Comment by plagiarist 10 hours ago
Are {,3}DSs easily hackable? Is it just running software from disk or is the whole firmware replaceable? I love the form factor, would be fun to have one as a home automation remote.
I love the form factor of the Switch also. I wish Nintendo hardware was more hackable.
All 3DS/2DS models can be hacked with software only and it's very easy https://3ds.hacks.guide/
Also all Switch models can be hacked too. It's only the matter of softmodding (early V1 models) or modchip installation (later V1 models, V2, Lite, OLED)
I have both a hacked New 3DS XL and a hacked Switch OLED and both are incredibly good. But I admit I use the latter only because of piracy...
A DS set to Auto mode will boot to the cartridge (and you can reflash the firmware to skip the health and safety screen). From there the OS is replaced with whatever is on the cart. A flashcart with the right shell will boot right into whatever app you want (and you can soft reset the console with a key combination to switch apps).
3DSes require a little more work and have a longer boot chain, but it's been thoroughly broken all the way to the bootstrapping process so you can use whichever firmware version and whatever patches you like with enough effort.
Once a DS has been flashed (skips the health and safety screen) it also disables signature verification for DS download play, so you can beam homebrews directly to your DS' home screen with a wifi card. But this is an awkward process that most people don't actually do with their original DSes, as it requires putting tinfoil over a toothpick and jamming it into a hole next to the battery to close the flash write jumper. I think DS' crypto has also been defeated but I can't find any documentation of arbitrary download play on unflashed DSes. Also seems no .nds signing keys in the leaks from what I can tell.
A Steam Deck won't fight you every step of the way.
Proprietary closed hardware is not great for home brew projects. =)
rather get a used DS for cheap than help pay for GabeN's next hyper-yacht.
Nobody has to have instructions on how to "hack" the Steam Deck because it's a computer and you just run whatever you want on it.
The instructions on how to crack open the immutable OS image are readily available from Valve but you probably won't need them since it's already got a lot of power even without that.
SteamOS 3 is Arch Linux-based, and should allow most popular game engines to run fine. =3
I have a Steam Deck instead of a Switch for that reason. Doesn't stop me from admiring and envying the form factor, unfortunately.
I do think it would be fun to have a plugin and be able to control lights from the Steam Deck menus, too, though. Just haven't gotten around to trying.
For a regular DS all you need to do is buy a simple flashcart, copy applications to a microSD card, and you're done, you don't need to replace the firmware. There's even a FOSS flashcart: https://www.lnh-team.org/
On DSi you can replace the firmware and load your applications from the SD slot of the DSi, no flashcart needed.
Also, there are a few C/C++ toolchains for the DS (BlocksDS, devkitARM) and different libraries depending on how low level you want to go with your code. It's very easy to get started.
The 3DS is also pretty easy to hack, and then all you have to do is to copy your applications to the SD card of the console.