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About this Guide

The Programmers Guide to the Nintendo DS attempts to provide a roadmap for developers who want to write homebrew programs for the Nintendo DS. It does not cover pirating commercial ROMs in any way.

Who Should Use this Guide

This document is for developers. To use and understand this guide, the reader should already be familiar with C++. A good foundation in programming is assumed. However, this guide, does not assume a vast knowledge of GBA programming. Note that the operating system in use by the author is a Linux/Fedora Core system, and some instructions within this guide related to tools will be Linux specific. However, the bulk of this guide deals with programming issues related specifically to the Nintendo DS, and will be applicable reguardless of the development platform employed.

How to Use this Guide

This guide is divided into six parts.

Part I provides a basic introduction to the Nintendo DS, the development environment, and configuration issues. The final section of this part provides a list of resources used in writing and testing this Guide, as well as acknowledgements of people who aided in the understanding of the programming of the Nintendo DS.

Part II is geared towards the graphics side of the Nintendo DS. The various graphic modes available are described, and how to use them. Starting with mode 0, Part II provides several tutorials and code fragments to demonstrate how to use the various features provided by each mode.

Part III describes the Nintendo DS sound system. Initially, the output of sound is described, and several tutorials demonstrate this ability. Acquiring sound from the microphone is then described, culminating in a tutorial where the user's voice is recorded, and echod back to the user.

Part IV provides information on using the Ninteno DS's built-in wireless capabilities. Tutorials are provided for two types of applications. The first tutorial will provide an example of how an application can use wireless to coordinate game playing on two NDSes. In this example, the application must be running on both NDSes. The second tutorial provides an example of the application downloading a copy of its self to the second DS allowing a single game cartridge to be used to run on many different NDSes.

Part V discusses several advanced topics that related to game programming. The topics in this section cover more game oriented topics, and how the issues apply to the NDS.

Part VI contains all of the appendicies. This is various reference material deemed important enough to make a part of this document.

Submitting Feedback

In an effort to make this guide as friendly and usable as possible, all comments are welcomed. Feel free to comment on any portions of the guide, particularly:

Please send email to the current maintainer of the programmers guide describing errors or proposed enhancements. The current email address is:

PhoenixRising@dspassme.com


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