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|title = melonDS|logo = MelonDS.png|logowidth = 80|version = {{MelonDSVer}}|active = Yes|platform = Windows, Linux, [[Nintendo Switch emulators|Nintendo Switch]]Multi-platform|target = [[Nintendo DS emulators|Nintendo DS]]|developer = [https://github.com/Arisotura Arisotura]<br/><small>[https://github.com/Arisotura/melonDS/graphs/contributors Repository contributors]</small>|architecture accuracy = x86_64Medium-Accurate|website = [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/ melonds.kuribo64.net]|support = [https://www.patreon.com/staplebutter Patreon]|prog-lang = C, C++|license = GNU GPLv3|source = [https://github.com/Arisotura/melonDS GitHub]|bios = [[Emulator_Files#Nintendo_DS_.2F_DSi|Required for DSi]]

'''melonDS''' is a workfree and open-in-progress source [[Nintendo DS emulators|Nintendo DS emulator]] aiming for better performance than [[DeSmuME]] and to emulate Wi-Fi and local multiplayer capabilities. It's is developed by Arisotura (formerly know known as StapleButter), a former contributor to [[DeSmuME]], and has been available as a [[libretro]] core since version 0.6.<!--What even is this number? I think a typo. Maybe 0.6.-->

* {| cellpadding="4"|-|align=center|{{Icon|Win|Lin|Mac}}|'''[http://melonds.kuribo64.net/downloads.php Official buildsBuilds]''' <br/><small>Also available on [https://github.com/Arisotura/melonDS/releases Github]</small>|-|align=center|{{Icon|Win|Lin|Mac}}|'''[https://github.com/Arisotura/melonDS/actions Dev Builds]'''|-|colspan="3"|<hr/>|-|align=center|{{Icon|Android-big}}|'''[https://github.com/rafaelvcaetano/melonDS-android Beta Build]'''<br><small>(Windows, LinuxUnofficial)</small><br>|-|colspan="3"|<hr/>|-|align=center|{{Icon|NX-big}}* |'''[https://github.com/Hydr8gonRSDuck/melonDS/releases Switch port (WIP)Release 5]<br>[https://gbatemp.net/threads/melonds-for-switch-continuation.570021/ GBATemp Thread]''' <br><small> Ported by Hydr8gon, and currently maintained by Generic (Some games play at a playable frame rate, but is still far from perfectaka RSDuck), who added an ARM64 JIT and other improvements. (Unofficial)</small><!--I don't except to play games at full speed. Is expected to improve when 0.8 know what the current status is released)<reffor the Switch Port in terms of compatibility-->http|-|align=center|{{Icon|Vita}}|[https://melondsgithub.kuribo64.netcom/Rinnegatamante/comments.php?id=64 melonDS-Vita Vita Port]<br><small>No longer maintained</refsmall>|}

As of 0.79.21, melonDS has had major improvements such as savestatesoffers:* Nearly complete core (CPU, video, audio, ...)* JIT recompiler for fast emulation* OpenGL renderer, 3D upscaling* RTC, microphone support, the ability to simulate the lid close/open function of the console's lid* Joystick support* Savestates* Various display position/sizing/rotation modes* (WIP) Wifi: local multiplayer, online connectivity* (WIP) DSi emulation* DLDI* (WIP) GBA slot add-ons* and better timing. Though it's still not at the same level of quality on some things as DeSmuME, it is getting <i>very</i> close with 0.8 expected to have decent OpenGL rendering which would allow for things like upscaling and potentially better performance.more are planned!

Even Though it's not as mature as DeSmuME in some of the additions that areas, it's a relatively simple emulator to use and has been introduced or planned to be implement into melonDS, such as increased accuracy of Wi-Fi networking emulation potential. ==Cheats/BIOS (and perhaps DSi mode in future), has forced its 'bigger brother', ==* <B> [https://gbatemp.net/threads/deadskullzjrs-nds-cheat-databases.488711/ List of Supported Cheats Database]</B>* <B> [DeSmuME]], to relapse https://archive.org/details/ds-firmware_dsi-nand-and start their own implementations. The DeSmuME team has, for a very long time, been very reticent, to the point of blank stubbornness, to have any emulation of key NDS technology like Wi-Fi linking.firmware DSi NAND/BIOS + Firmware]</B>

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 2019shown 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. The OpenGL renderer is still being worked on, meaning that there's a slight chance some models/textures may not render correctly.

The UI is still pretty barebones with very little to tweak in terms ==melonDSi==On October 15, 2019, Arisotura released [http://melonds.kuribo64.net/comments.php?id=103 the beta version of improving performancean emulator called melonDSi], this is mainly due an experimental melonDS branch for DSi emulation. So far, it's able to boot into the developerhome screen of the DSi's goal firmware and boot some DSiWare, DSi-Enhanced games and other features (cameras, DSP, new wifi, etc.) aren't supported yet. It used to have required a lot of making files to be dumped in order to work (most of which were console-unique), however it has been reworked to require less files (namely, the DSi ARM7 & ARM9 BIOS, the DSi Firmware, and a working emulation rather than provide game-specific hacksNAND dump). It has since been merged into the master branch and is available on melonDS 0.9.

==Getting Startedstarted==

These files can be found [[Emulator_Files#Nintendo_DS / DSiNintendo_DS_.2F_DSi|here]]. If you do choose to look elsewhere online for system files, just rename be warned that there are old hacked dumps floating around that breaks if the BIOS WFC configurations are altered. In order to matchuse 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]. To use melonDS in DSi mode, you need extra files which can be found [[Emulator_Files#Nintendo_DS_.2F_DSi|on this page.]] ==Gallery==<gallery>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>

To boot to the DS's system menu you can either go to <b>System!--==References==<references/b> -> <b>Run</b> or <b>Config</b> -> <b>Emu settings</b> and uncheck "<i>Boot game directly</i>".