Pointer Finder 2.0

A native C++ pointer scanning utility built with Qt6, designed for game reverse engineering and retro achievement development.

Features

• Multi-Emulator Support: Works on PCSX2 (PS2), DuckStation (PS1), Dolphin (GameCube/Wii), PPSSPP (PSP), and Nintendo DS (via RALibretro).
• State-Based Scanning (Differential Analysis):
  • Captures multiple memory dumps ("states") at different execution points (e.g., Title Screen, Level 1, Level 2).
  • The scanner utilizes a backwards Breadth-First Search (BFS) to isolate stable pointer paths that remain valid across all captured states.
• Tabbed Workspace: Dedicated tabs organize your workflow into Search Results, Bookmarks, and Array Detection.
• Array Detection & Clustered Matching: Post-processes discovered base addresses to locate contiguous memory blocks or structured variables in the target dumps.
• Bookmarks (Watchlist) Panel: Direct tracking of dynamic paths in a dedicated tab view, displaying real-time address evaluation.
• Static Range Finders: Built-in analysis tools to scan or parse executable structures (such as Dolphin's main.dol or DS headers) to automatically configure scan boundaries.
• Dynamic Filtering: Real-time validation against live memory to automatically prune paths that fail to resolve correctly.
• Smart Attachment & Session Management:
  • Automatically detects running emulators. If multiple are found, it provides a clean selection prompt.
  • Save and load entire scan sessions, including results, parameters, bookmarks, and emulator attachment info using the .pfs session format.
• RetroAchievements Format Export: Copies pointer paths to the clipboard in a format ready to be pasted directly into the RetroAchievements toolkit, with intelligent defaults for memory size prefixes (X, W, G) and system-specific requirements (like Dolphin's address mask).
• Automatic Update Checker: Native update mechanism that checks for newer releases via the GitHub API.

How to Use

1. Download the latest release from the Releases page.
2. Run the PointerFinder2 executable.
3. Start your game in a supported emulator.
4. In the tool, go to File -> Attach to Emulator... to link with the process.
5. Click State-Based Scan at the bottom of the window.
6. Enter the target memory address for your value in the current game state (e.g., Slot 1) and click Capture.
7. Change the game state (e.g., load a save, enter a level), find the new address, enter it for the next state slot (e.g., Slot 2), and click Capture.
8. Click Scan to run the multi-state BFS scanner.

Building from Source

This project requires a C++17 compliant compiler, Qt6, and CMake.

Prerequisites

• CMake 3.20 or newer
• Qt6 (Core, Widgets, Concurrent, Svg, Network)
• A compatible C++17 compiler (MSVC 2022, GCC, or Clang)

Build Steps

1. Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/CySlaytor/PointerFinder2.git
cd PointerFinder2

2. Create a build directory:

mkdir build
cd build

3. Configure and build the project with CMake:

cmake .. -DCMAKE_PREFIX_PATH="C:/Qt/6.x.x/msvc2022_64" # Adjust path to your Qt installation
cmake --build . --config Release

Note for Windows builds: The CMake configuration includes a post-build step that utilizes windeployqt to automatically package the necessary Qt dependencies inside the output directory.