SeedlessDS 1.0.0-beta1 is now available!
Hi everyone!
SeedlessDS 1.0.0-beta1 is now available.
This is the first public beta release of SeedlessDS, my new Nintendo DS emulator project focused on low-power Android handhelds, physical controls, and dual-screen devices.
SeedlessDS is built around the DraStic r2.6.0.4a core, with a new Android frontend, a new UI written in Kotlin and Jetpack Compose, RetroAchievements integration work, and a style designed to match its sister project: WatermelonDS
Download: https://github.com/SapphireRhodonite/SeedlessDS/releases/tag/1.0.0-beta1
Highlights
This first beta includes:
New Android frontend for a DraStic-based core
New UI built with Kotlin and Jetpack Compose
UI direction designed to match the WatermelonDS family
Focus on low-power Android handhelds
Support for physical controller navigation
Dual-screen device support
RetroAchievements integration work
Achievements, leaderboards, and profile information
Save states with screenshots
Quick save and quick load
Cheat database and custom codes
Global and per-game settings
Front-end friendly launch intent support
The full detailed changelog is available in the GitHub release notes.
Why SeedlessDS exists
WatermelonDS is still my main long-term Nintendo DS emulator project.
But some handhelds have limited chipset performance, and melonDS-based emulation can be too heavy for them today.
SeedlessDS exists as a lighter option for those devices.
The idea is simple:
WatermelonDS is the main project.
SeedlessDS is the smaller sibling for lower-power devices.
It is the watermelon without the seeds.
RetroAchievements
SeedlessDS includes early RetroAchievements integration work.
This beta includes support for achievements, leaderboards, and profile information, but this is still early and needs more testing.
Please report any RetroAchievements issues with as much detail as possible.
What comes next
After this beta, I want to keep improving compatibility, performance, controller support, dual-screen behavior, and RetroAchievements stability.
I also want to keep improving the UI so SeedlessDS feels more connected to WatermelonDS.
Long term, the goal is to keep moving toward a cleaner and more open implementation, and a Linux version is also planned for compatible handheld devices.
Devices like the RG35XX SP are part of the direction I want to support in the future.
Important note
SeedlessDS does not include games, Nintendo DS BIOS, or firmware files.
Please use your own legally obtained files.
Feedback
Feedback will be very important for this beta.
When reporting issues, please include your device model, Android version, game tested, whether RetroAchievements was enabled, whether you used one screen or two screens, and whether you were using touch controls or a physical controller.
Thank you
Thank you to everyone testing and supporting SeedlessDS.
This project exists because some handhelds need a lighter Nintendo DS option today, while WatermelonDS continues to mature as the long-term melonDS-based project.
SeedlessDS is still early, but it is already a useful path for low-power Android consoles, dual-screen handhelds, and RetroAchievements-focused Nintendo DS gameplay.
- Sapphire 💙
Comments (7)
Any ETA on when the next version might be available for Patreon members? Hearing all the reviewers talk about using it on the Duo Lite has me excited to try it.
Tomorrow ;), for everyone!!!!, but don't tell anyone ;)
Hey. Is your plan to eventually get hardcore to work with seedlessds and/or is it even possible you think?!
hardcore support for RA?
Emulator looks solid! Tried this on Anbernic RG DS with GammaOS Next 1.2.2. - At first games wouldn’t launch in external screen and in Dualstack mode it seemed like external screen is more out of sync. But eventually it worked in standard dual screen mode and the issue of out of sync external screen is less apparent that way. - Couldn’t get RetroAchievements working. I can log in, but when I launch a game with RA support, there are no RAs loaded. - The app also picks up files with ._ prefix, that comes from transferring roms from macos. But that's just a matter of cleaning my roms folder. - App also doesn’t trim rom names for (), [] characters. - Harder to run games like Dragon Quest V have audio stutters in Drastic with GammaOS or ROCKNIX, in SeedlessDS I don't have any audio stutters but DQV feels sluggish, game itself stutters and there's visible lag with controls and more out of sync external screen. Games overall still feels more stuttery than Drastic in other OSes. Other than that I am genuinely excited to use it! UI is much better than Drastic in new GammaOS Nano. Once the performance gets better I am sure I will use the app as my main frontend for DS games on RG DS.
And don't forget to add on mix features as many DS games will need that.
Yup!!! I will keep growing this emu!