stigzler

OK. Back on track and LB's new AdditionalApps system coded in. Updated versions sent to those of you who are testing.

Hold off on testing, folks. I've just figured the V14.0 update has likely introduced a lot of breaking changes to the plugin. They've overhauled the IGame.AdditionalApps System which I leverage a lot in the plugin to include links, documents, apps and game files. basically knackered a lto of my checks. Will update in due course once fixed.

Thanks to those who have volunteered. 🙏 I'm going to centralize communications in this post - please post general thoughts/comments here if you are able. Bug reports/feature suggestions etc to be posted in the github repo: HERE I will contact Beta testers individually to send over the beta build and test romm server details. Initial Testing Setup: Test in a separate Launchbox vanilla installation - not on your live library! Just download the installer HERE. Make sure you're on Version 14.0 ⚠️Disable Automated Imports⚠️ Very important - in LB>Options>Automated Imports Install retroarch emu as per video in OP. You'll also need relevant bios [optional] Install SolidColor (badges) in launchbox/Images/Media Packs/Badges and select in LB>Tools>Manage>Launchbox Themes and Media>Type = Badges (improves readability) [optional] enabled following badges: I'm not sure all the test roms work with retroarch - failur to launch isn't necessarily rommstar (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it). Errr - think that's it for now. I've likely missed something. 🤷 SolidColor.zip

RomMStar Beta Test: Testers needed! RomMStar syncs your local Launchbox installations with RomM servers, giving you a Storefront-like experience for rom collections. Intro RomM is a self-hosted rom collection manager that helps build a single 'canon' set of roms for each platform. You can then you sync these collections with any Launchbox installation (either downloading full set or only installing the games you want - a bit like the Storefronts experience) It's designed to be simple and easy-to-use. Just add the RomM server (either yours or someone else's), match the Launchbox Platform to that on the RomM server. Pictures Video (badly aligned) BETA TESTERS NEEDED! This is quite complicated behind the scenes, so am desperately needing some help to run it through its paces. If I can get a few beta-testers, I will set up a test RomM server and improve the logging for proper testing. I won't be releasing this until I'm happy it's fit so really needing some help on this! Other feedback welcome Ideas and thoughts welcome. I already have a roadmap of improvements laid out, but things are best designed by the community they serve. Links RomM: https://romm.app/ Github: https://github.com/stigzler/RommStar

Hey @Shoko. This looks interesting, but can't figure it out from your github page. I'm trying to figure out how this works with minerva, for eg. Minerva's 'links' normally point to a full collection 't-file' For eg. psx is a 3TB 'file' (to speak between the lines if you catch my drift). Therefore if you want one specific file out of all those files, you have to download all those files and pick it out. (I'm hoping this is making sense). Can you ask your app to download that one file that you have the original game media for (eg FF7) from Minerva? How does it do this if you normally have to download all the files? Also, can you use it with ReTool dats? that is personalised 1g1r .dat?

👾🎮🕹️ What features would you like to see in a RomM plugin? 🕹️🎮👾 Hey folks. I'm in the middle of producing a MVP plugin for RomM. The initial scope is to provide a full platform sync for each or all launchbox platforms. Given I'm in the early stages, it feels like a good time to ask the question so I can design with other features in mind. For those of you who know RomM some pics of the early stages that should make sense: For those who don't, RomM is the perfect way to have a centralised 'canon' romset from which all your different launchbox installations can be set up. No more duplication of installing roms, getting the right metadata and media. Set once in RomM and then sync all your launchbox installations form there. It also allows you to have a large centralised store of roms on a sevrer with lots of space and then have a pick, download and play for your client launchbox installs. Think like steam but for roms. For example, I have a home server that serves my roms to all my different installations. Because you can do a "reverse proxy" you can also use a web address to access it (eg. https://games.dave.com) so you don't even have to be on your LAN! I could install them on my licenced Launchbox installation at my Aunt Betty's house whilst I'm having tea and cake. 🫖🍰 Deets: https://romm.app Let me know your thoughts (if anyone actually reads forum posts anymore - thanks Discord [sarcasm]!)

I'm developing a plugin for Romm integration. As part of this, I need to match Romm platforms with Launchbox platforms. The Romm crew have populated their platforms with a launchbox ID. However, verifying this threw up an interesting issue. The PlatformKey in LaunchBox.Metadata.db does not match the match the id in the lb gamesdatabase platform url. Sadly, the romm lbIds seem to be taken from the gamesdatabase ids. For example, For commodore 128, the PlatformKey is 100. But on the gamesdatabase its 118! https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/platforms/games/118-commodore-128 So which is the actual key for the platform? Before I do a lot of grind work to be told I chose the wrong one!!

This looks really interesting, but I can only view the videos in 720p which makes them unwatchable for desktop capture. Is the problem my end or did you capture these in 720p?

This is a really interesting project. I have a similar setup (linux server + an arcade machine + a windows based gaming console - both running big box). Props for getting lb up and running on linux and in a docker container to boot. I also felt there had to be a better way to manage multiple installations of lb on a LAN. I got fed up of having to go into the lb interface to add games onto my living room bb machine so made this: However, since then, I have discovered this: https://romm.app/ Think of it like Plex/Jellyfin, but for roms. I tested a load of others, but this came out tops (although it insists on a flat roms structure which is a shame, but on balance, have superior rom matching algorithms). This way I can have a canon set of full romsets on my server, with all the associated media (it's really good at scraping across lots of different meta-data providers) and then 'pull/sync' the roms I want form this onto my client machines. There are a couple of lb plugins I've tried for this, but one was really buggy and the other quite limited. I've scoped and proof-of-concepted a plugin that will allow you to pull a rom from your server to lb OR bb and it will pull all the mateadata + media with it. It'll operate a bit like a steam library. In middle of finishing house renovations atm, but this plugin will be my next priority. I am wanting to keep my arcade machine and living room box 'portable' thus not simply pointing lb to the server roms and media. Glad to see there are others working on this problem and will follow with interest.

Cheers dude. There are many users, but not many contributors in this hobby. You, sir, are the latter. Happy trails.

Might have helped if I'd set it to public. Hopefully fixed.

Starting a plugin has always felt like a bit of a nightmare. So I set up a VS Template for a base plugin which automatically sets you up for the plugin being copied into your LB plugin folder and for debugging. Now you just select: Add > NewProject > Launchbox Plugin pick a name for it and tell it where your LB plugins folder is and it should do the rest. Details and download here: https://github.com/stigzler/LaunchboxPluginBase It's all a bit meta developing this (as in folders etc), so there's a probability that the first release won't work. If so, give me a shout and I'll see what I can do.

Thanks fella, but doesn't really fit my use case. Nice setup though. 👍

Running 'myself' - i.e. via exe double click or VS debug.

Thanks again, Joe. Appreciate your help. Yeah - moving my plugin's folder out of the Plugins folder removed the error. Weirdly, renaming the 'entry point' dll (ie. the one that contains ISystemEventsPlugin etc) did not. However, as stated above, I'm not even sure how long a delay this takes (could even be within one second from logs). Whichever way, along with your start-up times which are really helpful, I'm just going to have to suck it up, I think. Nemmind. EDIT: Just started it via exe without any of my plugins in: 17 seconds. I don't think it's my plugin (despite the missing ref error) - likely just the normal startup time).