Help testing: Random Video Screensaver on Main Branch

pjft

So, I've added the option to show the game info "Always", "Never" and "Start & End". The default is still "Never", as it can cause problems for some Pi resolutions, unless the user disables overscan in config.txt.

I've left stretch as false by default. It will still cover the full screen, just with black bars, but keep the game's original proportions.

I edited the option and help text as well, and added the ALSA condition.

I need to confirm that this compiles and that all is good (blind coding, yay), but if all is good then that's the last of it.

Thanks all for the inputs and testing! I'll update when I've confirmed it compiles.

meleu

@pjft

Any further thoughts on the stretch defaults and subtitles, just so this is closed off?

The vertical screen games example (e.g. DonPachi) convinced me, I'll let it disabled (maybe it should be always disabled and the option removed?).

Regarding subtitles the options you provided are good. I'll choose the "ALWAYS" option.

pjft

@meleu Great.

Yeah, I usually leave it NOT stretched, but some people - maybe with 4:3 monitors and such - asked for the stretch option, and I can see how it does look good if you do have the right resolution. It's just the other ones that are an eyesore, but it's down to each person's preference :)

I'll update the PR later today, and then if a final round of testing can take place, that'd be perfect, though hopefully things should be good.

Also, have you tried it on your Pi 1/0? OMX Player should make these pretty smooth, though I imagine you don't want to go through compiling these test builds for 4 hours or so before they're final. :)

Hex

@pjft I would like to reconfirm that you are testing that the device starts with ALSA all caps and not equals.

Hex

@pjft what happens to the subtitles if overscan is enabled? Are they not visible or just no video?

pjft

@Hex correct, starts with, but I believe the option in the code is lower case? I'll re-check what's being used but I thought I saw it as lower case.

pjft

@Hex it'll depend. In some cases it works perfect - my old TV is one such case. That being said, the fact that it requires an extra layer from OMX Player may cause the HDMI signal to drop - I believe you experienced it earlier?

Removing the subtitles or disabling overscan (which is, for the GPU pipeline's purpose, just an additional forced black layer to allow for a forced margin) will allow the subtitles to not cause the HDMI signal to drop.

It's only for OMX Player though.

Hex

I didnt know OMX had subtitles.

pjft

@Hex same as with VLC, if you choose to display the game info.

Actually, did you manage to get the screensaver working on your pi? Your signal was dropping if I recall correctly?

I'd like to know if you're still experiencing that. I'd hate for that to be the case, but I could consider allowing VLC to be used for the screensaver on the Pi, if there are cases where OMX Player just load signal and there's no workaround, though that's really a recipe for overheating...

pjft

It compiles. Updated the PR.

Refactored the options - merged some, moved audio-related ones to the Sound menu, and added an explicit option on the Pi to use VLC as screensaver should people choose to (default: OFF).

TMNTturtlguy

@pjft I updated your build and I am not sure that I am getting the most up to date version? I made sure to do a clean install. I am not seeing any of the revised menu options on the pi 3? I believe above you mentioned a VLC option for the PI, as well as moving audio options under sound, and 3 different subtitle options. I am currently running on Pi3 4:3 monitor. Thanks

pjft

@TMNTturtlguy hm. It should but I'll check as I'm putting the boys to bed at the moment. What version does it claim to be? It should be 2.2.1 I think. If not, maybe it's the wrong branch, or maybe I messed something up - certainly possible.

TMNTturtlguy

@pjft It's 2.2.0RP - I am using the same branch that the PR was created with:
RetroPie-ScreenSaver-Merge

I have it saved in @meleu script. The first time i ran it, I had it ignore make clean to speed it up, I didn't see the updates, so I reran it and installed it clean, same results.

Thanks

pjft

@TMNTturtlguy sounds good, I'll check. I must have messed something up then.

pjft

@TMNTturtlguy hm.

The code seems to be there though:

https://github.com/pjft/EmulationStation/blob/RetroPie-ScreenSaver-Merge/es-app/src/EmulationStation.h

It's 2.2.1 that you should be seeing.

Could you open that file locally on the Pi and check whether the content is the same?

TMNTturtlguy

@pjft dumb question - but i am not sure where to find that! Your branch is currently in /opt/retropie/supplementary/es_pjft_retropie-screensaver-merge/ on the pi. I don't have a file named EmulationStation.h there.

pjft

Not a dumb question at all. I suppose @meleu would know where the code is compiled to. That's where you'd want to look into.

I've just done a final push to the PR, updating a few things that had gone missing. All seems to be good to go on my end, but more testing is always encouraged and appreciated.

@Hex : the Alsa test works fine, and actually when you change it and exit the options menu the video player is restarted immediately with the new audio option, so no worries about that. Do test it, but it seems to work well.

I do get an error on my end - I believe when set to alsa:hw:1,0 for "ALSA lib pcm_hw.c:1667:(_snd_pcm_hw_open) Invalid value for card".

Unsure if it's because it's not a valid option or if it's because I don't have an external card, but thought you'd like to know.

@TMNTturtlguy one thing you may want to do is to just do it old school style.

https://retropie.org.uk/forum/post/82820

I didn't test those instructions but they should work.

TMNTturtlguy

@pjft said in Help testing: Random Video Screensaver on Main Branch:

@TMNTturtlguy one thing you may want to do is to just do it old school style.
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/post/82820

Yeah, i have to run for a few hours, but i am going to install the main branch es and then install yours, if that doesn't work, i will install it the old way! Thanks

Edit, i am going to try the remove/remove source files from @meleu script and then try to reinstall.

meleu

@TMNTturtlguy the script saves sources at ~/src.

Edit: typo

Hex

@pjft said in Help testing: Random Video Screensaver on Main Branch:

Not a dumb question at all. I suppose @meleu would know where the code is compiled to. That's where you'd want to look into.

I've just done a final push to the PR, updating a few things that had gone missing. All seems to be good to go on my end, but more testing is always encouraged and appreciated.

@Hex : the Alsa test works fine, and actually when you change it and exit the options menu the video player is restarted immediately with the new audio option, so no worries about that. Do test it, but it seems to work well.

I do get an error on my end - I believe when set to alsa:hw:1,0 for "ALSA lib pcm_hw.c:1667:(_snd_pcm_hw_open) Invalid value for card".

Unsure if it's because it's not a valid option or if it's because I don't have an external card, but thought you'd like to know.

@TMNTturtlguy one thing you may want to do is to just do it old school style.

https://retropie.org.uk/forum/post/82820

I didn't test those instructions but they should work.

@pjft Yes if you dont have a second USB cad then it errors out. Its not harmful.

For those who are testing you can manually test it with a keyboard. you dont need the script or anything else

$ git clone URL DIR_NAME
$ cd DIR_NAME
$ mkdir build && cd build
$ cmake ..
$ make -j 2

"-j 2" if using Pi 2/3, omit if pi 1/zero
For pi 1/Zero you have less RAM than necessary to compile, so you need the script.

To run the executable
$ ../emulationstation
This allows you to test without installing and disturbing stock ES

To update build :
$ cd DIR_NAME/build
// Make sure you are on the correct branch
git branch
// Get updates
git pull
// Make same as above
make -j 2