AKMenu-Next

Frontend for nds-bootstrap and Pico-Loader based upon lifehansolhacker's akmenu4 port.

Installing

Please check the AKMenu-Next Docs for setting up or updating AKMenu-Next.

Building from source

Requires the pre-calico version of devkitarm to be installed with the nds-dev package. A docker image is available with this version on docker hub.

Build the repository with make, then run package.cmd/sh depending on your OS to package the build for Flashcarts, DSi and 3DS.

Configuration

• The system directory is _nds/akmenunext where the akmenu system files should be placed, along with a copy the nds-bootstrap files in the _nds folder.
• The binary of akmenu-next additionally needs to be in the _nds/akmenunext folder as launcher.nds for theme & language reboots, this is automatically added if using the package script.
• Cheats should be placed as usrcheat.dat into the _nds/akmenunext/cheats folder.
• Theme installation and customization is documented in Themes.md.
• For flashcart related builds, files for the corresponding flashcart for Pico-Loader should go into the _pico folder.
• Plugins go into _nds/akmenunext/plugins.

Plugins

Plugin format is {extension}.ini (e.g. gba.ini) and follows the below format:

[plugin]
path=path/to/default.nds // Optional fallback path
dsipath=path/to/dsi.nds // Optional override when DSi/TWL mode is detected
ntrpath=path/to/ds.nds // Optional override when DS/NTR mode is detected
argv=1 //If the emulator supports argv
bootstrap=0 //Use the Homebrew Loader setting
hbargv=0 //Pass the plugin argument through nds-bootstrap-hb's HOMEBREW_ARG setting

The specified extension will be recognised as a valid file and launched using the selected .nds path. Set at least one of path, dsipath, or ntrpath. dsipath and ntrpath take priority in their corresponding modes. If a mode-specific override is omitted, path is used as the fallback; if no path is configured for the current mode, the plugin cannot launch in that mode. argv, bootstrap, and hbargv continue to apply to the selected launcher.

Set bootstrap=1 to use nds-bootstrap-hb for the plugin on DSi when no flashcart is detected. Otherwise, the selected Homebrew Loader setting is used. Enable Override plugin defaults in Other Settings to always use the selected Homebrew Loader setting, even when a plugin sets bootstrap=1. Selecting nds-bootstrap-hb in Homebrew Loader always uses nds-bootstrap-hb.

Set hbargv=1 to write the selected file path to HOMEBREW_ARG in nds-bootstrap.ini when nds-bootstrap-hb is the selected Homebrew Loader. This works independently of argv, which controls whether the path is also passed as a normal launch argument. The icon for the file will be read from _nds/akmenunext/plugins/icons/{extension}.bin as a banner file. If it is not found it will fall back to the default icon.

If the .gba extension is used for a plugin and an EZ Flash 3 in 1 is inserted, the 3 in 1 will take priority over the plugin for loading .gba files.

Please see the AKMenu-Next Plugin Documentation for more information

License

This project is comprised of various sources and is collectively licensed under the GPL-3.0-or-later license. Please check the license section for more information as well as a copy of all applicable licenses.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome, however please ensure you have read CONTRIBUTING.md first before opening a pull request. Any issues regarding game compatibility should submitted on the nds-bootstrap repository or Pico-Loader repository.