Freedom251 › ROM Patching Software
ROM Bin Patcher (rombp)
What ROM Bin Patcher (rombp) is
ROM Bin Patcher (rombp) is a free utility for applying IPS and BPS patch files, formats commonly used for retro gaming ROM hacks. It was primarily made for the RG350M handheld running OpenDingux and also runs on desktop Linux; the maker reports testing it on an RG350M and Ubuntu 20.04. It may work on other OpenDingux MIPS64 handhelds, though testing is reported only for the RG350M. Before applying a patch, rombp copies the source ROM, preserving the original. It saves the patched ROM in the patch file’s directory under the patch file’s name. Command-line options let users specify the input ROM, patch format and output file; launching without options opens the SDL interface. Installation instructions direct users to the latest OpenDingux OPK on the GitHub releases page. The RG350 build links against uclibc and SDL2. The repository includes an MIT license permitting use, copying, modification, distribution, sublicensing and sale subject to its terms; the license disclaims warranties and liability.
Who it suits
rombp suits retro gaming users who need to apply IPS or BPS patches on an RG350M or desktop Linux. It may suit users of other OpenDingux MIPS64 handhelds, but testing is reported only for the RG350M.
What it does well
- Supports both IPS and BPS patches.
- Copies the source ROM before patching.
- Offers command-line options and an SDL interface.
- Free utility with an MIT license.
What to know first
- Testing is reported only on RG350M and Ubuntu 20.04.
- Other OpenDingux MIPS64 handheld compatibility is not confirmed.
- The RG350 build links against uclibc and SDL2.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| ROM Bin Patcher | IPS and BPS patches · OpenDingux OPK and desktop Linux | Free |
As github.com lists them, read 4 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the rombp GitHub repository.
- Download the latest OpenDingux OPK from the GitHub releases page for an OpenDingux device.
- Choose an input ROM and an IPS or BPS patch.
- Use command-line options to set the input ROM, patch, and output file, or launch without options to open the SDL interface.
Verdict
rombp covers IPS and BPS patching on its primary RG350M target and desktop Linux, with command-line and SDL interface options. Users on other OpenDingux MIPS64 handhelds should note that the maker reports testing only on RG350M.
Questions
Is ROM Bin Patcher free?
Yes. Its listed plan is free.
Which patch formats does it support?
It supports IPS and BPS patch files.
Which platforms does it run on?
It was built primarily for the RG350M running OpenDingux and also runs on desktop Linux. The maker reports testing on an RG350M and Ubuntu 20.04.
Does rombp preserve the original ROM?
Yes. Patching creates a copy of the source ROM before applying the patch.
Does it have a graphical interface and command-line support?
Yes. Launching without options opens the SDL interface, and command-line options select the input ROM, patch, and output file.
What license does the project use?
The repository includes an MIT license that permits use, copying, modification, distribution, sublicensing, and sale subject to its conditions. It disclaims warranties and liability.
Facts from ROM Bin Patcher (rombp)'s own pages
- API and SDK
- The published interface is a local SDL application and CLI; no web API, SDK, or integration catalog is documented. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- BPS documentation
- The repository includes an 8.5 KB, 238-line BPS format specification with encoding and decoding examples. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- BPS file-size model
- The documented BPS variable-length encoding is designed to support file sizes beyond 16 MB or 4 GB limits. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- BPS support
- The patcher applies BPS-format patch files. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Build requirements
- Building requires the RG350 Buildroot toolchain and an exported RG350_TOOLCHAIN path. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Checksum behavior
- BPS patches carry CRC32 checksums for the source, target, and patch, while the specification says cryptographic hashes are outside the format's intended security model. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Command line
- Command-line options select the input ROM, IPS or BPS patch, and output file; launching without options opens the SDL UI. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Command-line interface
- The CLI accepts input ROM, patch, and output paths through -i, -p, and -o options. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Desktop support
- It also runs on desktop Linux, with Ubuntu 20.04 listed as the only desktop test environment. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation and support
- The project documentation consists of a README, build instructions, command-line usage, release notes, and the BPS specification; no hosted help center or support policy is published. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Download
- The installation instructions direct users to download the latest OpenDingux OPK from the GitHub releases page. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Graphical interface
- Launching without command-line options opens an SDL-based file-selection interface. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Independent context: BPS
- A Hacker News discussion linked rombp's BPS specification while describing BPS as an alternative to simple bytewise patching. · news.ycombinator.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Independent context: BPS adoption
- A commenter reported that SMW Central requires submitted hacks to use BPS files. · news.ycombinator.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Independent context: IPS limitation
- The same discussion characterizes IPS as a literal bytewise diff that can become large when data moves. · news.ycombinator.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Independent context: patch semantics
- The discussion explains that BPS can encode operations that copy data from the source and previously generated target rather than only overwrite fixed byte ranges. · news.ycombinator.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Initial release
- Release 0.0.1 was dated 1 August and described IPS support tested on Ubuntu 20.04 and RG350M. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The documented handheld installation method is downloading an OpenDingux OPK from GitHub Releases. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Interface dependency
- The project links against uclibc and SDL2 for its RG350 build. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
- IPS support
- The patcher applies IPS-format patch files. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository is released under the MIT License. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- License permissions
- The MIT text permits use, copying, modification, distribution, sublicensing, and selling copies subject to its notice requirement. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: format coverage
- The documented patch formats are limited to IPS and BPS. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: platform coverage
- The maker documents Linux and OpenDingux targets and reports testing only on RG350M and Ubuntu 20.04. · github.com, 15 Oct 2026
Where ROM Bin Patcher (rombp) stands on Freedom251
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