[Feature Request] Xecute boot.sh in future RetroPie releases via retropiemenu

cyperghost

@devs
Please read the whole thread it could be bit confusing but it's cleared in the last postings :)
Congratz to @meleu

Is it possible to make Xecute boot.sh.shfile as default file in /home/pi/RetroPie/retropiemenu? (This will be showen as Xecute boot.sh in RETROPIEMENU)

The code for this bash file would easily just

#!/bin/bash
# Execute .sh file from boot partiotion
# Filename has to be boot.sh
# File location /boot/
# Use bash command, use sudo
sudo bash /boot/boot.sh

It simply will call boot.sh from FAT32 boot partition.
What is the reason? boot.sh will simply contain a script to replay settings to image. Therefore you will never have to plugin a keyboard, to setup RetroPie. You simply copy your config files back to their locations and every dedicated user can run his own backup strategie. The big advantage is, that usually you have full access to boot partition with every OS (Windows, Mac....) so you can set it up whatever you want.

I just would restore wpa_supplicant.confand retroarch.cfg so I don't have to mess around with keyboard to enter WIFI password and have my controllers ready setted.

Demo boot/boot.sh

#!/bin/bash
echo "Hello, World!" 
echo "Knowledge is power."
sleep 5

Thank you :)
Yours, cyperghost

meleu

I'm not sure what you mean with "make a file as default file in /home/pi/RetroPie/retropiemenu", but any file which the filename ends with .sh is showed in RetroPie menu. The only concern is to turn off the "parse gamelists only" option in emulationstation.

cyperghost

@meleu
Oh I ment, that in RetroPie Menu (where you can set Bluetooth, IP adress... all the *.rp files) there should be an option to just call a bash file by default and this bash file should be editable via any operating system on it's FAT32 partition. So the need to plug in a Keyboard to the Pie, enter Wifi-code, connect to Wifi, reconnect with SSH, copy some files .... aren't required anymore.

You backup your settings once, flash a new RetroPie image to your SD and copy the backuped files to the FAT32 partition. And then call the Xecute boot.sh.sh - this will call a bash file (call it boot.sh) also from FAT32 partiotion and executes several commands that could easily edited via any text editor.

Did you now get my intention? You can easy set up RetroPie without a keyboard connection to the Pie :) But therefore I need access from the ext3-filesystem to the FAT32 system. Because Windows can't handle (writeable) access ext3 journals :)

EDIT:
Today I saw, that the RetroPie menu is also able to call .sh files.... Just try on yourself. Create any .sh file to /home/pi/RetroPie/retropiemenu et voilá you are ready. It's just a possibility to get a faster setup and maybe other people are able to write real backup and restore solutions via this.

meleu

@cyperghost I think I understood your intention (and I agree, it would be really useful). I'm not understanding the "by default" part of "call a bash file by default". Also, I'm not getting the reason of this extra .sh on your script name (boot.sh.sh).

You can place any shell script (the filename must end with .sh) at $HOME/RetroPie/retropiemenu and emulationstation will show it for you. If you select it in ES, the script will be executed. Is it enough for you?

cyperghost

@meleu

The .sh.sh naming of a file in RetroPie menu will end in showing .sh - the user sees what bash file will be executed. It's just cosmetic.
Yes I know I can place any .sh file in $HOME/RetroPie/retropiemenu but to place it I need network connection or a keyboard connected to the Pie.

Is it enough for me you asked? No!
"By default" I ment, that a developer (maybe you ;)) can set a bashfile that executes annother bashfile located to /boot/ in the next RetroPie Image :) because if myself copies that file it is to late.... Then I have already a keyboard conntected to the Pie and got a network link :)

Sorry for my bad english.

meleu

@cyperghost I think I finally got what you want: avoid the need of a keyboard to connect your pi to a LAN. After it's connected you can access it via SSH from another computer and make the tweaks you want. Am I right?
But wait! How will you put your script at /boot?!

I think I'm a bit confused yet... :)
(english is not my native language either :) )

cyperghost

@meleu

Yes! That's the point! After network is established all tweaks can be done by SSH ;)

How to access /boot?
Easy, just insert the micro SD to a windows machine and you have full access to FAT32 = /boot/ partition :)
So you can just copy a bash file from your windows mashine to the SD - but we need a procedure within RetroPie that can be started via joypad to call that file :)

I read your thread https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3902/what-tweaks-do-you-make-to-your-retropie-setup/8
Just think about what steps you can automate with such a option :)

I hope the confusion is over now :)

meleu

@cyperghost said in Xecute boot.sh.sh in next RetroPies Menus:

I hope the confusion is over now

Phew~

Well, I use Linux on my computers and I can access all the partitions of the microSD. I was about to suggest you to fill your /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf with your wifi configs, but to access the retropie partition from windows you need another programs (and I don't know this stuff)...

Well, contrary to what you suspected I'm not the RetroPie developer. :-) Maybe if you a "[feature request]" in this topic tite it will be more visible to him.

cyperghost

@meleu

Phew~

Sorry, I don't understand :D

Well, I use Linux on my computers and I can access all the partitions of the microSD. I was about to suggest you to fill your /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf with your wifi configs, but to access the retropie partition from windows you need another programs (and I don't know this stuff)...

Ah that's the point. I use Linux only as live system ... therefore I have no Linux on permanant access. But nice to get in talk to an user from the other (better, faster, saver, free) software world.

Maybe if you a "[feature request]...

I do .... thank you. Well it isn't a request to the RetroPie developer, it is more a request to the image provider because we need to add just one file :)

meleu

@cyperghost said in [Feature Request] Xecute boot.sh in future RetroPie releases via retropiemenu:

@meleu

Phew~

Sorry, I don't understand :D

Exemplifying with a picture:

Phew!
phew

cyperghost

@meleu I was ironic :)

But this picture is much better... More epic!

"This is Spart.... ähh....RETROPIE!!!"

cyperghost

@meleu
Today I finished my "Popeye Pi"
It's a foldable 4,3 LCD Carmonitor with a Pi0 in :)
And now hold on.... I needed a keyboard to enter WLAN key... and well English keyboards got user layouts than mine... After 3 attempts I got connection.

How do I make a feature request :)

meleu

@cyperghost said in [Feature Request] Xecute boot.sh in future RetroPie releases via retropiemenu:

How do I make a feature request :)

Creating a forum topic in "Ideas and Development" section with [feature request] in its title, should be fine. :-)

You can use the github issue tracker too, but I think they prefer the forum.

Maybe your use case is considered an "edge case"...

I suggest you to try to find some windows application to let you manage files in an ext4 partition. I don't use such tool, but I know they exist.

cyperghost

@meleu
Okay thank you :)
And what about a simple keyimport. Just import KEY and SSID from /boot/wlankey.txt to /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf? That's just a simple grep command :)
But somebody has to put this small script tool to the standard image file :) and make it somehow executable via joypad :)