Can't fetch core list on compiled build

RetroArch Linux devices
#1

Hi, I’ve used Retroarch before on a Raspberry Pi, but recently installed Linux Mint on my main PC and decided to have a go at a compiled version. I successfully followed the guide from https://docs.libretro.com/development/retroarch/compilation/ubuntu/

I followed the guide to the letter; added the stable PPA, cloned git, installed the dependencies and successfully compiled Retroarch. I also used Libretro-super to download and build the Gambatte core.

So far, so good. Then I thought I would just use the built in core downloader to download a few pre-made cores. However, the online updater doesn’t work; it flashes up a message to say it is fetching the list, but then nothing happens. There are no lists of cores.

I’ve checked my retroarch.cfg file and it is correctly showing

core_updater_buildbot_cores_url = "http://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/linux/x86_64/latest/"

I tried dropping the Buildbot url into a web browser and I can see the cores list. But for some reason Retroarch doesn’t want to know. I was successfully able to download the Assets, so it doesn’t seem to be a problem with Retroarch having net access. I also tried replacing “http” with “https”. Still no dice.

This one has me stumped. Any ideas? I tried running Retroarch with sudo to see if that would help; it didn’t.

1 Like
#2

Nevermind, I fixed it!

For anyone else stumped, what I did in the Online Updater section, I clicked on “Update databases” and then “Update Core Info files”. Then when I went back into Core Downloader, the list had fully populated and I could download and install cores from Buildbot.

Very strange, saw no documentation to perform these steps. But anyway, it’s fixed. :slight_smile:

2 Likes
#3

I have a similar problem but couldn’t find any solution.

[ERROR] Download of 'database-rdb.zip' failed: Download failed.
[ERROR] [core updater] Download of core list 'http://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/linux/x86_64/latest/.index-extended' failed: unknown

cfg:

core_updater_buildbot_assets_url = "http://buildbot.libretro.com/assets/"
core_updater_buildbot_cores_url = "http://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/linux/x86_64/latest/"

RetroArch 1.9.0 (Git a16f3d2f7c) on Kubuntu 20.04.1 installed from official nightly PPA. Tried stable and a snap installation aswell, but with the same result.

#4

Thanks for the solution! I couldn’t figure out what the problem was but that immediately fixed it for me

#5

I’m having a problem like this on Fedora 33 with 1.9.0. I don’t see where to make a new thread, so this is the closest thing I could find. I have no online updater section in my installation from DNF and it’s got me stumped as well.

#6

Many distro packages patch out the online updater and want you to use their core packages instead.

We recommend using one of our “universal” packages (snap, flatpak or appimage) or self-compiling instead if you want to use the online updater.

#7

Thanks for the advice, snap seems to work. Unfortunate that it has to be this way, lol, but I guess it works.