nds-bootstrap:

Thanks to the work of ahezard, Gericom, Apache, Robz8, _catcatcat, and shutterbug2000 and other contributors, we can now load NDS games from the SD card, without any flashcard/SLOT-1 card.

Don't expect high compatibility, but do expect many, many updates.

Compatibility listing:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LRTkXOUXraTMjg1eedz_f7b5jiuyMv2x6e_jY_nyHSc/edit#gid=0

The official Discord server for nds-bootstrap:
https://discordapp.com/invite/7bxTQfZ

The thread for the recommended loader (by Robz8):
https://gbatemp.net/threads/twloader-ctr-mode-nds-app.448375/

SRLoader for softmodded DSis (by Robz8):
https://gbatemp.net/threads/srloader-nds-app-for-dsi.472200/

If you're more of a forwarder person:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/nds-forwarder-cias-for-your-home-menu.426174/

Link to the releases page:
https://github.com/ahezard/nds-bootstrap/releases

Anti-Piracy patch list by Robz8
https://gbatemp.net/threads/ap-patch-preservation.477536/

Also, thank you to our testers:
Historian
JoshuaDoes
thejsa
Alerdy
PokeAcer

Spoiler: Videos

Also, a video thanks to Robz8:


And another thanks to Alerdy:

 

[Valery0p]

I'm curious, what differs about Platinum that doesn't allow it to be read? It's pretty much the same game with minor tweaks.

Like in D&P, there is probably a little pseudo-AP check, that needs to be pached; also, there may be some unknown card read commands used here...
Shutterbug2000 is working on it.

 

[TimX24968B]

glad to see pokemon games are underway! and how much progress is being made on this.

 

[Joshua Wright]

glad to see pokemon games are underway! and how much progress is being made on this.

If they can also allow wireless to work in D/P/PL on twloader than that will be even better "Cough, (ALTWFC) Cough"

 

[Dracari]

If they can also allow wireless to work in D/P/PL on twloader than that will be even better "Cough, (ALTWFC) Cough"

that'd be a lill further off depending how Patched roms will work right off the bat.

 

[Joshua Wright]

that'd be a lill further off depending how Patched roms will work right off the bat.

A guy can dream right

 

[Giodude]

that'd be a lill further off depending how Patched roms will work right off the bat.

mkds works with altwfc perfectly

 

[Joshua Wright]

mkds works with altwfc perfectly

I tried long ago with mkds but no one was on

 

[Dracari]

mkds works with altwfc perfectly

"Patched D/P Roms" we'll see once everything's up in usable order.

 

[TinchoX]

It's good to see some progress has been made.

 

[Makore]

@Robz8, Any improves in the latest commit? Or you don't recommend update for now?

 

[RocketRobz]

@Robz8, Any improves in the latest commit? Or you don't recommend update for now?

12MB of the DSi RAM is now used for LRU cache, instead of the DSi WRAM, so expect speed-ups!

 

[Makore]

12MB of the DSi RAM is now used for LRU cache, instead of the DSi WRAM, so expect speed-ups!

¿Improve the stability of the games?

 

[RocketRobz]

¿Improve the stability of the games?

Well, it should help with lags.

 

[FateForWindows]

12MB of the DSi RAM is now used for LRU cache, instead of the DSi WRAM, so expect speed-ups!

Tested it, here are my results.

SM64 loading times are DraStically reduced, almost completely gone for some parts (like the different areas of the castle).

Mega Man ZX is a lot better load-wise, lags when pausing are shorter too, in the intro sequence the lag before the exclamation marks appear after the first 3 buster shots are shorter. Stuttering during FMVs reduced by a huge amount and are even more bearable than the increase brought by 0.4.0.

In-game load times are almost gone in Mario Mart DS. Menus still lag but just by listening to the greatly faster "load music" you can see a major difference. The transition from course preview to the race is only 2 seconds now.

Sadly it seems Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time is giving me a white screen on the new unofficial... still works with the official. I wanted to see how the Nintendo screen is doing. I tried multiple tries and it's working on the official.

Other games have some speed improvements and work fine.

EDIT: And Namcomuseum DS has basically no loading times anymore.

 

[Makore]

Mario & Luigi Bowser Inside Story cannot boot (maybe)...

 

[Damin72]

Tested new build.
Ace Attorney 3 - Works like a normal game, but sometimes loadings is appear, but not critical.
English of the Dead - Same on 0.4.3.
CoD4 - Menu work faster, in-game work as always.
Castlevania Aria of Sorow - Don't work on this build.
Resident Evil DS - Don't work on this build.
Sonic Rush - Don't work on this build.
Trauma Center - Don't work on this build.

Update: I don't know how, but Ace Attorney 1 doesn't work too.

 

[FR0ZN]

Out of curiosity, can the devs make a statement of what will probably never be possible with this implementation?

Like, games will never reach 100% 1:1 DS speed, or game XYZ will probably never work etc.

Or are is there confidence that this can mimic the NDS lke 100% in all regards?

 

[Joshua Wright]

Out of curiosity, can the devs make a statement of what will probably never be possible with this implementation?

Like, games will never reach 100% 1:1 DS speed, or game XYZ will probably never work etc.

Or are is there confidence that this can mimic the NDS lke 100% in all regards?

It's too early to say anything concrete about the NDSbootstrap yet.

 

[Giodude]

It's too early to say anything concrete about the NDSbootstrap yet.

I mean they said nds bootstrap with retail compatibility was impossible, and look where it's at now. Even sd card access in ntr mode was said to be impossible.

 

[Joshua Wright]

I mean they said nds bootstrap with retail compatibility was impossible, and look where it's at now. Even sd card access in ntr mode was said to be impossible.

Exactly,We just need to sit back and watch how things go.