Expect slowdown

Expect slowdown
May 10th 2026, by Arisotura

A bit of a status update since the last post...

"I've been taking a bit of a break from melonDS lately... mental health reasons, a silly side project, the usual stuff."

More of the same stuff, but add to it that I've been getting started in this new job.

While it's been nice to have time to myself in order to deal with mental health matters, unemployment gets old after a while, so I was eager to finally start this job.

If you remember, I've had a foretaste of it back in December, too. I've seen my ADHD self thrive in that setting. The job is largely about repairing A/V equipment. This feels like a much better fit for my brain than a regular developer job. I like to code, but that's not all I do: I also like to build, repair things, and in general, understand how systems work (or design them). I consider code to be much of the same, but it's all inside a computer instead of being a physical object, so it lacks the "doing things with my hands" aspect.

A related example here: last year, I repaired buttons on a vacuum tube radio as part of a larger project. This is the kind of small project where I have a blast: using my brain to figure out a solution, actually implementing it with my hands, doing my best to adapt to how things actually work out... It makes me feel alive like nothing else.

But I digress. The flip side of this is that the longer work day and commute time leave me with less time at home. On the other hand, this job is a particular arrangement where I'll be working half of the year, which will definitely give me time for my personal projects, including melonDS. Just, won't be now. The first work period is going to be 6 months.

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This also means having to balance work and mental health.

I feel better equipped to handle this, and I can envision the possibility of long term happiness. But there's still a long way to go. I also find this interesting. Probably because there's the same "figuring out how a system works" aspect, but with my own psyche. Instead of being cold logic, it's very emotion-driven.

I find the whole topic very interesting too! I would write about it (not here), I like to write about things and I feel that it could inspire other people, but I don't want to get too personal either.

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This most likely means there won't be much progress on melonDS until November, atleast from me.

Part of me wants to figure out something for ARM9 timings. But realistically, I should focus on finishing what needs to be finished for melonDS 1.2. Polishing the OpenGL renderer. Maybe furthering the codebase cleanup. Those things.

I'll do my best.

20 comments have been posted.

< A bit of a status update

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Obi1Shinobi says:
May 27th 2026

Congratulations on the new job bro. Take care of yourself and do what makes you happy. We'll all look forward to any updates you do and we certainly appreciate it but your health comes first. Take care and enjoy life ;)

rigged01 says:
May 28th 2026

anyone know sites to watch youtube on cuz i trued to watch yt on the2ds built in broswer and it didnt work :[ pls help brah

rigged01 says:
May 28th 2026

also congrats on new job brah take break cause health is important brah

man says:
May 31st 2026

Came here cuz I found a new NDS game to play, to see this note. Wow. Congratulations bro!! Thanks for the great stuff btw :D

residenx says:
Jun 7th 2026

Its alr gng take your time. I recently got into a bunch of titles and find no serious issues in any of them. You guys outdo yourselves with every update you do and I personally don't mind if 1.2 takes a while. Thanks for everything!

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