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Table of Contents
Nintendo Game Boy
This page does not cover the Game Boy Color. For this console, see Nintendo Game Boy Color.
Releasing in September 1989 for the USA, the Game Boy was a wildly successful system for years. Containing only 64 KiB of RAM, a 160×144 monochrome screen, and 2-bit color, it's primary genius was in it's long battery life and easily digested games. Both of these features allowed the Game Boy to overcome it's weak capability. Despite this specification-based inferiority compared to it's competitors, it's success spawned a whole series of consoles that lasted until 2010. For these, see Game Boy Color (as seen above) and Game Boy Advance.
Operating Systems (Sharp LR35902)
AMADO OS
you can edit the files on the RAM filesystem
A Japanese-originated operating system that is undergoing recent development. Appears to have a modicum of features, including a GUI, CPU access, and more. It’s even available on a physical cartridge.
http://yuma.ohgami.jp/ (creator page)
https://github.com/cupnes/sh_gbos
https://yohgami.booth.pm/items/2636771 (ROM download)
https://akiba-pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/wakiba/find/1308961.html (physical proof)
CollapseOS
Regarding the gameboy: it will be tricky
Mere postulation, but it’s possible.
Contiki
Compatible on the Game Boy, but has superior function on the Game Boy Color. For this, see Nintendo Game Boy Color.
GBOS
approximating an operating system
Homebrewed basic OS project with some basic functionality.
RIOS (Riverside-Irvine Operating System)
a task scheduler written entirely in C
Extremely basic OS meant more for learning purposes than anything.
WorkBoy and addon
Thought as lost for years, but combined with a recently leaked ROM, the WorkBoy’s quite detailed PDA abilities have finally been unearthed. If the keyboard is required to make it work, this will need to be emulated or imitated…
Work Master OS
Compatible on the Game Boy, but has superior function on the Game Boy Color. For this, see Nintendo Game Boy Color.
Internet
GB KISS & Link Modem
Compatible on the Game Boy, but has superior function on the Game Boy Color. For this, see Nintendo Game Boy Color.
Other
BetterPaintBoy 1.03
which one should i download?[…]The latest version (1.03)
A simple painting program for the original Game Boy, in case you had the creative urge to make things in greenscale.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Gameboy/comments/7rjh9n/home_brew_made_a_paint_for_dmg_link_to_the_rom/
InfoGenius: Personal Organizer & Phone Book
One of several “utiity” cartridges released by InfoGenius. This one, unsurprisingly, is about organizing your schedule and keeping track of your contacts.
InfoGenius: Spell Checker And Calculator
Yet another “utility” cartridge from InfoGenius. This one is about checking your spelling (like those little Webster things) and doing lightweight math.
Miscellaneous homebrew applications
Pulling from the same site as the NES, the Game Boy has a few interesting homebrew applications available for it. Highlights include “GB Runtime”, “StopWatch”, and “GB SFX Generator”.
https://www.nesworld.com/article.php?system=gb&data=gbhomebrew
Peripherals
Game Boy Camera
The GBC is featured in the 1999 edition of Guinness World Records for being the world's smallest digital camera
A classic that many will know. Does what it says on the box; it's a camera for the Game Boy! Stands out as being one of the first mass-produced consumer-level digital cameras. While it's main purpose is for taking photos, there are also a few little games on the cartridge.
Game Boy Printer
the thermal paper rolls can be successfully substituted with a 38mm x 4m alternative
Often seen as the companion to the Game Boy Camera, the Printer is anything but. Featuring connectivity and functionality with a wide variety of games, the Game Boy Printer quite simply, prints. The one problem with it nowadays, is the relative rarity of the thermal paper used in the device. Resolving this either requires finding old stock of paper (which is known to degrade over time), cutting up modern thermal paper to fit the size, or finding similarly sized paper typically used for calculators.
Version & Revision Guide
For general information, see the Game Console Revisions Overview.
I need finishing
Versions
There are HEHEHEHE versions of this console, arranged chronologically.