Nds-bootstrap: Add a ROM patching system

[shutterbug2000]

Instead of patching problematic games (such as Mario's Holiday demo) directly in bootstrap, allow for patch files to be created that can replace bytes easily.

This could also allow for .xdelta and/or .ips patches to be applied at runtime, but we'll see.

[ahezard]

Good idea!

[ahezard]

That would make the code simpler to maintain on the long term

[piratesephiroth]

Also the rom caching settings could be stored in a .ini file instead of being hardcoded.
However robz8 didn't know how to implement that when I suggested it.

[aphirst]

I assume that this could, in principle, be used for Anti-Piracy patching too? Or, assuming it's not defined as out-of-scope, would a different implementation approach be more sensible for that?

[ahezard]

That should be easy to support ips patch

[noctis90210]

just want to ask if this issue is about soft patching the rom (game and ap patch file are separate files on sd card but patch will automatically applied upon loading a rom) rather than hard patching/injecting the patch directly into the rom? thanks

[RocketRobz]

@noctis90210 Yes.

[MasterGamingYT]

So it's basically built in AP patching?

[MasterGamingYT]

Oh wait.......nevermind

[NightYoshi370]

Implemented in the latest release

[noctis90210]

@NightYoshi370 just want to ask if this feature is already built-in into nds bootstrap? What i mean is it will work on any type of nds-bootstrap emulation? like starting games via TWLmenu and NDS Forwarder?

If im going to use it with NDS Forwarder, where should i put the patch file so that nds-bootstrap can detect and apply it on the fly?
thanks and have a nice day...

[ahezard]

This feature is already built-in into nds bootstrap but I do not think it work with the NDS Forwarder which are outdated.

[noctis90210]

@ahezard ahhh ok... so it means NDS Forwarder is the one that needed an update to support new features of nds-bootstrap like patching on the fly... i hope robz8 will update his NDS Forwarder... anyway thanks for your reply... :-)

[ahezard]

The forwarders have just been updated by Robz8 : https://gbatemp.net/threads/nds-forwarder-cias-for-your-home-menu.426174/page-275#post-8804064
IPS patches are now supported