Linux on the Nintendo DS

Using a passthrough and some homebrew demos, someone has Linux running on Nintendo's new dual-screen portable gaming unit.  It appears to use some external hardware, which makes the whole thing currently not-so-portable, but the idea is that all the hardware could be put on a single cartridge.  Once in there, a portable dual-screen Linux system with touch-screen input and WiFi could be pretty darn useful.  And fun.  And only $149.

[Via Waxy.org]

[Correction: That's not Linux running on there, actually.  Just a software demo.]

[Daniel @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

That's not Linux, just a random demo program.

Long way off having Linux running on it.

[John C. @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

Theres no mention of Linux being installed or running. Their talking about hacking a DS cart->DS connection.

Basicly taking a DS Cart runing it through a pass through then connecting that to the DS. This is what you would do if you wanted to make your own DS games, or maybe a FlashCart/reader. At most you could probably make a SD card reader for your DS, and load it up with your own Apps.

This is a start for hacking the DS, making linux run on it might be a future project; RTFA before you give it a title like "Linux on the Nintendo DS".

[scott @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

At the risk of receiving the answer "because they can..."

I ask... Why?

[PrimatePat @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

ummmmm yea but here is the thing you know netbsd will be out for it way before linux. Thats just how it is, also to note i glad to say i havve freinds who are already working on a port of netBSD to the sony PSP which they are getting to work a little right now as we speak using a usb keyboard and ad larger 1 gig memory stick for the storage. They are currently hoping that sony will acutally made the UMD writers for computers that way they can start making live distros you pop in with a UMD disk instead and then save the files to the memory stick. anyway BSD is better in any form

[Ricko @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

pwned!

[MeGaBiTe1 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

I am a mod at DSLinux, annd like others have said, we have not successfully gotten linux running on the DS. This is just a demo program. Sorry for the confusion.

[strider_mt2k @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

Don't even sweat that negative stuff man.

It's awsome that you are working on it.
Well done!

[strider_mt2k @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

Don't even sweat that negative stuff man.

It's awsome that you are working on it.
Well done!

[FourZeroFour @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

Yes, well done. Also couldn't you use the GBA Movie Player (compatible with the DS) and write a small program to run on it? It already has NES Player.

[anonymous @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

what the hell is a linux??

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

Just to clarify what is actually happening, that device (and several others constructed by developers) requires you to insert Metroid into it, and as Metroid starts to boot on the Nintendo DS, 4 bytes in the unencrypted header are changed to reroute execution to the GBA port. This makes it possible to run Nintendo DS programs from a normal GBA Flash Card.

[Brett Jackson @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

No linux yet. I advise watching the right-column
DS HACKING STATUS ALERT pane of the DS hacking site http://theModgods.com - right now the world is still very much at unLinuxed...

[eyeball226 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

DarkFader did that didn't he, and got a metroid hack working.

[Trejkaz @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

I have Linux running on my GBA-SP, and that doesn't require any extra hardware other than the flash cartridge itself.

Can't wait to see what people get running on the DS. I'm hoping they get OPIE running. :-D

[Hoss @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

well the gba isn't encrypted! We're getting reallt close though.

[Umbra @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

any word on music production software for this thing? I keep hearing about the 'chip music' sequencer cartridges made for the gameboy, and I suppose I could always track one of those down and then see about hooking that up to the ds somehow, but I would much rather have something that takes full advantage of this new unit's potential. a handheld portable music studio would be great, preferably something that would let me send finished sound and sequence files back and forth to my computer (I use mac and pc but mainly mac for the music). It would be nice to see a tiny version of Reason or something similar on the DS. Bjork uses something called a Q7-100 i think, made by Yamaha. That thing is like 500 bucks and I think it should be much cheaper than that, especially since the technology inside the DS is probably way more advanced than what that unit has to offer and could probably do a lot more after the right programmers develop something for it. Anyone with any info on music making apps for the DS please contact me. I would also love to do beta testing for that if possible.

[Umbra @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

and just so there is no confusion, the link I have up is to my music site, its not porn or anything

and since my email address didnt show up, its [e-mail]

thanx!

[super bob @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

dude my friend is already actually working on linux for the ds not like this peice of junk

[Ben @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

I don't see why Nintendo can't just be friendly, risk not making money by selling their own pda suit, and release the info needed to get it ported to and running on the DS. This would certainly increase their marketability, which would increase their software sales (I'm sure just about every DS Linux user out there would buy at least 1 game, and this would make up for the pda suit they would lose out on selling).

I really don't like N's closemindedness nowadays. They need to be open and share. Thats the only way to peace and domination and the best product.

A stripped down Linux client like DSL or something would me amazing....web browsing, touchpad writing text conversion, im'ing, taking notes in class (an excuse to use it), as well as media player. This is precisely what N needs to fight the PSP's offerings...something different but that goes so much further and that is free....

[bondy_00 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

I really hope you guys are dooing well on makeing linux for the DS, coz i would buy it if it started appearing in Australia! I reckon its just so cool!

I showed a friend of mine the DS last night coz he had never seen one and he said it wouldn't be long until someone was trying to put linux on a DS, and he was right!

keep up the good work!

[Podge @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

The idea is great, and I'd love to see it happen. The flexibility of Linux on a DS would be really handy, especially when combined with the DS' wireless card. And it would be the first linux distro where you wouldn't need to spend two hours on the net getting drivers for your hardware, 'cause everyone would be using the same hardware to begin with! I can't see Nintendo helping any, though. They must have plans for releasing their own office/pda style software already, and certainly won't be in a rush to support the competetion, particularly if it's open source.

[FafaFa @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

DS linux rocks. Psp linux sux for freakin posers BURN IN HELl. YA HERD ME BURN IN HELL.

[Alex @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM]

Haha 19 you're thick, why do you seem to think Nintendo "closemminded"...oh I just remembered, Nintendo DS is a gaming system not designed to be a PDA wannabe shit like you might want it