comparison of different ds emulators

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+# research
+
+## DS / DSi emulators
+
+wanted features:
+
+- **DS and DSi version emulation (DSi for later)**
+  
+  DS version of pictochat can still receive images with rainbow drawings, but
+  doesn't support sending
+- **firmware booting**
+  
+  the phat DS and DS lite's firmware had pictochat built-in instead of as a
+  standalone app like on the DSi. to launch pictochat, firmware booting must be
+  possible.
+- **local multiplayer network emulation**
+  
+  required for testing sending and receiving
+- **local multiplayer packet capture**
+  
+  required for reverse engineering the packet format
+- **local multiplayer packet injection**
+  
+  required for testing forged packets
+- **open source**
+  
+  DIY packet injection anyone?
+- **linux-compatible**
+  
+  just a preference
+- **debugging (ideally using GDB or similar interface)**
+  
+  if all else fails, reading and/or injecting packets into memory using a
+  debugger might be the only option for testing forged packets. a debugger
+  could also help with reverse engineering the decoding process of a pictochat
+  packet/message
+
+### [DeSmuME][desmume]
+
+- phat ds only
+- no firmware booting
+- no local multiplayer emulation
++ open source
++ cross-platform
+- no debugger
+
+DeSmuME is focused on high quality/performance emulation for single player
+titles, and actively rejects requests for WiFi emulation.
+
+### [melonDS][melonds]
+
++ ds and (experimental) dsi support
++ firmware booting support
++ local multiplayer emulation
++ allows patched-in or real network packet capture using loopback network
+  adapter and wireshark
++ loopback network adapter also (probably) allows injecting forged packets
++ open source
++ cross-platform
+- no debugger
+
+melonDS is a very new emulator that is still actively being developed. melonDS
+is focused on accurate emulation and is the only one on this list with
+sufficiently advanced local multiplayer emulation.
+
+### [no$gba][nogba]
+
++ supports DS and DSi games
++ firmware booting support
+- no local multiplayer emulation
+- closed source
+- windows only
++ very advanced debugger
+
+[note]: <> (interesting links)
+
+[toolchaingenericds]: https://bitbucket.org/Coto88/toolchaingenericds/src/master/
+[nogba]: https://problemkaputt.de/gba.htm
+[melonds]: https://melonds.kuribo64.net/
+[desmume]: https://desmume.org/