Flipper Zero - Animation Starter Guide

Hello World!
Welcome to the first video of 2023! In today’s session we will be focusing on how to install custom animations on the Flipper Zero to kickstart your animation journey.
A special shoutout goes to Talking Sasquach for his invaluable guidance and support during the early stages of my own animation endeavours.
Get your desktop and popcorn ready, because this session is going to be a long one. Enjoy
Ace
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✅ Invest in skills! And Join the Hacking Time Discord now: whop.com/hacking-time/ ✅
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🧠 ‪@TalkingSasquach‬ who has been doing amazing work in the Flipper Animation space as well as FW space! github.com/skizzophrenic
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Other notable animators and mentions:
Kuronons: github.com/Kuronons/FZ_graphics
Haseo : github.com/Haseosama/FZ_Anima...
stop oxy : github.com/stopoxy/FZAnimations
WR3NCH : github.com/wrenchathome/flip0...
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PS code for image rename:
Dir *.png | ForEach-Object -begin { $count=0 } -process { rename-item $_ -NewName "frame_$count.png" ; $count++ }
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Timeline:
0:00 - Introduction
0:54 - Getting Started
3:49 - GitHub
4:22 - What Animation?
6:13 - Scale Down
7:41 - Gif to PNG
9:21 - PS
12:00 - Clone FZ FW
13:13 - FW Structure
28:05 - Conclusion
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⚠️ This video is made for educational purposes only, we only test devices and systems that we own or have permission to test, you should not test the security of devices that you do not own or do not have permission to test. ⚠️.
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[@DeKay1471]

Mate, I've learned so much today and really can't thank you enough for sharing your knowledge. I'd never used powershell before today and now have a working animation on my flipper that I made on paint just 8 short hours ago. :'D I did have some problems with the final powershell command throwing errors regarding a .py file and culminating in a FBT error. I had been slightly off your instructions at that point, but it was easy enough to solve by looking at the file in question, comparing other meta files and a bit of trial and error. Basically had to play with the numbers in there until it compiled. Long story short this would have been a serious project to figure out without your help. Mad respect!

[@PenAce]

Love hearing things like this and it keeps me going and doing what I do!

[@seanronayne3654]

That is impressive as all hell mate. I am not quite there yet but your message has encouraged me to try harder. Thanks for the inspiration,

[@Robingraves9180]

Love your walk throughs bro

[@PenAce]

Hope to hear you made a great anime with your FZ bro :)

[@weniweedeewiki.6237]

Yes my g

[@seanronayne3654]

Earned a sub. great video

[@PenAce]

Welcome aboard!

[@martixxxx]

ty, for explain. great video!

[@bmelangel]

Sir... once again you are Him!

[@SwaddleBeard]

Hey bud love the walkthroughs they’re great, I’ve got an idea for one that’ll help some people out. There’s a large part of the community that have seemed to have been having issues getting their WiFi dev board to flash on MacOS. I experienced this headache as well when I tried and after doing research I found a LOT of other people have this issue too and there’s no body on KZbin that has done a video on it that makes it simple to understand. Just a thought once again love the vids bro.

[@PenAce]

For the longest time I have rufused using Mac opting for Linux and only using Win for work. Don't think I can brave using a Mac 🤮

[@SwaddleBeard]

@@PenAce hey I understand lol I just noticed there’s a large part of people unable to get their WiFi dev board flashed on anything that’s not Windows it also seems to be something people aren’t really covering anywhere either but hey I understand I was a Linux primary kid as well growing up.

[@L.And.J.For.All.]

Thanks for the idea for a Bad USB script. Imagine 50 excel files in one folder simply labeled 0-49. What a pain in the ass lol. Muchos kudos for the video. This is exactly what I've been looking for as far as how to make graphics AND MASSIVE plus for explaining the firmware structure.

[@GViking68]

Hey what are some great resources for learning about the RFID tech in-depth, software and hardware wise?

[@PenAce]

I have a book by Finkenzeller and another by Smiley which I found really good.

[@user-xe5wx1qz8b]

hi bro, i get the error message about build\f7-firmware-D\assets\compiled\assets_dolphin_internal.c: Error 1 assets esources\dolphin\manifest.txt: Error 1, how can i fix it? thanks so much

[@kiten.]

same

[@rich597]

How did you put the matrix background on your flipper?

[@PenAce]

That is made by Sas and come with the RM FW by default.

[@rich597]

@@PenAce I’m sorry but I’m extremely new to all of this. Does RM FW mean rogue master firmware?

[@PenAce]

@@rich597 Yes, this comes with Rouge Master.

[@nolangibson2006]

How's the discord going? Anything new?

[@PenAce]

Always 💀🔥

[@nolangibson2006]

@@PenAce 😋

[@grzegorzp.5734]

07:40 You can skip that stage (GIF to PNG convertion) by simply choosing "Split option" -> "Output images in PNG format" below the animation shown. As I'm working on Win7 I can't skip the problem of powershell not being able to run the ./fbt (nor ./fbt.cmd) commands - it generates only errors.. (I have GitHUB Desktop & Git for Windows installed. :( edit: I get sth like this: "Exception setting "SecurityProtocol": "Cannot convert value "tls12, tls11, tls" to type "System.Net.SecurityProtocolType" due to invalid enumeration values. S pecify one of the following enumeration values and try again. The possible enum eration values are "Ssl3, Tls"." At D:\GitHUB\Flipper-Xtreme\scripts\toolchain\windows-toolchain-download.ps1:3 char:28 + [Net.ServicePointManager]::

[@PenAce]

Saw the split option much later than I realised, it could have saved some time :) Did you launch winget or install get? Also, keep in mind that the command must be executed in the directory where./fbt is in your Git folder location.

[@grzegorzp.5734]

@@PenAce I'm on Win 7. Winget is only for 10 and above :/ (yeap.. I'm a boomer ;) or whatever they call us :D ) I installed GitHub desktop, Git and Python the "oldschool" way - just running install/setup file in Windows :) And yes.. I made set-location in Powershell first, tried also through Git Bash, chcange working folder and also - no success..

[@PenAce]

@@grzegorzp.5734 Sry bro, ain't even got a win7 to test out for you :/ but it should still work once git is in and you're running it from the FW folder.

[@benzomontana6124]

how do you do this on a mac ? please help

[@PenAce]

My most hated device. I suppose it will work, but you would need to first install PowerShell for mac - this could help: adamtheautomator.com/powershell-for-mac/

[@simasolb4577]

on the last powershell command it downloads windows toolchain and then says "git" is not recognized as an internal or external command. what does that mean? what should i do?

[@PenAce]

You have to install git, I gave the command for that also. ``winget install --id Git.Git -e --source winget``

[@simasolb4577]

@@PenAce i did and that worked it installed with no problem

[@PenAce]

@@simasolb4577 if you just download the zip and decompress it won't work that way. You have clone the repo and run it from the Git location the ./fbt is in.

[@simasolb4577]

@@PenAce ok ill try

[@Studmuffin1286]

@@PenAce it say no package found macthing input criteria for the git command

[@ChrisMortimer90]

fbt = flipper build tool

[@yasdanidelgado4562]

After ./fbt icons proto dolphin_internal dolphin_ext resources I am met with git is not recognized as an external or itnernal command even after the winget install script prior. Any suggestions? Everything worked until this step

[@PenAce]

Are you running Git from the directory the Git folder and firmware is saved in? Also, try a restart the OS after running the Winget command. Let me know.

[@yasdanidelgado4562]

@@PenAce I ran ./fbt updater_package which allowed me to succesfully run the script I was having trouble with. But I simply copied the manifest and my custom animation into qflipper. I had this weird cmatrix looking animation.

[@yasdanidelgado4562]

Restarted but I had fliper on the couch. Ill have to try again

[@yasdanidelgado4562]

It worked! I picked Surfing Pikachu gif but the waves arent showing. Il have to adjust the meta.txt thank you

[@PenAce]

@@yasdanidelgado4562 my man!

[@RealPaxGod]

Can I share this content?

[@PenAce]

Go for bro, hope it helps. New vid coming 🔜

[@Sun.Burn.]

for me he failed to creat the .bm in the folder of animation

[@PenAce]

Join HT to chat more on this, so many steps can go wrong.

[@Studmuffin1286]

Fallowed to the t and still nothing wont work wont compile no folder in resources

[@PenAce]

Find that hard to believe. Somewhere a dependency is not installed.

[@Studmuffin1286]

@@PenAce wante me to recorde it to prove i fallowed exactly

[@Studmuffin1286]

Winget works download note fine but in winget install --id git.git -e --source winget just says no package found macthing input criteria

[@Studmuffin1286]

@@PenAce got git command to work by removing -e but stil ./fbt command still wont wotk says git is not recognized as an interna or external command ..k vlosed n restarted n it worked ecept at the end im getting fbt error assets esources\dolphin\manifest.txt error 1 mata.txt and manifest.txt r also perfect so i dont get it

[@PenAce]

@@Studmuffin1286 At least you got to that stage! Now is a matter of looking through the files and finding the error.

[@User-is2kf]

getting erros in the powershell part.. Exception calling "DownloadFile" with "2" argument(s): "An exception occurred during a WebClient request."

[@PenAce]

Are you running the commands from the Git folder where the Flipper FW is installed via the Github Dekstop app? Also, did you install the Winget as in step 1?

[@User-is2kf]

@@PenAce got it now but now it's saying my manifest has an error which it doesn't

[@PenAce]

@@User-is2kf progress! You have to check the \assets\dolphin\external and check your folder name, image names, meta.txt and the manifest.txt to make sure it's all correct.

[@User-is2kf]

@Pen Ace I literally just copy and paste it in check everything why is it not working 😮‍💨😮‍💨

[@PenAce]

@@User-is2kf The joys of troubleshooting. Stick with it bro. How many frames have you got?

[@dylanturner42]

how do i get past "End of Central Directory record could not be found."

[@PenAce]

Where in the video did you get up to get this error? Also, are you running this on Win?

[@dylanturner42]

After the ./fbt line and yes i’m on windows

[@dylanturner42]

i followed the video exactly but maybe i made an error and didn’t notice. I’m also new to using power shell and don’t understand the error or how to fix it

[@PenAce]

@@dylanturner42 just needs to backtrack until we can find it. Have you installed Flipper via the Github Desktop app and used the Winget command to install Git?

[@dylanturner42]

yes

[@simplystatic69]

i’m running into an error that says my animation has incorrect meta when i know the meta.txt is correct. any solutions?

[@PenAce]

Can you provide me with the full PowerShell error?

[@simplystatic69]

@@PenAce i can but i will need a second🙏🙏

[@simplystatic69]

@@PenAce Here is the full response after i run the ./fbt commmand: scons: `icons' is up to date. scons: `proto' is up to date. scons: `dolphin_internal' is up to date. DOLPHIN external 2023-01-17 12:11:13,079 [INFO] Processing Dolphin sources 2023-01-17 12:11:13,079 [INFO] Loading data 2023-01-17 12:11:13,080 [INFO] Loading directory assets\dolphin\external 2023-01-17 12:11:13,082 [INFO] Loading meta from assets\dolphin\external\Springtrap\meta.txt Traceback (most recent call last): File "C:\Users\Church of Christ\Documents\GitHub\flipperzero-firmware\scripts\flipper\assets\dolphin.py", line 85, in load self.bubble_slots = file.readKeyInt("Bubble slots") File "C:\Users\Church of Christ\Documents\GitHub\flipperzero-firmware\scripts\flipper\utils\fff.py", line 42, in readKeyInt value = self.readKey(key) File "C:\Users\Church of Christ\Documents\GitHub\flipperzero-firmware\scripts\flipper\utils\fff.py", line 36, in readKey k, v = self.readKeyValue() File "C:\Users\Church of Christ\Documents\GitHub\flipperzero-firmware\scripts\flipper\utils\fff.py", line 28, in readKeyValue line = self.nextLine() File "C:\Users\Church of Christ\Documents\GitHub\flipperzero-firmware\scripts\flipper\utils\fff.py", line 24, in nextLine raise EOFError() EOFError During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred: Traceback (most recent call last): File "C:\Users\Church of Christ\Documents\GitHub\flipperzero-firmware\scripts\assets.py", line 286, in Main()() File "C:\Users\Church of Christ\Documents\GitHub\flipperzero-firmware\scripts\flipper\app.py", line 42, in __call__ return_code = self.call() File "C:\Users\Church of Christ\Documents\GitHub\flipperzero-firmware\scripts\flipper\app.py", line 58, in call return self.args.func() File "C:\Users\Church of Christ\Documents\GitHub\flipperzero-firmware\scripts\assets.py", line 277, in dolphin dolphin.load(self.args.input_directory) File "C:\Users\Church of Christ\Documents\GitHub\flipperzero-firmware\scripts\flipper\assets\dolphin.py", line 368, in load self.manifest.load(source_directory) File "C:\Users\Church of Christ\Documents\GitHub\flipperzero-firmware\scripts\flipper\assets\dolphin.py", line 295, in load animation.load(os.path.join(source_directory, name)) File "C:\Users\Church of Christ\Documents\GitHub\flipperzero-firmware\scripts\flipper\assets\dolphin.py", line 126, in load raise Exception("Invalid meta file: too short") Exception: Invalid meta file: too short SDKCHK firmware\targets\f7\api_symbols.csv API version 11.7 is up to date ICONS build\f7-firmware-D\.extapps\dap_link\dap_link_icons.c scons: *** [assets esources\dolphin\manifest.txt] Error 1 CC applications\plugins\dap_link\gui\dap_gui.c ********** FBT ERRORS ********** assets esources\dolphin\manifest.txt: Error 1

[@PenAce]

@@simplystatic69 ​ok, so it's a manifest.txt Make sure the manifest contains the folder name exactly to where the images are stored. shown at 21:44 of the vid.

[@simplystatic69]

@@PenAce i double checked this, and i even renamed the name of that folder, so i really have no clue what i’m doing wrong. i will still triple check

[@mysticforge369]

I would like to change the animations on the xtreme firmware to the regular unleashed animations. How would I go about this? Is it the same as the prices on this video?

[@PenAce]

Similar, but you need to make your own manifest and call the animations you want to show.

[@Snoopy4156]

Dude I just want the stock ones I dislike the xtreme ones a lot

[@mysticforge369]

@@Snoopy4156 me too but it's unfortunate since the xtreme firmware works so mych better and is way more polished with more things available right off the bat

[@mysticforge369]

@@PenAce do you think you'll make a video about how one would do it?

[@chenzora2417]

Hi, I have been following you. You do a great work. I work for NextPCB. We would like to sponsor your projects. You can send a DM for more details.

[@PenAce]

Thank you for the kind words and offer. Please send me a way to contact you for more details.

[@oazieparzival_exb828]

idk why it says "ord could not be found." At C:\Users\Z\Downloads\flipperzero-firmware\scripts\toolchain\windows-toolchain-download.ps1:35 char:1 + [System.IO.Compression.ZipFile]::ExtractToDirectory("$toolchain_zip_t ... + ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [], ParentContainsErrorRecordException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : InvalidDataException" " when I run the last command I followed all the steps and recheck it multiple times. and still don't know why. i downloaded github , I ran all the command on the screen , I already clone the folder