Staying up-to-date on Core development

Libretro Cores
#1

Probably an absolutely newby question :smile: In regards to individual Core updates: Do they get updated once a new version of, say, Retroarch gets released, or do they receive updates periodically ? If the latter is true, what is the best source to stay up-to-date on the latest core developments without going on a news scavenging hunt ?

And a question regarding the online updater of Retroarch itself: I was under the impression that the online updater lists all available cores regardless which ones you already owned and which ones where up-to-date.

Now i noticed that the entries for ā€œMednafenā€ were missing (Replaced by Beetle, which is, afaik, the Libretro branch of said emulators). What exactly does the online updater show ? Cores that need an update ? All available cores no matter what ?

#2

"If the latter is true, what is the best source to stay up-to-date on the latest core developments without going on a news scavenging hunt ? "

I second this question. Iā€™ve been coming here for a couple years, and the best off-hand answer I was given was to look at github. While Iā€™m sure the information is there, that place is like opening a Chinese textbook. Itā€™s been almost entirely second-hand information that I get told by someone a new version of a core is up for download.

Even then 90% of the time I have no idea whatā€™s changed. lol

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#3

cores are updated separately from retroarch. installing new retroarch does mean you will get latest cores(as retroarch does not include cores in its zip/installer)

using Online Updater is the best way to update cores as they are based on latest commits. there is no way to know though what was updated until you actually look at individual core commits.

when cores are updated, like mednafen to beetle names, all you need to do is to update core info files.

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#4

But how do you know when itā€™s time to go update your cores through online updater?

Where is it communicated that a core has a new version?

#5

I have no idea either, I just update them every once in a while.

#6

Yeah, there is no way to know if a core is updated using the online updater. Your only bet is to go to the buildbot page and sort cores by date and see if there are recent updates. And even then, you donā€™t know what those updates are. Which means you have to dig into commits or i donā€™t know what else.

Personally i just go to the buildbot, download the latest cores that are more recent than the ones i have and if i donā€™t notice any improvement, i assume/hope they are better.

#7

Do not update what works, just in case your new core breaks your saves. :<

Backup your cores if you must try new cores! ;U

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#8

I never had a core break my saves so far. Did this ever happen? And if yes, which cores?

#9

I use RetroArch 1.0.0.2 and it came with all Cores available with the client.

I tried a N64 Core still using Mupen64 and the save refuses to load. So, either itā€™s how RetroArch now saves it in a different way, or itā€™s the new Coreā€¦ I am unsure, but if you cherish your saves, I wouldnā€™t risk it unless 100% sure. No harm in testing things. ;3

Also forgot to say 1.0.0.2 is likeā€¦ 2-3 years old.

#10

Well, it never broke my saves, but it did break an emulatorā€¦sort of. DesMuMe basically crashes RetroArch after running for a couple of minutes since i last updated everything and its basically why i asked the question.

I think overall, that would be a really beneficial feature to implement into RetroArch:

Once you updated you index file, mark emulators in the auto updater that have a different version from what you have installed. On top of that, a restore function would be brilliant if the new version doesnā€™t work out as planned.

Those would be some really nice ā€œQuality of Lifeā€ features that would help you stay up to date with fresh emulators like Parallel, which start rather basic, but would still offer you a modicum of control over it when things break, without bloating the menu system all that much.

#11

well. you normally do not need to keep updating cores, unless you have some issues and/or its been awhile since you update existing core. you still need to keep backup of your cores though(core, info, saves and states if you use one at least).

#12

Every once in a while a core update breaks game support.

At one point Virtual Jaguar lost the ability to play rayman. Mupen64plus lost the ability to play castlevania 64 because the graphics were destroyed.

These were broken for a long time and only recently have those issues been resolved in the newest updates.