ROM Bin Patcher (rombp)
ROM Bin Patcher (rombp) applies IPS and BPS patch files to ROM images, a common step in retro gaming ROM hacks.
What ROM Bin Patcher (rombp) is
ROM Bin Patcher (rombp) applies IPS and BPS patch files to ROM images, a common step in retro gaming ROM hacks. Built primarily for the RG350M handheld running OpenDingux, it also runs on desktop Linux; the maker reports testing on the RG350M and Ubuntu 20.04. Other OpenDingux MIPS64 handhelds may work, but testing is reported only for the RG350M. The installation instructions point users to the latest OpenDingux OPK on the GitHub releases page. Patching makes a copy of the source ROM, leaving the original file unchanged. The patched ROM is saved beside the patch file under the patch file’s name. Command-line options let users specify the input ROM, patch, and output file; starting without options opens the SDL interface. The RG350 build links against uclibc and SDL2. The repository includes an MIT license, which permits use and distribution subject to its conditions and disclaims warranties and liability. Release v0.0.4 added command-line patching and moved patching to a separate I/O thread. It is free.
Good
- Supports both IPS and BPS patch files.
- Preserves the source ROM by patching a copy.
- Offers command-line options and an SDL interface.
- Runs on desktop Linux as well as OpenDingux.
Watch out
- Testing is reported only for RG350M and Ubuntu 20.04.
- Other OpenDingux MIPS64 handheld compatibility is not confirmed.
Who it suits
It suits RG350M owners and desktop Linux users who need to apply IPS or BPS patches. Users of other OpenDingux MIPS64 handhelds should note that testing is reported only for the RG350M.
Verdict
ROM Bin Patcher provides a focused way to apply IPS and BPS patches, with a copy of the original kept intact. Its reported testing is limited, so compatibility beyond the RG350M and desktop Linux should not be assumed.
Plans and prices
From ROM Bin Patcher (rombp)'s own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| ROM Bin Patcher | Free | IPS and BPS patches · OpenDingux OPK and desktop Linux |
The facts
Each one read from ROM Bin Patcher (rombp)'s own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API and SDK
- The published interface is a local SDL application and CLI; no web API, SDK, or integration catalog is documented.checked 15 Oct 2026
- BPS documentation
- The repository includes an 8.5 KB, 238-line BPS format specification with encoding and decoding examples.checked 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.checked 15 Oct 2026
- BPS support
- The patcher applies BPS-format patch files.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Build requirements
- Building requires the RG350 Buildroot toolchain and an exported RG350_TOOLCHAIN path.checked 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.checked 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.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Command-line interface
- The CLI accepts input ROM, patch, and output paths through -i, -p, and -o options.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Desktop support
- It also runs on desktop Linux, with Ubuntu 20.04 listed as the only desktop test environment.checked 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.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Download
- The installation instructions direct users to download the latest OpenDingux OPK from the GitHub releases page.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Graphical interface
- Launching without command-line options opens an SDL-based file-selection interface.checked 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.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Independent context: BPS adoption
- A commenter reported that SMW Central requires submitted hacks to use BPS files.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Independent context: IPS limitation
- The same discussion characterizes IPS as a literal bytewise diff that can become large when data moves.checked 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.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Initial release
- Release 0.0.1 was dated 1 August and described IPS support tested on Ubuntu 20.04 and RG350M.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The documented handheld installation method is downloading an OpenDingux OPK from GitHub Releases.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Interface dependency
- The project links against uclibc and SDL2 for its RG350 build.checked 4 Oct 2026
- IPS support
- The patcher applies IPS-format patch files.checked 15 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository is released under the MIT License.checked 15 Oct 2026
- License permissions
- The MIT text permits use, copying, modification, distribution, sublicensing, and selling copies subject to its notice requirement.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: format coverage
- The documented patch formats are limited to IPS and BPS.checked 15 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Limit: platform coverage
- The maker documents Linux and OpenDingux targets and reports testing only on RG350M and Ubuntu 20.04.checked 15 Oct 2026
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