April 9, 2026
Dual Screens, Dual Opinions
Introduction to Nintendo DS Programming
Old DS guide resurfaces—nostalgia vs “use modern tools” and surprise “this is easy” vibes
TLDR: A beloved 2008 Nintendo DS programming guide is back in circulation, rekindling DIY game-making. Commenters split between warm nostalgia and calls to use newer tools like an open-source cart and BlocksDS, while tinkerers vow to homebrew on their DSis—proof the handheld still has serious fan energy.
A classic 2008 how‑to for making games on the Nintendo DS just dropped back into the spotlight, and the comments went full dual‑screen drama. One camp is giddy: “It’s surprisingly easy,” cheers a tinkerer who set up the dev kit and ran a demo on real hardware. Another group went straight to memory lane—one dev recalls learning to code with a “pretty hacky” beginner‑friendly library and making a theme‑swapping Pong clone, calling the old community “nice” and weirdly wholesome.
But the loudest plot twist? The age check. A single, savage “(2008)” became the thread’s running gag, with others pointing out that the manual reads like a time capsule. Modernizers piled in: “Great resource, but old,” said one commenter, dropping links to an open‑source DS cart and the BlocksDS SDK—both used in a demoscene showcase at Revision, the big creative coding fest. Meanwhile, today’s tinkerers are reshelling and “jailbreaking” forgotten handhelds and eyeing this guide as a starter pack to build tiny toys for their DSis.
The vibe? Nostalgia collides with upgrades. The manual’s chapters on homebrew politics and “is it legal?” add spice, but the crowd’s split: stick with the retro playbook, or go shiny and new. Either way, the DS refuses to retire—and the comments have zero chill.
Key Points
- •The manual by Jaeden Amero (2006–2008) is an introduction to Nintendo DS homebrew programming, updated for libnds 1.3.1.
- •It discusses the homebrew movement’s background and legality, and explains passthrough solutions (PassMe, NoPass) and Slot-1/Slot-2 devices.
- •It outlines methods to load programs onto the DS, introduces DLDI, and reviews Slot-1 options such as R4DS, M3 Real, and Cyclo DS Evolution.
- •It details setting up the development environment with devkitPro, libnds, and devkitARM.
- •It provides practical guidance on DS 2D graphics: backgrounds, VRAM configuration, fixed-point math, DMA, asset conversion (grit), and sprite handling via OAM.