Hacking WiiFlow Lite

[fledge68]

WiiFlow Lite​

What is WiiFlow Lite?
My mod or continuation of WiiFlow mod by Fix94. Gave it a new name because this is my own code editing without collaboration with Fix94 and other devs of WiiFlow. Despite the new name it is a replacement for WiiFlow and will still use the same folders (dev:/apps/wiiflow and dev:/wiiflow).

Source code & compiling
WiiFlow Lite source code can be found on GitHub here - https://github.com/Fledge68/WiiFlow_Lite
To compile WFL - https://github.com/Fledge68/WiiFlow_Lite/wiki#compiling

Wiki's
WFL official wiki (work in progress, very slowly) - https://github.com/Fledge68/WiiFlow_Lite/wiki
Old WiiFlow 4 wiki ( outdated but can still be helpful) - https://sites.google.com/site/wiiflowiki4/home

Releases
Official releases - https://github.com/Fledge68/WiiFlow_Lite/releases
Last official version is v5.5.4 September 20th, 2023.

Install
Simply download the latest release and extract the zip file to the root of your SD or USB device. If asked to overwrite any existing files say yes. Your device must be formatted to FAT32.
If you have a previous older version you may want to back it up before extracting the new release. Simply copy wiiflow_lite.ini to the same folder and rename it to wiiflow_lite_old.ini. If something doesn't work right with the new release simply download the old release and extract it over the new release. Then delete wiiflow_lite.ini and rename wiiflow_lite_old.ini back to wiiflow_lite.ini.

You will also need to use WiiFlow_Channel_Installer_v1.1.zip to install the WFL forwarder channel and a hidden channel.
It will work for both Wii and Wii U.
The forwarder channel is used to start WFL from the Wii or vWii menu and in WFL main settings you can set it as the 'Return To' channel for when you exit a Wii game.
The hidden channel is used by GameCube launchers (Nintendont/Devolution), Homebrew apps, and plugin emu's to exit them and return to WFL.

Starting WFL
You can start WFL via the HBC or install a forwarder channel to launch it directly from the Wii or vWii system menu.
If you are not happy with the forwarder channel installed by WiiFlow_Channel_Installer_v1.1.zip you can find alternative ones on the old wiiflowiki 4 here - https://sites.google.com/site/wiiflowiki4/forwarder-channels
Install them with a wad manager. they will overwrite the current one.

If you are using a Wii (not Wii U) with Priiloader you can set Priiloader to run Priiloader-Forwader-Loader-DWFA.dol which will auto start the WFL forwarder channel you have installed.

Start Configurator
When WFL runs you can go into main settings>startup settings to change some startup options like to use IOS58 or a CIOS and which CIOS to default to, the USB port for wiiflow to use, and if you want to use SD only. But sometimes WFL won't even start properly so you can't access this menu. In this case use Wiiflow_Start_Configurator.zip. Extract it to your device and run it via the HBC it will allow you to make changes to start WFL. Hopefully a change that will fix WFL startup.

Themes
If your not happy with the WFL GUI then you might want to try these themes. Note WiiFlow 4 themes need to be updated to properly work with WFL. I hope to fix them some day.

Hakaisha's Rhapsodii theme - https://gbatemp.net/threads/wiiflow-lite-theme-rhapsodii.511833/
Tetsuo Shima's Rhapsodii Shima 5.4 theme and more - https://gbatemp.net/threads/rhapsodii-shima-5-4.555062/

New rhapsodii shima theme ini for the latest commits not officially released - https://www.mediafire.com/file/5zit9z3oxl7fle7/Rhapsodii+Shima.ini/file

Game Covers
WiiFlow can download covers for Wii, GC, and WiiWare/VC games via GameTDB.com. Note there is an issue sometimes - https://github.com/Fledge68/WiiFlow_Lite/wiki/Known-Issues#issue-downloading-covers
Box covers for Emu Retro Games can be found and downloaded via these 2 threads.
https://gbatemp.net/threads/cover-collections-for-emulators-with-cover-support.324714/
https://gbatemp.net/threads/cover-collections-part-2.559649/

Plugin Downloads
If you plan on using WFL for emu plugins these downloads will make WFL better. I will be updating this list soon. it's a work in progress for now.

WiiFlow Plugins Pack Thread - https://gbatemp.net/threads/the-great-quest-for-wiiflow-plugins-tm-a-call-for-adventurers.563575/
Note: ignore the v6 downloads and use the one below those links.

Wiimpathy's plugin database files needed for Titles, CRC's, and general game info of plugin rom games.
https://www.mediafire.com/file/4blrpsqqn5g0bdu/Wiiflow_Database.7z/file
Extract to dev:/wiiflow/plugins_data

Wiimpathy's packages of rom snapshots and cart/disk images needed for game info screen and possibly in future displayed as mini banner for plugin rom games.
http://www.mediafire.com/file/6a563zva8c7weew/Wiiflow_Snapshots.7z/file
Extract to dev:/wiiflow/snapshots

https://www.mediafire.com/file/xegmyb7uxid4nki/Wiiflow_CartDisk.7z/file
Extract to dev:/wiiflow/cart_disk

@RunningSnakes has added many more snapshot and cart/disk image links to wiimpathy's thread here - https://gbatemp.net/threads/wiiflow-lite-with-emulators-database.527613/
Just scroll thru the 2 pages to find posts by RunningSnakes.

Kirby's adventure wii/return to dreamland Metafortress help
https://gbatemp.net/threads/wiiflow-lite.422685/post-9869026

 

[KiiWii]

Nice thanks! Any screeners to visualise how it's streamlined?

 

[fledge68]

biggest changes:

• removed dml stuff. must use nintendont or devolution.
• in game settings for GC games pages 2 - 4 show options only for the loader selected on page 1.

possible new changes coming:

• using a nands folder to hold subfolders of emunands and being able to select the nand just like neek2o does rather than use preset nands
• creating seperate coverflows. instead of brewflow and emuflow there will be sideflow, shortflow, and smallflow each with their own number of layouts. sideflow will be used for snes and n64 covers, shortflow for gameboy and ps1 cd covers, and smallflow for homebrew (just like smallbox).
• thinking of changing download covers in main settings to manage covers and banners which will go to a new menu with new options for downloading banners and covers and deleting them.
• may change cover loader to only use the wfc cache files to display covers. and create seperate option in main settings to create all or missing wfc cache files which will go thru the list of games and show a progress bar similar to cover downloading. do this because when you add covers for games you have to go very slowly thru the covers to wait for each one to be made and display or sometimes it stops and stutters while making the new wfc file. once the wfc files are made it loads fast.
  
• may get rid of source menu and just use sourceflow. and move source menu options from startup options to its own menu.
  
• adding options to sourceflow like sorting, favorites, categories, and multi select.
• and hoping to fix installing wii and gc games.
• and hopefully fix or get rid of that darn coverflow problem that causes random corrupted covers to render.

also might get rid of fanart and movie trailers. seriously who really uses those?

 

[VashTS]

how about a cache all covers/banners option? would be nice!

 

[fledge68]

how about a cache all covers/banners option? would be nice!

i suppose that's possible. it will take a long time for wiiiflow to finish caching all those covers.

 

[VashTS]

i suppose that's possible. it will take a long time for wiiiflow to finish caching all those covers.

Takes even longer as it currently stands without this feature! If you want it done you have to sort through every title 1 by 1.

 

[WiiuGold]

i suppose that's possible. it will take a long time for wiiiflow to finish caching all those covers.

Takes about 1 hour and 20 mins , from the old wiiflow with 1,400 games on it , All Wii Games . thankgod i made a back up with the cacha folder lol

 

[fledge68]

made some more minor changes and fixes today. total of r1095 thru 1098.

 

[fledge68]

Use this link to download the boot.dol for the latest revision. Note if you ever need to update any of the bin files I will let you know.

https://sourceforge.net/p/wiiflow-lite/code/HEAD/tree/trunk/out/boot.dol?format=raw

 

[AbdallahTerro]

Thanks fledge for this new lite mod
Dumping dml is great, I would keep the source menu though. It's lite and neat.
Also you should have fixed links for online update
I'll have a look later and give feedback

 

[AbdallahTerro]

I replaced the dol, bins, imgs in my apps/wiiflow folder and I get " No apps/wiiflow" folder found upon boot!
My files are on SD
tried both 1094 and 1098, also tried using "wiiflow lite" folder same result

 

[fledge68]

This wiiflow lite. All that needs to go in apps/wiiflow_lite

 

[migles]

commenting for save and don't forget,
will try this when i decide to dust out the wii again

 

[AbdallahTerro]

This wiiflow lite. All that needs to go in apps/wiiflow_lite

That worked, thanks!
is /wiiflow folder shared in 1098 too?

 

[fledge68]

That worked, thanks!
is /wiiflow folder shared in 1098 too?

Yes. If it changes I will let everyone know.

But, maybe I should just keep every thing in apps/wiiflow and still use wiiflow forwarder channels.

 

[AbdallahTerro]

Yes. If it changes I will let everyone know.

But, maybe I should just keep every thing in apps/wiiflow and still use wiiflow forwarder channels.

yeah that would be even better, replacing dol/bins and using same folder and forwarders
the ini file should be different and gamesettings/configfiles unless there's no conflict

 

[AbdallahTerro]

looks like GC mode is disabled by default!

 

[fledge68]

looks like GC mode is disabled by default!

ooops good catch. i need to change that especially if nintendont and/or devo are installed. thanks for pointing that out.

 

[laharl22]

anyone have a forwader ?

 

[GreyWolf]

anyone have a forwader ?

They're on SourceForge... It's in the OP.