First steps on DS homebrew programming

Although KDS Blog is not pretending to be a complete NintendoDS software development tutorial, I've thought it would be a good idea to post the first message related to DS programming in libnds as a start point to everything: the programming tools, as well as useful document resources to learn about the hardware capabilities and how to use it. 

In other words, what is devkitARM and what is libnds, and why a flashcart is needed:

• devkitARM is a set of binary tools that will be used to compile our code and convert it to a NintendoDS executable ---that is, a *.nds file---; it's a piece of the entire devKitPro compiler toolset.
• libnds is the library that makes easier the NintendoDS programming, since it contains direct addresses to its specific control registers as well as functions and auxiliar libraries to manage 2D and 3D graphics, sound, wifi...
• a flashcart is a must-have item, because we have no access to the NintendoDS slot cartridge manufacturing; so by using a flashcart, we can put into it our code and run it on the handheld system.
• also, an emulator would be recommended; by executing our codes on it, it's faster to debug our applications before a final testing on the device.

Well, once the necessary tools are explained, it's time to find useful links to begin the NintendoDS development. In this blog's sidebar "ds homebrew useful links" there are the most useful links I encountered in my own searchings: the first one is necessary, it's the homepage of devKitARM and libnds.

Finally, my most truly recomendation is to begin with Patater's manual of NintendoDS programming guide because it follows an easy application implementation and tells the hardware and software factors in a progressive way. However, it's a little obsolete because it's focused on libnds version 1.3.x and nowadays the version 1.4.2 have been released, but anyway it's a good recommendation: the hardware is the same, indeed :) and the used tools are almost the same that the used in the present day.

I hope this starting point will be useful to somebody, and I will be glad to be of help: Whatever the doubt, suggestion or question, here are the comments enabled and the cbox to talk in a kind of chat. Enjoy!!