- Home
- ROM Patching Software
- ROM Bin Patcher (rombp)
ROM Bin Patcher (rombp)
What it is
ROM Bin Patcher (rombp) is a free utility for applying IPS and BPS patches, formats commonly used for retro gaming ROM hacks. The maker built it primarily for the RG350M handheld running OpenDingux; it also runs on desktop Linux. Testing is reported on the RG350M and Ubuntu 20.04, while other OpenDingux MIPS64 handhelds may work but are not reported as tested. Patching makes a copy of the source ROM before applying changes, so the original file is preserved. The patched ROM is saved beside the patch file and takes its name. You can specify the input ROM, patch, and output file through command-line options; launching without options opens the SDL interface. Installation instructions point 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, modification, and distribution subject to its terms; it also disclaims warranties and liability. Version 0.0.4 added command-line patching and moved patching to a separate I/O thread.
For and against
For
- Supports IPS and BPS patch files.
- Preserves the original ROM by patching a copy.
- Offers command-line options and an SDL interface.
- Free to use under an MIT license.
Against
- Testing is reported only for RG350M and Ubuntu 20.04.
- Other OpenDingux MIPS64 handheld compatibility is not confirmed.
The verdict
ROM Bin Patcher offers two patch formats and both graphical and command-line use. Its stated testing is limited to the RG350M and Ubuntu 20.04, so other handheld users should account for that uncertainty.
Who it suits
It suits retro gaming ROM-hack users working on the RG350M or desktop Linux. Other OpenDingux MIPS64 handheld owners may find it useful, though testing is reported only for the RG350M.
Plans and prices
ROM Bin Patcher
IPS and BPS patches · OpenDingux OPK and desktop Linux
Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- API and SDK
- The published interface is a local SDL application and CLI; no web API, SDK, or integration catalog is documented.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- BPS documentation
- The repository includes an 8.5 KB, 238-line BPS format specification with encoding and decoding examples.github.com · read 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 · read 15 Oct 2026
- BPS support
- The patcher applies BPS-format patch files.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Build requirements
- Building requires the RG350 Buildroot toolchain and an exported RG350_TOOLCHAIN path.github.com · read 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 · read 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 · read 4 Oct 2026
- Command-line interface
- The CLI accepts input ROM, patch, and output paths through -i, -p, and -o options.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Desktop support
- It also runs on desktop Linux, with Ubuntu 20.04 listed as the only desktop test environment.github.com · read 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 · read 15 Oct 2026
- Download
- The installation instructions direct users to download the latest OpenDingux OPK from the GitHub releases page.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Graphical interface
- Launching without command-line options opens an SDL-based file-selection interface.github.com · read 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 · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent context: BPS adoption
- A commenter reported that SMW Central requires submitted hacks to use BPS files.news.ycombinator.com · read 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 · read 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 · read 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 · read 15 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The documented handheld installation method is downloading an OpenDingux OPK from GitHub Releases.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
