VitaShell by theheroGAC

VitaShell By theheroGAC
General
Author	RealYoti, isage, theheroGAC
Type	File Browsers
Version	2.0.9
License	GPL-3.0
Last Updated	2025/09/13
Links
Download
Website
Source

VitaShell is a multi-functional file manager and homebrew utility for the PlayStation Vita, offering extensive features for file management, package installation, USB and FTP transfer, and device customization. Originally a winner of the Revitalize PS Vita homebrew competition, VitaShell is the foundation for HENkaku’s molecularShell and remains a core userland tool for the platform.

What's New in theheroGAC's VitaShell Fork

• This fork builds upon the original VitaShell by incorporating ongoing fixes and improvements tailored for enhanced stability and usability on recent PS Vita firmware environments.
• Includes updated support for USB flash drive mounting on PS TV with improved LiveArea refresh mechanics and temporary mount management, streamlining user experience for USB-based storage.
• Adds enhanced theme customization options and multi-language support, ensuring smoother integration with user preferences and extended language coverage.
• Continuously incorporates upstream enhancements from the original VitaShell source while maintaining community-driven patches and optimizations.
• Active maintenance to keep compatibility with the latest VitaSDK toolchain and homebrew ecosystem advancements.

Installation

DO NOT try to install new VitaShell.vpk from VitaShell itself! Use another file manager like molecularShell or ONEMenu Vita. Or replace eboot.bin file inside ux0:app/VITASHELL/ directory with new one.

Changelog

v2.09

• Menu "More" Positioning & Functionality
  • Fixed: Menu entries (MD5, SHA1, SHA256, etc.) were positioned too low when accessing Triangle > More
  • Fixed: MD5 and SHA256 options showed "install package" error instead of working
  • Fixed: Wrong functions executed when selecting menu items (MD5 → Install All, Install All → SHA1, etc.)
  • Result: All hash calculation options now work correctly and display properly positioned
• Hash Algorithm Implementation
  • Added: Full MD5 hash calculation with proper 16-byte output formatting
  • Added: Full SHA256 hash calculation with proper 32-byte output formatting
  • Enhanced: SHA1 functionality preserved and improved
  • Added: Multi-threaded hash processing with progress bars for all algorithms
  • Added: Proper hash result display with hex formatting and line breaks
• File Safety & Protection
  • Added: Warning messages when attempting to delete important/system files
  • Protected files include:
  • System partitions (os0:, vs0:, vd0:, tm0:)
  • Homebrew directories (ur0:tai/, ux0:tai/)
  • Critical config files (config.txt, boot_config.txt)
  • System software (vitashell, henkaku, taihen, molecule)
  • Plugin files (.skprx, .suprx)
  • Application files (eboot.bin, param.sfo)
• Localization Updates
• Generic Hash Messages
  • Updated: Hash confirmation messages to be algorithm-agnostic
  • Before: "SHA1 hashing may take a long time. Continue?"
  • After: "Hashing may take a long time. Continue?"
• Safety Warning Messages
  • Added: "WARNING: This appears to be a system or important file. Are you absolutely sure you want to delete it?" (and translations)
  • Languages supported: 🇺🇸🇮🇹🇫🇷🇩🇪🇪🇸🇵🇹🇧🇷
• System Information Display
• Free Space Indicator
  • Feature: Real-time storage space display in status bar
  • Shows: Current partition free space (e.g., "ux0: 5.2 GB/29.5 GB free")
  • Colors:
  • Green: >50% free space available
  • Orange: 20-50% free space (running low)
  • Red: <20% free space (critically low)
  • Dynamic: Updates based on current directory partition
• Technical Improvements
• Code Architecture
  • Enhanced: HashArguments structure to support multiple hash types
  • Improved: Thread management for hash calculations
  • Added: Proper enum-to-array mapping for menu callbacks
  • Optimized: Menu positioning system for better UX
• Error Handling
  • Added: Comprehensive file importance detection
  • Enhanced: User confirmation dialogs with context-aware messages
  • Improved: Multi-file deletion safety checks
• User Experience
• Menu Navigation
  • Improved: Compact menu layouts with proper spacing
  • Fixed: Correct function execution for all menu items
  • Enhanced: Visual feedback and confirmation dialogs
• Hash Operations
  • Streamlined: Unified interface for SHA1, MD5, and SHA256
  • Added: Progress indication during calculations
  • Improved: Result presentation with formatted output
• Safety Features
  • Enhanced: Multi-level protection for critical system files
  • Added: Batch operation safety (warns if any selected files are important)
  • Improved: Clear warning messages with proper translations

v02.08

• • Fixed missing vshIoMount declarations:
  • Restored correct prototypes (vshIoUmount, _vshIoMount, vshIoMount) to resolve build errors and ensure compatibility with system mount operations.
  • Increased buffer size in getSizeString from 16 to 20 characters for safer formatting.
  • Cleaned parameter naming in holdButtons to avoid shadowing the global pad variable.
  • General code style cleanup for readability.
  • Add support to copy file to host0: by @Princess-of-Sleeping
  • Implemented exception handling to bypass free space check when destination is host0:.
  • Prevents false "not enough space" errors when transferring files to PC via USB.
  • Improved stability and reliability of file operations:
  • Cleaner mount/unmount handling.
  • Safer copy process to external devices.

v02.07

• Fixes & Improvements
  • Fixed multiple implicit declaration warnings by adding proper function prototypes and headers.
  • Corrected _vshIoMount usage to ensure proper return type and parameters.
  • Added missing forward declarations in settings.c and other source files.
  • Improved compatibility with new VitaSDK versions, reducing compiler warnings.
  • Fixed potential thread and callback leaks by properly handling thread termination.
  • Adjusted include paths and redundant definitions for cleaner compilation.
• Codebase Maintenance
  • Reorganized headers to avoid duplication.
  • Cleaned up unused variables and redundant code blocks.
  • Improved readability of main modules.
  • Updated comments and naming consistency across the project.
• Stability
  • Better error handling for promoteApp and file system operations.
  • Reduced risk of undefined behavior from undeclared functions.
  • General code cleanup for safer builds on Windows/MSYS2 + VitaSDK.

v2.06

• Fixed:
  • Corrected potential buffer overflow warnings in settings.c when copying theme names using strncpy.
  • Ensured all strings copied into fixed-length buffers are properly null-terminated.
  • Resolved minor warnings in minizip/ioapi.c related to strncpy and strlen.
  • Updated CMake build system to improve compatibility with VitaSDK and modern toolchains.
  • Added proper linking for kernel, user, patch, and USB modules to avoid missing symbols.
  • Fixed minor resource path issues to ensure .skprx, .suprx, and other binary resources are correctly compiled and included.
• Improved:
  • Refactored QR code functionality for better stability. (by @isage)
  • Optimized compilation flags to reduce unnecessary warnings.
  • Streamlined build process for modules and stubs.
  • Minor performance improvements in theme selection and resource loading.
• Notes:
  • Some warnings regarding string truncation were addressed by using strncpy with explicit null-termination or snprintf.
  • All module dependencies and stubs are now correctly declared in CMake, avoiding missing symbols during linking.

External links

• Github - https://github.com/theheroGAC/VitaShell