShell 1.7 or newer. Currently, VitaShell is going through a phase of rapid releases to fix bugs with 1.7 (1.74 is the latest) so this functionality may be broken in a future release but don’t worry as it’ll probably be quickly fixed by a newer release. If you have any issues with the QR codes on VitaDB (incorrect links etc), report them to Rinnegatamante on Twitter. Issues about the QR reader itself should go to TheFlow on GitHub. Credit for the QR reader itself goes to “cxziaho”; for VitaShell to “TheFlow”; and for VitaDB to “Rinnegatamante”.

VitaDB: https://vitadb.rinnegatamante.it/

Rinnegatamante’s Twitter (for reporting issues and updates about his homebrew/plugins/VitaDB): https://twitter.com/Rinnegatamante