When users on this forum create a thread asking what kernel should be installed on their flashcart, they seem to refer to it as "firmware"—this always confuses me. The firmware (also known as the "flash ROM") refers to ROM data that is required for the hardware to function correctly as every device has it; the firmware can be upgraded in the form of updates, and it is also what tricks the DS into thinking that it's a legit game. The kernel is essentially the flashcart's software, and the firmware knows exactly where the file(s) are, and what it should launch when you select the game from the Home Menu. A lot of confusion stems from the fact that the terms "firmware" and "kernel" means similar things, and are used interchangeably to describe the flashcart's software, but these are not the same thing.
Can't we just stick to one term instead of something completely irrelevant?
Does it make it confusing to troubleshoot somebody else's problem? Yes
Can't we just stick to one term instead of something completely irrelevant?
Does it make it confusing to troubleshoot somebody else's problem? Yes
