Homebrew
Sviluppo #
Lo sviluppo di homebrew per Nintendo DS utilizza tipicamente gli strumenti di devkitPro, come devkitARM, libnds e libfat. Tuttavia, c’è la possibilità di spaziare e di utilizzare software alternativi:
- Librerie per schede SD: libfat è inclusa in libnds e generalmente raccomandata, libslim a volte può funzionare meglio, ma può risultare instabile
- Librerie grafiche: easyGL2D, che viene fornita con libnds, è raccomandata, tuttavia NightFox Lib può essere utilizzata al suo posto
- Intere toolchain: devkitARM e libnds sono consigliate, in quanto includono la compatibilità con il DSi e hanno un ecosistema più ampio, tuttavia ToolchainGenericDS è un’opzione per lo sviluppo esclusivo su flashcard
Per iniziare, questo thread di GBAtemp contiene molte buone risorse per i principianti. Per ulteriori informazioni tecniche sul DS(i), consultare il sito GBATEK.
Flashcard #
DS mode flashcards are a Slot-1 method of running Nintendo DS applications. Flashcards have the advantages of keeping console files and portable files separate, have the ability to be used without modding your system, and are usable on DS Phat/Lite consoles. However, unlike modding the actual console, there are multiple flashcards on the market, each with different kernel requirements. The kernel you use is the most important.
DLDI #
Different SD card slots have different hardware (most of the time) and code written for one card won’t necessarily work for another card. DLDI (short for Dynamically Linked Device Interface) attempts to solve this by having the SD card handling code patched in externally. Loaders like YSMenu, Wood R4, and TWiLight Menu++ can automatically DLDI patch a homebrew, but if you need to manually patch it in, you can use a DLDI Patcher on a computer.
Time bomb #
In some flashcard kernels, an arbitrary expiration date (more commonly known as a time bomb) is coded in by the kernel developers as a way to get consumers to buy their latest product. The procedure for how this works is the following:
- The flashcard is booted into and loads up the kernel file from the SD card without checking if it’s the kernel intended by the developers
- Each time the kernel file from the SD card is loaded, it checks if the system date is past a certain date
If the second test comes out positive, the kernel will refuse to boot. This can be tested by setting your date to the latest value possible. However, the security is weak and the results aren’t cached, meaning that there are ways to work around it:
If you want to use the default kernel that the flashcard manufacturers intended, the system clock can be set back in the device’s System Settings application. Keep in mind, though, that this may break any game that relies on the system clock (such as Animal Crossing: Wild World).
However, the kernels that come with these cards are fundamentally flawed and it is preferable to outright replace them. Thankfully, 3rd party developers have made alternatives you can use:
- YSmenu - menu + game loader - Although it does not have the advantage of a customizable all-in-one menu, the game loader has far better compatibility with support for action-replay cheats
- TWiLight Menu++ with nds-bootstrap - Has a customizable all-in-one menu and supports cheats, but its B4DS mode (the mode used when it doesn’t have the DSi’s capabilities) has weak compatibility, some games even requiring the Memory Expansion Pak
- TWiLight Menu++ with YSmenu - Customizable all-in-one menu with high compatibility, but lacks cheat support
ARGV support #
ARGV is an information transmitter between two homebrew Nintendo DS applications. It can be used for forwarders or alternative menus.
- The homebrew needs to be programmed in order to take advantage of it. For example, GBARunner2, NesDS, and GameYob all have ARGV support
- There also needs to have a way to set the ARGV variables. TWiLight Menu++ and HBMenu allow setting ARGV arguments