A Guide To DLDI

[voteforpedro36]

DLDI GUIDE v2.0



Alright, so instead of waiting I decided I'd kinda make a pre-version of this guide.

What is DLDI?

DLDI is, officially: Dynamically Linked Device Interface. And yes, I memorized that, not got it off a page :) . Simply put, this means that if a piece of homebrew is DLDI compatible, you can patch it with the dlditool (explained later...) and it will work on your device. If it's not DLDI compatible and you patch it anyway, all your doing is making it bigger. Not a problem, but you may want to find out before hand.

What's the point of DLDI?

Alright, the point of it is that some games require you patch them with DLDI so you can play them. They put this in their games so it's compatible with every device that has DLDI, and not have to write it in their code one by one. It is pretty much a shortcut that developers take so their homebrew are more compatible.

"Win32 Right Click DLDI"

Alright, so now there's a new kind of DLDI that's much easier to use. Go to Chishm's DLDI site (http://chishm.drunkencoders.com/DLDI) and download just the Win32 Right Click.exe file (if you're using Windows) Right Click option. It takes very little time to download. Then go wherever you installed it and open it. Run the application, and it will ask you where you want to put it. That doesn't matter because it has the right click option. You then select what patches you want (I don't think DS-X is supported in the right click version), and it installs those too. You now can right click any .nds file and click "Patch with *your card* patch". This is much easier.

What patchers are available?

Windows
DLDIrc --Here (http://forum.gbadev.org/viewtopic.php?t=12292)
DLDI Tool (Command Line)--Here (http://dldi.drunkencoders.com/uploads/6/60/Dlditool-win32.zip)
Win32 GUI --Here (http://dldi.drunkencoders.com/uploads/f/f7/Dlditool-win32-gui.zip)
DLDI QuickPatcher--Here (http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=57636)


Mac OS X
DLDI Drop -- Here (http://www.blogadresse.de/2007/01/29/dldi-drop-dldi-patcher-the-mac-way/)


Linux
Nautilus DLDI [Right Click] Patcher -- Here (http://scognito.drunkencoders.com/projects/download.php?get=nautilus-dldi-patcher-0.1.tgz)
Nautilus Script Here (http://quirkysoft.googlecode.com/files/patch-dldi-1.0.tar.gz)
DLDI Linux GUI Here (http://www.lucasvd.nl/index.php?mode=comments&news_id=17)

I still recommend DLDIrc, then Win32 GUI, the DLDI QuickPatcher (requires renaming to homebrew.nds), then the command line one.


What devices can DLDI be used on?

Well, you could check Chishm's website above, or you can check the list I'm about to type in if your lazy. (If you wanna add one in case I forget to, add a post and I'll add it)

The following cards have been removed from the list because they use autopatching (you don't need my guide, sadly):
R4 (M3 Simply)
Cyclo DS Evolution
NCard + Co.


Default (No Device)- I'm a bit confused by this :p
AceKard+
DSLink (microSD)
DS-X
Ewin2 (SD Card)
EZ Flash 4 (SD Card)
EZ Flash 5 (SD Card)-The EZ5 menu won't boot a ROM in homebrew mode unless the gamecode is "PASS". Cory1942 has written a tool to fix the header and patch the ROM at the same time. Get it from his site. (That's off the site, there's a .zip file where "his site" is. Go to the link and hit see note beside the EZ Flash 5 link)
G6 Flash (v 0.15)
GBAMP (CF and SD vs. available)
M3 (CF and SD vs. available, Perfect available too)
MMD (CF)
NEO Flash MK2 & MK3 (SD)
NEO Flash MK5 (NAND Flash) <<??
NEO2 (SD)
Ninja DS (SD)
Ninjapass X9
R4DS- M3 Simply Compatible
SC (vs: SD, CF, Slot-1)
SC Lite (SD)

What homebrew is DLDI compatible?

NOTE: Please add to this by posting. I will continue research on what is and what isn't. Any help is appreciated. And also, all homebrew I say can be found at NDS.DCemu.co.uk (http://nintendo-ds.dcemu.co.uk), DS-Scene (http://www.ds-scene.net), or GBAdev (http://www.gbadev.org) if you search.

Alright, so here are a few that just popped into my head. I will update this list every day I have a new post adding...
All of these need the latest version, too...

AmplituDS
ANN: ReadMore Alpha
Bliptracker (Beatpad)
Beup Live
Blubb 3D
Comic Book DS
CrocoDS
DSAIM
DSBoy
DScent
DSChannels
DSDoom
DSLearnJ
DSLinux**
DSMasterPlus
DSMPlay
DS Organize
DSPad
Duke Nukem 3D
Earth Invaders 0 (Just for saves)
Final Fantasy Battle
Flashback DS
FrodoDS
Game Collection DS
Hexen DS
IRCDS
Ka-Boom!
Lameboy
LemmingsDS
LMP-ng (Formerly Licks Media Player)
MapViewerDS
Moonshell
MythRemote
NDSMail
NitroHax
NitroTracker
Okiwi
PenkoDS
Phidias
Picodrive DS
PictoBlog
Powder
Quake DS
SavSender
ScummVM DS
SNEmulDS
Speccy DS
StyxDS
Tales Of Dagur**
TettaDS
Warcraft Tower Defence DS**
WordUp!
WolveSlayer
ZXDS (Spectrum emulator)

**: Said item will NOT work on some cards even with DLDI.



Nice links: http://chishm.drunkencoders.com/DLDI
http://dldi.drunkencoders.com

K let's see what else do I wanna say... Thanks to: everyone who is involved in DLDI, mostly Chishm, and everyone who posts to help out this guide. More homebrew to be added, anything to be added, edited, or deleted outta the guide, just please, please, post it!

[Falcozx]

Good post...Here's a link to a page where you can dl dldi for your software

http://chishm.drunkencoders.com/DLDI/

[nat1192]

There is a DLDI version of NDSMail? I might have to try it.

[voteforpedro36]

Good post...Here's a link to a page where you can dl dldi for your software

http://chishm.drunkencoders.com/DLDI/

That's in the above guide...

and yeah, according to the site up there^^

Hey if anyone has anything to add please post it!

[voteforpedro36]

Sorry bout the double post, but it's been a while since that one and I finally got around to adding some more games that have support... still gonna keep on goin.

[needlesmcgirk]

I just got an R$ and I'm wondering, what's the point of using this at all? Why not just put the emulator and roms on the microsd card and justplay the games like that? I'm still confused as to what dldi is exactly...

[voteforpedro36]

I just got an R$ and I'm wondering, what's the point of using this at all? Why not just put the emulator and roms on the microsd card and justplay the games like that? I'm still confused as to what dldi is exactly...

Alright, the point of it is that some games require you patch them with DLDI so you can play them. They put this in their games so it's compatible with every device that has DLDI, and not have to write it in their code one by one. It is pretty much a shortcut that developers take so their homebrew are more compatible.

[outphase]

Alternate answer: There is no unified read/write driver to access the microSD card. DLDI is an alternative to having to build the rom with the data inside. This provides the direct access you are asking about.

[voteforpedro36]

Today I added the Right Click DLDI thing, much easier.

And one day later I added a whole nother emu to the list...

[voteforpedro36]

Added Tales of Dagur, but it won't work :( .

[voteforpedro36]

Haha, triple post. Oh well. Game Collection added though.

[guest]

why don't developer's patch their own homebrew w/dldi?? i don't get it.

[voteforpedro36]

why don't developer's patch their own homebrew w/dldi?? i don't get it.

Cause if they patched it with every device available so it would work with everything w/DLDI, then the file size would be huge. Really huge.

[voteforpedro36]

*DOUBLE POST, KISS MY ASS IF YOU CARE*

DSLearnJ added...

[Bamboozle]

ah well, was worth a shot... still cant get my m3 simply to run DSaim.

[voteforpedro36]

If it's not compatible with DLDI, patching it only can do two things: Make it bigger, and make it corrupt :( .

Since the guide is still up there on the forum, I'll just edit the last post and not add a new one :) . Added both DSPad and Gnirleo or however you spell it... (PS: that last one is coming soon so the link on that site I gave has no actual download or anything...)

"" now added... damn I already forget. Oh well, it's on the list :D .

[voteforpedro36]

DOUBLE POST:::

Added PHidias. Great drawing app too. See my awesome pictures, and his, at the PAlib thread (http://palib.info/forum/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=2547&forum=28). I'm not an artist, btw.

Instead of a triple post, I decided to say I added DSLinux!!

[canfield727]

Okay, I have an R4...So i downloaded the DLDI for the R4...Now what? Where do I put this file and what will it do? Will I now be able to run games like Doom Ds and that Spyro game that wouldn't load? Is that what this is? Will it help me at all with my other thread asking how the hell I use Nes roms with NesDS?

[voteforpedro36]

Okay, I have an R4...So i downloaded the DLDI for the R4...Now what? Where do I put this file and what will it do? Will I now be able to run games like Doom Ds and that Spyro game that wouldn't load? Is that what this is? Will it help me at all with my other thread asking how the hell I use Nes roms with NesDS?

K, now maybe no one freakin reads the guide, just posts questions here, and that's not bad. But first of all, you gotta download the thing on the same page as that that say "Win32.gui" or right-click somewhere in that. Then you just put the file wherever, and with any .nds file you just right click it and press "patch with..." and press a few keys when it tells you to. And it won't help you with Spyro, but it should with Doom. That's on the list.

[canfield727]

Ahhh! Win32GUI....In your other post, you said download just win32, you didnt say anything about gui, thats where I got lost. The win32 file didnt do anything. The tool just flashed when I opened it. Thanks man. You seem to really know your shiznit. I know you can help me with my other post. The one titled 'NES roms on NesDS?????' Give it a look, man. Thanks.

[canfield727]

When I right click my dsdoom.nds file and select DLDI R4 (DS) Patch, I get one of those "Another program is currently using this file" errors. Am I selecting the wrong patch. Yes, I'm a meathead.

[voteforpedro36]

Ahhh! Win32GUI....In your other post, you said download just win32, you didnt say anything about gui, thats where I got lost. The win32 file didnt do anything. The tool just flashed when I opened it. Thanks man. You seem to really know your shiznit. I know you can help me with my other post. The one titled 'NES roms on NesDS?????' Give it a look, man. Thanks.

Did I say Win32 in the guide?? Damnit, gotta fix that.

When I right click my dsdoom.nds file and select DLDI R4 (DS) Patch, I get one of those "Another program is currently using this file" errors. Am I selecting the wrong patch. Yes, I'm a meathead.

Another program? Did you close everything except for the folder that it's in? Try closing it too... if it still doesn't work I got a solution, but you don't need to resort to that unless it won't work...

[canfield727]

I'm sorry, you said "Win32 (if you're using Windows) Right Click option", which is actually the best choice. However, in order to get DS Doom to play I had to find other files to go with that patched version. I did get it all to work finally using the tool manually.
Thank you so much for your help. I dont mean to dis your tutorial...believe me its me...not you, man. I promise I will never, ever EVER! bother you again for anything else..ever again...for any reason. Oh hey, did you happen to look at my other thread?

[voteforpedro36]

It's not like I mind being bothered. I just wondered if I messed up in my guide, and I didn't, I just musta forgot how to use DLDI. And on your other thread, I can't get NESDS to work in the first place, so I'm of no help there :( . You might just have to wait for a new release.

[sergioalb64]

Hello there, I'm new here and new to DS homebrew, but you seem well aware of DLDI and its features; hopefully you can answer my question (I read the guide but didn't find an answer).

I have an R4, a 2GB MicroSD, and a MicroSD reader, and of course my DS Lite. Is there any way for me to play NES / SNES / GB/GBC/GBA games using emulators with the stuff I have? I've done some research and I can't find an answer.

Thanks.

[voteforpedro36]

Well see, this hasn't much to do with DLDI. But I will still answer your question. SNEmulDS will work after patching it with DLDI. For NES it just depends if it's compatible with your R4, since DLDI isn't incorporated (yet) with any NES emu...and there is a GB/C emulator, but it runs really slow, plus since it doesn't have DLDI this thread has NOTHING to do with it... and I can't be sure of it's compatiblity with the R4. And GBA: If you have the Slot-2 R4 (is there such a thing, I thought there was...) then you don't need an emulator. If you have a Slot-1 R4, then it just happens that there is no way to have a GBA emulator, so you're screwed out of GBA.

[voteforpedro36]

Alright, two things to say here. ONE IS I NEED OTHER PEOPLE TO HELP ME BUILD THE LIST. IT'S GETTING LARGER AND LARGER AND I CAN'T DO IT MYSELF.

And also, I added Duke Nukem 3D. EDIT: I ended up almost doubling my list...

I need someone to help me out here though, or many people.

[James1987]

obviously im diong something wrong, maybe you can help?
when i try to patch a game like hexen the command promp pops up and says "Not enough space for patch" and then it tells me the available bytes and the bytes needed... im not sure what to do and i would really appreciate your help.
thanks

[voteforpedro36]

obviously im diong something wrong, maybe you can help?
when i try to patch a game like hexen the command promp pops up and says "Not enough space for patch" and then it tells me the available bytes and the bytes needed... im not sure what to do and i would really appreciate your help.
thanks

Try a different game I suppose... are you trying to patch it while it's on your card? I usually do it when it's on my PC before moving it, but I have enough space on my card... how much room is on your card/PC?

[James1987]

i have about 140gigs of free space on my computer and my flash card is only half full, il try patching it on my computer and see if that works

[voteforpedro36]

UPDATED TO VERSION 2, no real reason, except for a massive overhaul in the "What games/apps are DLDI-able" section. I really need someone to help me out with this though, anyone?

[darig0n]

no offense but this guide is pretty much useless... only stupid people dont know how too use dldi i even know how too use it.

[bgmnt]

You'd be surprised. In an SNEmulDS thread at DCEmu, I pointed a user to http://wiki.pocketheaven.com/SNEmulDS and http://wiki.pocketheaven.com/DLDI for instructions on how to install it on his card, and he still appears to be completely clueless even though I feel the instructions are pretty clear.

[darig0n]

well for that guy i feel bad for him.anyway its a good guide just not necessary.

[voteforpedro36]

Well, if you're gonna post in the thread (and bump it), then call it stupid, I feel you're the stupid one here. Seriously, why the hell don't you just fucking leave?

[canfield727]

no offense but this guide is pretty much useless... only stupid people dont know how too use dldi i even know how too use it.


If only you could spell.

[canfield727]

And how can you say "no offense" then call people stupid?

[darig0n]

cuz thats me and your avatar is stupid. stupid people these days anyway like i said its not that useful.

[voteforpedro36]

So are you.

[darig0n]

not you dumb ass lol.. anyway i didnt say the guide sucks it just not necessary

[canfield727]

cuz thats me and your avatar is stupid. stupid people these days anyway like i said its not that useful.

You're not that useful. Go **** yourself.

[Otisicus]

Major problems going on for me...I'm using a MMD with an 8gb CF, and max media player. Max Media launcher isn't working with my dock. I used the right click patcher on a bunch of games, and it seemed to work. Changed from like E46 to MMD. Then I put em on my dock, and ran it. When I double tap a game though, it just flashes black and then goes white and stays white. What's the deal?

[voteforpedro36]

Major problems going on for me...I'm using a MMD with an 8gb CF, and max media player. Max Media launcher isn't working with my dock. I used the right click patcher on a bunch of games, and it seemed to work. Changed from like E46 to MMD. Then I put em on my dock, and ran it. When I double tap a game though, it just flashes black and then goes white and stays white. What's the deal?

What are you trying to run?

[Otisicus]

I downloaded a whole mess of .nds roms off Torrentspy.com. I put a couple big games (20k+ kb), and a couple small games (5-10k kb) on. Examples of the big ones are Zendoku, Bobble Buster or something, and then Whiffle Ball as a small one.

The only game that seems to be even close to working is Zendoku, which shows the very first screen you'd see if you had the cart, then freezes.

[voteforpedro36]

I downloaded a whole mess of .nds roms off Torrentspy.com. I put a couple big games (20k+ kb), and a couple small games (5-10k kb) on. Examples of the big ones are Zendoku, Bobble Buster or something, and then Whiffle Ball as a small one.

The only game that seems to be even close to working is Zendoku, which shows the very first screen you'd see if you had the cart, then freezes.

You don't need DLDI for commercial ROMs. You need Max Overload. Go to the Datel forum, look at the thread with about 10,000 replies.

[Gamedesigner20]

you put dslinux on your list of games/apps that need dldi patching, but the last time i tried, dslinux dosn't even work on mmd. you might want to take it off your list.

[voteforpedro36]

Technically it has a DLDI build, but it won't work on devices it didn't work on before. Note added. Thanks. (yeah I knew this too, but eh, I'm lazy).