dump-config tool to easily backup a board's config section

doesn't require picotool, doesn't include padding, does include the
footer

README.md

@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ In all cases, online help can be retrieved by providing the `-h` or ``--help`` f
 [![asciicast](https://asciinema.org/a/67hELtUNkKCit4dFwYeAUa2fo.svg)](https://asciinema.org/a/67hELtUNkKCit4dFwYeAUa2fo)
 
 A terminal UI config editor, capable of viewing and editing existing configurations, can be launched via
-**edit-config**. It supports navigation both via the keyboard or the mouse, and can either view and edit a binary file
+`edit-config`. It supports navigation both via the keyboard or the mouse, and can either view and edit a binary file
 made via `picotool`, or view the configuration directly on the board in BOOTSEL mode over USB (editing coming soon).
 
 Simple usage:
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ A quick demonstration of the editor is available [on asciinema.org](https://asci
 
 ### concatenate
 
-**concatenate** combines a GP2040-CE firmware .bin file (such as from a fresh build) and a GP2040-CE board's storage
+`concatenate` combines a GP2040-CE firmware .bin file (such as from a fresh build) and a GP2040-CE board's storage
 section .bin or config (with footer) .bin, and produces a properly-offset .bin file suitable for flashing to a board.
 This may be useful to ensure the board is flashed with a particular configuration, for instances such as producing a
 binary to flash many boards with a particular configuration (specific customizations, etc.), or keeping documented
@@ -65,9 +65,20 @@ Sample usage:
 % concatenate build/GP2040-CE_foo_bar.bin storage-dump.bin new-firmware-with-config.bin
 ```
 
+### dump-config
+
+`dump-config` replaces the need for picotool in order to make a copy of the GP2040-CE configuration as a binary file.
+This could be used with the other tools, or just to keep a backup.
+
+Sample usage:
+
+```
+% dump-config -P ~/proj/GP2040-CE/proto -P ~/proj/GP2040-CE/lib/nanopb/generator/proto --filename `date +%Y%m%d`-config-backup.bin
+```
+
 ### visualize-storage
 
-**visualize-storage** reads a GP2040-CE board's configuration, either over USB or from a dump of the board's flash
+`visualize-storage` reads a GP2040-CE board's configuration, either over USB or from a dump of the board's flash
 storage section, and prints it out for visual inspection or diffing with other tools. It can also find the storage
 section from a GP2040-CE whole board dump, if you have that instead. Usage is simple; just connect your board in BOOTSEL
 mode or pass the tool your binary file to analyze along with the path to the Protobuf files.
@@ -151,11 +162,13 @@ forcedSetupOptions {
 }
 ```
 
-### Dumping the GP2040-CE board
+## Miscellaneous
+
+### Dumping the GP2040-CE board with picotool
 
 Some of these tools require a dump of your GP2040-CE board, either the storage section or the whole board, depending on
 the context. The storage section of a GP2040-CE board is a reserved 8 KB starting at `0x101FE000`. To dump your board's
-storage:
+storage with picotool:
 
 ```
 % picotool save -r 101FE000 10200000 memory.bin

gp2040ce_bintools/builder.py

@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ def write_new_config_to_filename(config: Message, filename: str, inject: bool =
 # COMMANDS #
 ############
 
+
 def concatenate():
     """Combine a built firmware .bin and a storage .bin."""
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(

gp2040ce_bintools/storage.py

@@ -184,6 +184,19 @@ def serialize_config_with_footer(config: Message) -> bytearray:
 ############
 
 
+def dump_config():
+    """Save the GP2040-CE's configuration to a binary file."""
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
+        description="Read the configuration section from a USB device and save it to a binary file.",
+        parents=[core_parser],
+    )
+    parser.add_argument('--filename', help=".bin file to save the GP2040-CE board's config section to")
+    args, _ = parser.parse_known_args()
+    config, _, _ = get_config_from_usb()
+    with open(args.filename, 'wb') as out_file:
+        out_file.write(serialize_config_with_footer(config))
+
+
 def visualize():
     """Print the contents of GP2040-CE's storage."""
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(

pyproject.toml

@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ dev = ["bandit", "decorator", "flake8", "flake8-blind-except", "flake8-builtins"
 
 [project.scripts]
 concatenate = "gp2040ce_bintools.builder:concatenate"
+dump-config = "gp2040ce_bintools.storage:dump_config"
 edit-config = "gp2040ce_bintools.gui:edit_config"
 visualize-storage = "gp2040ce_bintools.storage:visualize"