IMPORTANT NOTICE

16/10/2026: ATMOSPHERE 1.12.1 FOR HOS 23.0.1 RELEASED

Atmosphere has been updated; BornToHonk's fork released with baked in sigpatches.

SNSP - Switch Noob Software Pack

A Python script that builds/refreshes a Nintendo Switch homebrew SD payload from a json config file. For each app it grabs the latest GitHub release, picks the right asset, downloads it, extracts archives while merging folders and keeping the newest copy of any duplicated file, and writes a manifest of titles and versions. Note: this is my attempt to replace the HATS pack by Sthetix with a known working pack (should always be up to date since you grab the packages your- self with a few working config files thrown in) that doesn't have a boatload of forked vanity projects. I completely understand forking projects to add/remove features and make (what you may feel) are necessary adjustments, but I do not agree with: A.) forking a project just so you can slap your own name on it and B.) forking a project and taking away user's choice. Streamline if you want to (I have considered making a 'hekate lite', but who asked for that?) but removing choice is where I draw a line in the sand.

Files

• switchpack.py — the script
• software.json — editable list of apps, repos, and which asset to grab
• MANIFEST.md / manifest.txt — written into your output root after a run
• _extra/atmosphere/config/system_settings.ini — starter config for Atmosphere
• _extra/bootloader/hekate_ipl.ini — basic setup to get you booting right away, can be edited as needed. Not a standard by any means, just a starting point.
• _extra/bootloader/res — icons for boot options.
• _extra/switch/DBI/dbi.config — basic DBI config to set basic defaults so screen is not turned off during FTP/MTP connection.

Known Issues

• DBI indicates USB 2.0 speeds regardless of whether or not 3.0 is enabled; however, it appears that it is utilizing 3.0 speeds (I observed 30-50mbps transfers, whereas during 2.0 transfers I was getting low 20's).

Requirements

• Python 3.8+ (uses only the standard library for .zip and .tar*)
• Optional, only if a release ships these formats:
  • .7z → pip install py7zr or the 7z command (p7zip-full)
  • .rar → unar, unrar, or 7z on your PATH

Usage

Recommended:

A token lifts GitHub's 60-requests/hour anonymous limit. Not absolutely necessary, given the number of packages here, but if you have to re-run the package in a short time period, it will assist.

python3 switchpack.py --out ./sdroot                                 # build everything into ./sdroot
GITHUB_TOKEN=ghp_inserttoken python3 switchpack.py --out ./sdroot    # utilize github token to download packages. 
python3 switchpack.py --out ./sdroot --dry-run                       # resolve + report, download nothing
python3 switchpack.py --out ./sdroot --only Atmosphere "DBI English" # download only Atmosphere and DBI English.

Re-running against an existing --out folder updates it in place (newest file wins), so this doubles as an updater.

How asset picking works (software.json)

Each app has one or more downloads, each with a match rule:

• {"first": true} — top asset under the release ("top link under assets")
• {"index": N} — the Nth asset, 0-based
• {"name": "x.zip", "ext_fallback": true} — exact filename (case-insensitive);``` with ext_fallback, if that exact name is gone it falls back to the first asset with the same extension (survives version-number renames)
• {"regex": "..."} — regex against the asset name (used for the Hekate Nyx zip, etc.)

Other per-download options:

• "dest_subdir" — where a non-archive file is placed (e.g. switch/.overlays). Archives always extract+merge into the root and ignore this.
• "strip_prefix" — if a zip file extracts to any other folder than what is present on the root (i.e. it bundles all the folders needed in a parent folder called "SdOut"), this will strip the root folder name and dump the resultant folders out at the root. Supports / for multi- layer folders should they be an issue.
• "rename" — rename a non-archive file (used for DBI's translation_en.bin → translation.bin).
• "rename-extracted" — rename the result of a zip extraction, i.e. : "rename_extracted": [ ["hekate_ctcaer_*.bin", "payload.bin"] ]

Notes / things to double-check

• Placement defaults are conventional, not gospel. Loose .nro files go to switch/, .ovl overlays to switch/.overlays/, DBI-EN to switch/DBI/ as specified in software.json.
• "Keep newest" uses each file's stored modification time inside the archive. That's the best per-file signal available; a few projects set odd build timestamps, so if a specific file ever loses out unexpectedly, that's why.
• If an asset name has drifted, the script prints the available asset names in the error so you can fix that one line in software.json quickly.

Changelog

v1.3.1

• Commented out HOC Kip reference. HOC related kip1 line in hekate_ipl.ini called an out of date HOC. It has been commented out until the project is updated.

v1.3

• Dropped sys-patch. BornToHonk's Atmosphere fork has patches built in, no need for redundancy.
• Fixed Sphaira entry. Sphaira now packages full folder hierarchy rather than bare nro. JSON modified to correctly extract and place contents.]

Future

• Possible GUI wrapper for less technically inclined users. Will simply have an output field, a github token field, and a dry-run optional check box. Nothing flashy, and will remain platform agnostic.

Thanks

• borntohonk - Atmosphere fork with patches integrated
• CTCaer - Hekate
• luketanti - CyberFoil
• rashevsky / duckbill - DBI
• J-D-K - JKSV
• impeeza - linkalho
• elelix11 - NXThemeInstaller
• NaGaa95 - Sphaira
• meganukebmp - Switch90DNSTester
• ndeadly - Disable Remap Dialog / MissionControl
• masagrator - SaltyNX
• ppkantorski - NX-ovlloader / FPSLocker / QuickNTP / Ultrahand / Sys-tune
• sthetix - FuseCheck / Lockpick RCM Pro / NetMan / TegraExplorer-Ext
• DefenderOfHyrule - Modchip Toolbox
• proferabg - EdiZon
• Horizon-OC - Horizon-OC
• XorTroll - Emuiibo
• AvengedClippyFold - discovered source of bluescreen on emuMMC on latest Atmosphere