EmulationStation mod

bense2k

@jdoolin I dont know if it is a good idea to add some form of checksum for the source files to the db, so only changed files need to be parsed.

mattrixk

@jacobfk20 Sorry mate, but I need some help still.

I managed to set up an ubuntu virtual machine, and I got RetroPie set up on it by following this guide, but now I can't get your Mod to work.

I downloaded the latest version from your google drive and then went into /opt/retropie/supplementary/emulationstation. I had to change the permissions before it would let me make any changes within the folder, but I figured out how to do that with chown.
So I made a back up of the emulationstation file within /opt/retropie/supplementary/emulationstation, then I copied your file over it. Now when I try to run it I get:

/opt/retropie/supplementary/emulationstation.sh: 6: /opt/retropie/supplementary/emulationstation.sh: /opt/retropie/supplementary/emulationstation: Permission denied

Do you know what this means or how to get around it? I tried changing permissions back to root, but that didn't change anything. When I moved the backup file back into place (overwriting your file) ES started working again without a problem.

jacobfk20

@mattrixk How do you run emulationstation? What command do you type?

mattrixk

@jacobfk20 I just type emulationstation in the terminal.

That works with the default file, or double clicking it also starts ES. I also use emulationstation --windowed --resolution 1280 720 so it opens in a windowed view.

However when I try emulationstation in terminal with your file in place, I get the error listed above. If I try double clicking the file, it asks me what program I want to use to open it.

I'm a linux noob, so I'm probably missing a simple step.

jacobfk20

my Emulationstation file may not be set as an executable. Try doing from terminal:

chmod +x emulationstation

while in the same directory as my es file.

mattrixk

@jacobfk20 I did that, then ran emulationstation again and I got the following error:

/opt/retropie/supplemental/emulationstation/emulationstation: 1: /opt/retropie/supplemental/emulationstation/emulationstation: Syntax error: word unexpected (expecting ")")

jacobfk20

@mattrixk That's a new one. May need to talk over some pm.

mattrixk

@jacobfk20 Hooray, I'm good at breaking things in weird ways.

jacobfk20

How did you run chmod? If you have skype we can talk more easily on that. My name is the same there as it is on here.

mattrixk

@jacobfk20 said in EmulationStation mod:

How did you run chmod?

I just went into my ES folder /opt/retropie/supplemental/emulationstation/, typed in chmod +x emulationstation and hit enter. There was no indication that anything had happened, but also no error message to say what I did was wrong. Should I have done sudo?

I don't have skype (and I'm kinda at work at the moment, so I should really be doing that instead of this). Short of gmail or google chat, I don't really have any chat programs. I don't even use facebook, and haven't touched MIRC since I was in highschool over 15 years ago.

jacobfk20

My gmail is the same name as it is here too :)

mattrixk

@jacobfk20 email sent.

Floob

@jacobfk20
I used your grid view version of ES in the experimental image I built here, hope thats ok with you.
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/93/attract-mode-with-retropie-alternative-to-emulationstation/213

jacobfk20

@Floob Yes, that's fine by me. Thanks for letting me know. I just want you to know that I'm still working on it quite a bit.

Also, I took a quick look at your work. Looking good :)

Floob

@jacobfk20 Am I right in thinking that your latest grid view version dropped some of the earlier features like "view storage" etc... ?
When you have a new version ready, I'll happily make a video of it if you like.

jacobfk20

@Floob Sorta. My latest gridview branch is just for gridview. I'll be doing other branches for On Screen Keyboard, System Menu, and other small things I've done pretty soon.

A video would be pretty nice as I'm getting close to finishing up this current version.

meleu

@jacobfk20 said in EmulationStation mod:

I put together a simple quick branch that will only save metadata if that system has had any changes to its metadata.

https://github.com/jacobfk20/EmulationStation/tree/Metadata

@jacobfk20 sorry for the delay. I've tested your Metadata branch.

Those 5 minutes were reduced to less then 1 second!

To not save times played is a good price to pay (I don't even care about this :-) ).

Zigurana

@meleu said in EmulationStation mod:

To not save times played is a good price to pay (I don't even care about this :-) ).

I agree.
The main features you get by this function is

quickly get back to the game you were playing earlier.
discover games you never played before.

I think it would be better to build a separate list of recently played games (n=10), where you can get back to easily.
When combined it with the "surprise me" function fron de kid-friendly branch, It would offer about the same functionality.

gomisensei

@meleu I still think a separate stats.xml that saves only the name, and times played/total time/last time, separate from any other metadata would be a good idea, especially if it could be optionally turned off.

jacobfk20

@meleu Glad to hear it works. I actually kinda forgot I made that branch lol. Can you still change metadata and it still save? How long does it take for you to save on exit when you change one system's gamedata?

@Zigurana @gomisensei I thought that as I made that branch. I'm wanting to check that out sometime soon especially after hearing that it works for someone that has long save times. But you guys are right, normalizing the gamelist out would be pretty beneficial.