May I ask why is the original firmware so bad and need alternative firmware?
Sure! Actually the original firmware is not so bad... For the most part it works quite well. However that does not mean we don't also need the option available for an open source firmware too.
It should be a free choice to users whether they want to play it safe and stick with the closed firmware. Or if they want to flash over it an open firmware. Just like the with TS100 iron. Same situation.
I do not discourage anybody from using the closed firmware. It is just a set of trade offs with different positive and negative for each one.
So if the closed firmware already works, why bother? Why make such efforts? Here is my attempt to list out, to explain the many motivations, for why to do this:
Reasons why we DONT want the closed firmware:* The closed firmware is fixed. Due to the way it was developed, it does have the capability to be improved with new features.
* The closed firmware has lock code. Bad! We don't want that!
* The closed firmware cannot be dumped fully, so it cannot be reflashed if your build is not already one of the few versions available
* If the closed firmware boots into Chinese, and you don't know the chinese symbols... then it is also annoying to find the language menu. To change the language.
Reasons why we DO want an open firmware:* By contrast, the open firmware can be recompiled for specific hardware, at will. So there is no worries that your specific board can be recovered back to an open firmware. Once that version of the hardware becomes tested and supported. Of course it isn't yet.
* We can change UI, menus, fonts, and use more memory. If the MCU has more memory.
* It gives the possibility to later on, maybe add support for other handles / tips. For example JBC T245. And other JBC tips.
* It gives a better trust in the equipment. If there is a problem, you can see where that is happening, in the source code.
* It permits open hardware also, to be supported with a common source code. Which then also means... the possibility for hardware improvements. Which would never be possible with a closed firmware.
For example:
* It gives a possibility for diagnostics / data monitoring features. Going through SWD, or through UART serial, back to the PC.
* It gives a possibility for USB DFU flashing. Like on the TS100.
* It gives a possibility for USB-PD over usb-c. With a separate outboard chip for handling the USB-C.
* It gives the possibility for other features, whatever you wish to add. Limited only by your knowledge, and imagination!
* The whole community can then benefit from all these improvements, for free.
Finally:
* With an open firmware, then we also do not need to buy as much the hardware from the KSGER or QUICKO manufacturers. Or other aliexpress / banggood sellers. For example if they do not make it a good enough product. Perhaps for cost reasons, or some stupid oversight, or lacking protections, which causes a fire etc.
From your video I can see that there are some things missing that are present in the original one. Like stepping, startup behavior.
Some features are disabled for memory, others are removed because they are not used often, and it helps to reduce the burden on the user to scroll past menus. Also: If a preferred option can be compiled in then it does not need a menu! You can just recompile it yourself, reflash. And you have your preferred option always-on.