BlocksDS
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Build from source

This is the option you should use if you want to help develop BlocksDS, or if you want to always use the cutting edge version of BlocksDS.

  1. You need to install a cross compiler to build applications for NDS. You also need to build a few host tools, including a C/C++ compiler.

    If you’re on Ubuntu run the following command:

    sudo apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends build-essential
    
  2. You will also need to install the ARM toolchain of Wonderful Toolchains. Follow the instructions in this link but you skip step 5: https://wonderful.asie.pl/doc/general/getting-started/#linux

  3. Now, install the ARM toolchain of Wonderful Toolchains:

    export PATH=/opt/wonderful/bin:$PATH
    wf-pacman -Syu
    wf-pacman -S toolchain-gcc-arm-none-eabi
    

    You can also install the Teak toolchain if you want to develop binaries for the DSP of the DSi. This isn’t available in all platforms (like in Windows).

    wf-pacman -S toolchain-llvm-teak-llvm
    
  4. Now, clone this repository:

    git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/blocksds/sdk.git
    cd sdk
    
  5. To build the SDK, run this from the root of this repository:

    BLOCKSDS=$PWD make -j`nproc`
    
  6. Now, you have some options. The first one is recommended, the others are for users that may have advanced needs.

    1. Recommended. Install it in your system. You won’t need to set BLOCKSDS or BLOCKSDSEXT manually to use the SDK. Run:

      sudo mkdir /opt/blocksds/ && sudo chown $USER:$USER /opt/blocksds
      mkdir /opt/blocksds/external
      make install
      

      This will install the libraries and tools to /opt/blocksds/core. Third party libraries and tools are expected to be installed to /opt/blocksds/external.

      BLOCKDS defaults to /opt/blocksds/core in all Makefiles, and BLOCKDSEXT defaults to /opt/blocksds/external.

    2. Install it in your system in a custom path. You will need to set BLOCKSDS or BLOCKSDSEXT manually to use the SDK. Run:

      BLOCKSDS=$PWD make INSTALLDIR=my/path -j`nproc`
      

      You can avoid exporting BLOCKSDS every time by adding it to your .bashrc, .zshenv or similar.

    3. Use the libraries from this path. Make sure that the environment variable BLOCKSDS is always set to the right location when you want to use the SDK. The build system of the templates and examples will use this variable to locate the components of BlocksDS it and use them. Any other external library will need to be managed by you.

      You can avoid exporting BLOCKSDS every time by adding it to your .bashrc, .zshenv or similar.