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|logo = MelonDS.png
|logo = MelonDS.png
|logowidth = 80
|logowidth = 80
|version = {{MelonDSVer}}
|version = *{{Version|MelonDS}} <small>(Desktop)</small><br />
*{{Version|MelonDSAndroid}}<small>(Android)</small>
|active = Yes
|active = Yes
|platform = Windows, Linux, [[Nintendo Switch emulators|Nintendo Switch]]
|platform = [[Emulators on PC|Windows]]<br/>[[Emulators on Linux|Linux]]<br/>[[Emulators on macOS|macOS]]<br/>[[Emulators on BSD|BSD]]<br/>[[Emulators on Android OS|Android]]<small> (Unofficial)</small><br/>[[Emulators on Switch|Nintendo Switch]]<small> (Unofficial)</small><br/>[[Emulators on Vita|PlayStation Vita]]<small> (Unofficial)</small>
|target = [[Nintendo DS emulators|Nintendo DS]]
|target = [[Nintendo DS emulators|Nintendo DS]]<br/>[[Nintendo DSi emulators|Nintendo DSi]]
|developer = [https://github.com/Arisotura Arisotura]<br/><small>[https://github.com/Arisotura/melonDS/graphs/contributors Repository contributors]</small>
|developer = [https://github.com/Arisotura Arisotura]<br/><small>[https://github.com/Arisotura/melonDS/graphs/contributors Repository contributors]</small>
|accuracy = Medium-Accurate
|accuracy = Medium-Accurate
|website = [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/ melonds.kuribo64.net]
|website = [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/ melonds.kuribo64.net]
|support = [https://www.patreon.com/staplebutter Patreon]
|support = [https://www.patreon.com/staplebutter Patreon]<br/>[https://paypal.me/Arisotura PayPal]
|prog-lang = C++,C
|prog-lang = {{Proglang|C}}, {{Proglang|C++}}
|license = GNU GPL v3
|license = {{license|GPLv3}}
|source = [https://github.com/Arisotura/melonDS GitHub]
|source = [https://github.com/Arisotura/melonDS GitHub]
|issuetracker = [https://github.com/melonDS-emu/melonDS/issues GitHub]
|bios          = [[Emulator_Files#Nintendo_DS_.2F_DSi|Required for DSi]]
}}
}}
'''melonDS''' is a work-in-progress [[Nintendo DS emulators|Nintendo DS emulator]] aiming for better performance than [[DeSmuME]] and to emulate Wi-Fi and local multiplayer capabilities. It is developed by Arisotura (formerly known as StapleButter), a former contributor to DeSmuME, and has been available as a [[libretro]] core since version 0.6.
 
'''melonDS''' is a free and open-source [[Nintendo DS emulators|Nintendo DS]]/[[Nintendo DSi emulators|DSi emulator]] aiming for better performance than [[DeSmuME]] and to emulate Wi-Fi and local multiplayer capabilities. Its developer is Arisotura (formerly known as StapleButter/Luigi__), a former contributor to DeSmuME, and it is available as a [[libretro]] core since version 0.6. Its first commit on GitHub was on May 15, 2016.


==Downloads==
==Downloads==
* '''[http://melonds.kuribo64.net/downloads.php Official builds]''' <small>also available on '''[https://github.com/Arisotura/melonDS/releases Github]'''</small> (Windows, Linux)
{| cellpadding="4"
* '''[https://github.com/Hydr8gon/melonDS/releases Switch port (WIP)]''' (Some games play at a playable frame rate, but is still far from perfect, don't except to play games at full speed yet)<ref>http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=64 </ref>
|-
|{{Icon|Win|Lin|Mac|LinuxARM|WoA|FreeBSD|OpenBSD|NetBSD}}
|'''[http://melonds.kuribo64.net/downloads.php Official Builds]'''<br/><small>Also available on [https://github.com/Arisotura/melonDS/releases Github]</small>
|-
|{{Icon|Win|Lin|Mac}}
|'''[https://github.com/Arisotura/melonDS/actions Dev Builds]'''
|-
|{{Icon|Win}}
|'''[https://github.com/ZironZ/melonDS/releases melonDS X432R+ fork]''' — melonDS with upscaled 2D graphics and textures.
|-
|{{Icon|Win|Lin|Mac}}
|'''[https://github.com/pruefsumme/widemelon/releases WideMelon]''' — Experimental widescreen build of melonDS that expands DS 3D viewports while keeping 2D layers and the touchscreen at native proportions.
|-
|colspan="3"|<hr/>
|-
|align=center|{{Icon|Android-big}}
|'''[https://github.com/rafaelvcaetano/melonDS-android Source]''' '''[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.magnum.melonds Play Store]''' <br/> Unofficial melonDS Android port
|-
|align=center|{{Icon|Android-big}}
|'''[https://github.com/SapphireRhodonite/WatermelonDS WatermelonDS]''' <br/> Unofficial fork of melonDS-Android with dual-screen/external display support
|-
|colspan="3"|<hr/>
|-
|align=center|{{Icon|NX-big}}
|'''[https://github.com/RSDuck/melonDS/releases Release 6]<br>[https://gbatemp.net/threads/melonds-for-switch-continuation.570021/ GBATemp Thread]'''<br><small> Ported by Hydr8gon, and currently maintained by Generic (aka RSDuck), who added an ARM64 JIT and other improvements. (Unofficial)</small><!--I don't know what the current status is for the Switch Port in termsuuuuu of compatibility-->
|-
|align=center|{{Icon|Vita}}
|[https://github.com/Rinnegatamante/melonDS-Vita Vita port]<br><small>No longer maintained</small>
|}


==Overview==
==Overview==
As of 0.8.2, melonDS offers:
As of 0.9.5, melonDS offers:
* Nearly complete core (CPU, video, audio, ...)
* Nearly complete core (CPU, video, audio...)
* JIT recompiler for fast emulation
* OpenGL renderer, 3D upscaling
* OpenGL renderer, 3D upscaling
* RTC, microphone, lid close/open
* RTC, microphone, lid close/open
* Joystick support
* Joystick support
* Savestates
* Savestates
* Various display position/sizing/rotation modes
* Many display position/sizing/rotation modes
* (WIP) Wifi: local multiplayer, online connectivity
* Wi-Fi: local wireless and online networking
* DSi emulation
* Camera support (DSi only)
* DLDI
* (WIP) GBA slot add-ons
...and more are planned.


Though it's not as mature as DeSmuME in some areas, it's a relatively simple emulator to use and has potential.
Though it is not as mature as DeSmuME in some areas, it is a relatively simple emulator to use and has potential.


There is currently work on emulating the DSi<ref>http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=94</ref> and is planned to be a feature in version 0.9.  So far, it has been able to boot into the home screen of the DSi's firmware, but requires a lot of files to be dumped in order to work.  It is not ready for general use yet.
==Cheats/BIOS/Tutorials==
* <B> [https://gbatemp.net/threads/deadskullzjrs-nds-cheat-databases.488711 Cheats Database]</B>
* <B> [https://archive.org/details/ds-firmware_dsi-nand-and-firmware DSi NAND/BIOS + Firmware]</B>
* <B> {{YouTubeVideo|-s2qEJFU8fM|DSi Tutorials}}</B>


==Issues==
==Issues==
Like most emulators, development has been rocky with at one point the sole developer putting the project on a [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=42 hiatus in May of 2018] leaving this [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=43 to-do list] for anyone who wished to contribute improving the emulator, which is still open-source. [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=44 On July 2018] it was announced that development was going to continue for melonDS and has since showed high hopes for 2019.  
Like most emulators, development has been rocky with at one point the sole developer putting the project on a [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=42 hiatus in May of 2018] leaving this [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=43 to-do list] for anyone who wished to contribute improving the emulator, which is still open-source. [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=44 On July 2018] it was announced that development was going to continue for melonDS and has since shown potential.  


There is very little to tweak in terms of improving performance (which can be a good or bad thing). This is mainly due to the developer's goal of accurate emulation rather than providing game-specific hacks.
There is very little to tweak in terms of improving performance (which can be a good or bad thing). This is mainly due to the developer's goal of accurate emulation rather than providing game-specific hacks.


The new OpenGL renderer is still being developed, meaning that there's a slight chance some models/textures may not render correctly.
The OpenGL renderer is still being worked on, meaning that there is a small chance some models/textures may not render correctly.


==Getting Started==
==melonDSi==
On October 15, 2019, Arisotura released [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=103 the beta version of an emulator called melonDSi], an experimental melonDS branch for DSi emulation. It used to require a lot of files to be dumped to work (most of which were console-unique), but it has been reworked to require less files (namely, the DSi ARM7 and ARM9 BIOS, the DSi Firmware and a NAND dump). It has since been merged into the master branch and is available on melonDS 0.9.
 
==Getting started==
From the README on GitHub:
From the README on GitHub:


:''melonDS requires BIOS/firmware copies from a DS. Files required:''
:''Firmware boot (not direct boot) requires a BIOS/firmware dump from an original DS or DS Lite. DS firmwares dumped from a DSi or 3DS aren't bootable and only contain configuration data, thus they are only suitable when booting games directly.''
:*''bios7.bin, 16KB: ARM7 BIOS''
:'''''Possible firmware sizes'''''
:*''bios9.bin, 4KB: ARM9 BIOS''
:*''128KB: DSi/3DS DS-mode firmware (reduced size due to lacking bootcode)''
:*''firmware.bin, 128/256/512KB: firmware''
:*''256KB: regular DS firmware''
:''Firmware boot requires a firmware dump from an original DS or DS Lite. DS firmwares dumped from a DSi or 3DS aren't bootable and only contain configuration data, thus they are only suitable when booting games directly.''
:*''512KB: iQue DS firmware''
:''DS BIOS dumps from a 3DS can be used with no compatibility issues. DSi BIOS dumps should be usable too, provided they were dumped properly.''
:''DS BIOS dumps from a DSi or 3DS can be used with no compatibility issues. DSi BIOS dumps (in DSi mode) are not compatible. Or maybe they are. I don't know.''
:''As for the rest, the interface should be pretty straightforward. If you have a question, don't hesitate to ask, though!''


These files can be found [[Emulator_Files#Nintendo_DS / DSi|here]], just rename the BIOS to match.
These files can be found [[Emulator_Files#Nintendo_DS_.2F_DSi|here]]. If you do choose to look elsewhere online for system files, be warned that there are old hacked dumps floating around that breaks if the WFC configurations are altered.


In order to use the OpenGL renderer, you must have at least OpenGL 3.1.
To use the OpenGL renderer, you must have at least OpenGL 3.1.
More information can be found [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/faq.php in this FAQ].
More information can be found [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/faq.php in this FAQ].
To use melonDS in DSi mode, you need extra files which can be found [[Emulator_Files#Nintendo_DS_.2F_DSi|on this page.]]
==System requirements==
{{Main|Computer specifications#Recommended Specifications}}


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery>
Metroid2X.png|Top: 2x the native resolution without OpenGL. <br>Bottom: 2x the native resolution with OpenGL  
Metroid2X.png|Top: 2x the native resolution without OpenGL. <br>Bottom: 2x the native resolution with OpenGL  
Chibi4x.png|Top: Native software render. <br>Bottom: 4x the native resolution with OpenGL
</gallery>
</gallery>


==References==
<!--==References==
<references/>
<references/>-->


==External Links==
==External links==
* [https://emucross.com/the-one-that-flourished/ The One That Flourished: A Look at melonDS 0.8] (By [[Dolphin]] tester [https://dolphin-emu.org/blog/authors/JMC47/ JMC47], aka Justin M. Chadwick. 6 June 2019.)
* [https://emucross.com/the-one-that-flourished/ The One That Flourished: A Look at melonDS 0.8] (By [[Dolphin]] tester [https://dolphin-emu.org/blog/authors/JMC47/ JMC47], aka Justin M. Chadwick. 6 June 2019.)
* [https://discord.gg/pAMAtExcqV Official Discord server]
* [https://melonds.kuribo64.net/board/ Official forums]
*[https://kiwiirc.com/client/irc.badnik.zone/melonds IRC]
{{Nintendo DS emulators}}


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