File storage & NVS tools

Two modules expose the badge’s internal storage to a power user: a file explorer for the plugins FAT partition, and a browser for the key-value NVS store. Both modules are enabled by default.

vFAT file explorer (mod_vfat)

The vFAT module browses the FAT partition that holds plugins and language files. It is enabled by default.

On-device

When mod_vfat is enabled, an explorer entry appears in the Expert menu (Main menu → Tools → Expert). It opens at the partition root so you can navigate directories and view the files stored there.

Serial shell

The module also registers a VFAT serial command. It is AUTH-gated: when secure serial is enabled you authenticate first. The shell has a working directory and these sub-commands:

Sub-command	Action
LIST	List the current directory.
PWD	Print the working directory.
CD <path>	Change directory (.. goes up).
GET <file>	Print a file’s contents.
PUT <file> <text>	Write text to a file (\n, \t, \\ are unescaped).
RECEIVE <file> <size> <crc32_hex>	Stream a binary file in, verified by size and CRC32.
DELETE <file>	Delete a file.
MKDIR <name>	Create a directory.
RMDIR <name>	Remove an empty directory.
FREE	Show partition usage (total / used / free in KB).

RECEIVE is the binary upload path the host-side tools use to stream files (plugins, language overlays, backup containers) onto the badge. The companion upload.py drives it for arbitrary files via --put.

NVS browser / editor (mod_nvsedit)

The NVS module browses the badge’s non-volatile key-value store, where modules keep their settings. It is enabled by default.

Read-only by default

Whether the module can delete entries depends on a build-time feature flag (FEATURE_NVS_EDIT), which is off by default. With the flag off the module is a read-only NVS Browser; deletes are blocked. Only a firmware built with FEATURE_NVS_EDIT=1 exposes the writable NVS Editor that can delete keys and namespaces.

On-device

The entry sits in the Tools menu (labelled “NVS Browser” when read-only, or “NVS Editor” when deletes are enabled). Opening it asks for confirmation, then lets you:

• list the NVS namespaces;
• list the keys in a namespace, each shown with its type (u8, i32, str, blob, and so on);
• open a key to see a formatted preview of its value (integers in decimal and hex, strings inline, short blobs as hex, larger blobs as a byte count).

When the writable editor is built in, a per-item context menu offers Delete Key and Delete NS (delete an entire namespace). These deletes are irreversible; the editor warns about this before you enter it.

Caution

NVS holds the settings other modules depend on. Deleting keys or namespaces can reset features or leave a module without its stored state. Only use the writable editor if you know which key you are removing.

No serial equivalent

The NVS module does not register a serial command. NVS browsing and editing are on-device only. To wipe all settings from the host instead, re-flash with the NVS partition erased (see the companion flash_firmware.py --erase-nvs).