OSK / Wifi / Choose Emulator within EmulationStation

steeeb

I see that jacobfk20 has already implemented OSK (On Screen Keyboard), configuring WiFi within EmulationStation and the ability to choose an emulator from within menus also.

To me, these 3 things are usually a barrier to entry for many users - whilst there are solutions for each none of them are as elegant as it being built within EmulationStation.

jacobfk20's gridview has a pull request but without the OSK, Wifi, System Menu parts that he did.

Is there any reason for this? Am I wasting my time if I were to get these parts working on the latest version and issue a pull request to implement them?

herb_fargus

@steeeb there are multiple frontends available and we'd prefer to keep system specific implementations front end agnostic

steeeb

How about if it was an optional package that was maintained, rather than just being within emulationstation?

herb_fargus

@steeeb said in OSK / Wifi / Choose Emulator within EmulationStation:

How about if it was an optional package that was maintained

Hard enough just maintaining emulationstation as it is. I won't pretend to be the decision maker on this (or for anything for that matter) @jdrassa @pjft and others have done more with the code than me and I'm sure it's worth discussion but from previous discussion at the very least it is doubtful wifi will be included in the master.

steeeb

Sure, I understand.

OSK would be useful however (for metadata etc.).

jdrassa

@steeeb said in OSK / Wifi / Choose Emulator within EmulationStation:

Is there any reason for this? Am I wasting my time if I were to get these parts working on the latest version and issue a pull request to implement them?

If you are a competent developer and know what you are doing, I think a pull request for the OSK would be welcome. That being said, be prepared to address any feedback/requested changes. It is not enough to just grab someone else's code and create a pull request.

fensox

I know this topic is quite old but I have been unable to find any new relevant info in my fairly extensive searching. Has an OSK been implemented in anyway, addon, optional package, etc?

I want to create this OSK feature if nobody else has. My reasoning is not for wifi passwords as much as for actual emulator ease of use. For example, in the TI99/4A emulator you only need a keyboard to press "2" to start the game. After that it can be all joystick. A simple OSK would help with that and some other emulators.

If I decide to jump into this where would one start, EmulationStation, RetroArch, or individual emulator cores?

I picture this OSK being pulled up with the joypad hotkey anywhere in the middle of an emulation session.

I program but have never looked at the project's code. This task doesn't seem daunting on the surface..but I could be wrong. Any help appreciated in where to start. Thank you.