How can non-programmers contribute to RetroPie?

jlachniet

The title says it all. What can non-programmers do to improve RetroPie (if at all)?

Bug test?
Improve Wiki/Documentation?
Test compatibility?
Suggest improvements to the software?
Donate?

meleu

@jlachniet all the options above plus helping others here in the forums. ;-)

Syhles

@jlachniet
I've seen @BuZz ask for svgs before I don't remember for what though.

But pretty much everything you listed like @meleu said.

Though bug testing features before they are rolled into ES is a fairly big and important one on that list.

meleu

@Syhles said in How can non-programmers contribute to RetroPie?:

Though bug testing features before they are rolled into ES is a fairly big and important one on that list

Indeed! Users who know how to fix broken things are very important to test new software and give detailed feedback.

edmaul69

@jlachniet money. Lots and lots of money.

dankcushions

testing is really useful! especially new PRs for emulators. however... to do this you need some basic instructions on how to compile branches on github.

it would be nice if we could parametrize the github repo and branch in each of the emulator install scripts, that way users could test any PR with a one liner, rather than editing the .sh file and then getting an error when you try to update the script...

a little project that someone/me should do sometime :)

meleu

@dankcushions This was exactly what @Zigurana suggested for EmulationStation and BuZz said that such feature will not be implemented in RetroPie-Setup.

a little project that someone/me should do sometime

I've made a script for compiling/testing ES and we talk about it here: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/10626/es-devs-and-testers-this-tool-is-for-you

Maybe you can get some inspiration reading the code: https://github.com/meleu/share/blob/master/es-tests.sh

I could try something, but I'm gonna quite busy for the next two weeks.

Cheers!

dankcushions

@meleu said in How can non-programmers contribute to RetroPie?:

@dankcushions This was exactly what @Zigurana suggested for EmulationStation and BuZz said that such feature will not be implemented in RetroPie-Setup.

a little project that someone/me should do sometime

I've made a script for compiling/testing ES and we talk about it here: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/10626/es-devs-and-testers-this-tool-is-for-you

Maybe you can get some inspiration reading the code: https://github.com/meleu/share/blob/master/es-tests.sh

I could try something, but I'm gonna quite busy for the next two weeks.

Cheers!

yes i've seen :) i think that's great for ES where you have a bunch of known forks, but for my needs i would prefer instead of duplicating the build methods in the various emulator (etc) .sh files, it was generic. the user just typed in the repo and branch they wanted to use, and then it used those as the sources, and then built using the existing scripts. i think that should be possible without changing retropie functions or the emulator .sh files, but i need to try...

pjft

@jlachniet Hi! Glad you asked :)

Definitely all of those. In particular, right now if you do have some time, would love to get some more hands/eyes on this build, just to test and make sure nothing is fundamentally broken!

Have a great weekend :)

Hex

@jlachniet

Rather than Bug tests, I would suggest help with experimental feature testing, and reporting errors and unexpected behaviours. There is a thread which will help you automate things using scripts so it is as simple as possible.
Rather than Improve wiki and documentation I would suggest helping by letting us know where these can be improved, and where you got stuck and the documentation was insufficient.
Testing compatibility requires debugging skills and also being OK with getting your setup screwed.
Suggestions to improve ES and RetroPie are always welcome. I would also like to see some initiative on your part into understanding the code. It is not as difficult as you think. Make assumptions and test these by making small changes and checking out if things work as expected.
Donations are up to @BuZz. He maintains a lot of services and development of RetroPie project and it takes a lot in terms of effort and time from him.

If you want to contribute to development of RetroPie hang around these threads (Ideas and Dev) and you shall soon learn a lot. I have made a thread for beginners to get started with Development. Find it and use it. If you get stuck, seek help. Help shall always be available to those who seek it - Dumbledore.

meleu

I've posted a more detailed list about how non-techie people can contribute with the project here:
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/11720/how-non-techie-people-can-contribute-to-retropie-project