Still on 3.8.1, benefits to upgrading?

Hagdorm

I've been out of the loop for a while, and my Retropie build is still running 3.8.1. Everything I use runs fine, so...is upgrading worth it? My main concerns are:

I had quite a time getting kernel support for my 360 controller. Will I break something if I upgrade?

Will my MAME ROMs break since the emulator has been upgraded?

I spent a lot of time tinkering with everything before I was happy that all was working. If it ain't broke, don't fix it - but am I missing out on a lot of new features if I leave it alone?

Lurker

I am not sure if someone will be able to provide a feature list of items that are in the current version that are not in 3.8.1.

It is hard to miss what you didn't know you could have had if you updated the system. I know that I had an older version and a bunch of features became very easy to accomplish for me after I updated, such as the favorites section and kids mode.

I would recommend two things ;

try to either make a list of features that you would have liked to see or issues you would have like to see solved and check the documents and threads to see if they were addressed. Or just cruse the threads to see if anything new catches your eye that you would like to add to your system with an update.
I would recommend backing up your image or get a second micro SD card and build second image with the Latest version. I don't know how it used to be but I found the developers have put a ton of much appreciated effort into making setting up and configuring a system very easy, so it is possible that a lot of your headaches from the last time have been dealt with in the latest version. Copy your roms over and if needed make a few tweeks and if you don't like it you can pop the older sd card back in and stick with what you got.

I think it is a pretty low risk trial over updating your existing system and then not liking the result.

Hagdorm

I don't need a feature list (I've seen what new features are available on the newer releases anyway), I suppose it was more a question of "is the upgrade going to break what I've already done." I can back up my card and try it for sure. I'm more concerned about MAME than anything else I guess, MAME is super finicky.

HurricaneFan

@hagdorm You always run the risk of something not working when upgrading something that has so many different code bases. I'd say clone your sd card to another sd card and try an upgrade to see how it goes. That way you still have a working 3.8.1 with everything working and you can play with the newer 4.3 version on a different card.

Hagdorm

@HurricaneFan agreed. Honestly, I haven't been using my Pi much lately anymore, so I guess playing with a new version may be what I need.

dankcushions

as far as i'm aware, the versions of mame in 3.8.1 would be included in 4.3, if perhaps as optional installs. you would just have to make a note of what mame you're using now, and make sure to select that as the default via the runcommand after you upgrade.

but yeah, back up...

Hagdorm

@dankcushions sweet, that's great to know! Thanks!