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dragoonDorise / EmuDeck

Emulator configurator for Steam Deck
GNU General Public License v3.0
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[Feature Request] BIOS Folder Structure Suggestion #811

Closed OdinVex closed 8 months ago

OdinVex commented 1 year ago

Having tons of somewhat indistinguishing names for BIOS files (especially since some traditional names overlap, like ROM1.BIN), it might benefit the BIOS folder to also use the same ROM structure for naming.

Examples:

bios/psx/SCPH...
bios/ps2/SCPH...

It makes it easier to sort out which ones are specific to each emulator, either because an emulator may not filter out names or because you may be developing and testing your own BIOS.

Godsbane commented 1 year ago

On the one hand I understand your thoughts on this, regarding folders.

On the other, since we've had documentation out for a year+ on the proper place to put it, it would be counter productive to change suddenly.

The current stance is that all bios directories are mapped to Emulation/bios.

The only folders that are required are required because of some RetroArch cores having requirements outside of the system folder.

I'd be curious as to how @rawdatafeel and @WingofaGriffin and @dragoonDorise feel about this.

OdinVex commented 1 year ago

It's been a bit of a hassle trying to figure out which BIOS is too similarly named to another while trying to select different BIOS files, so I just updated every emulator I'm doing this with to use a folder.

Edit: "proper"? I don't know if that is an accurate description, perhaps preferred/initially-preferred?

Godsbane commented 1 year ago

I'd need some specific examples of this issue, please. Maybe file hashes would be useful.

OdinVex commented 1 year ago

I'd need some specific examples of this issue, please. Maybe file hashes would be useful.

This has nothing to do with file hashes of any kind. Using PlayStation emulators, for example, you can select a BIOS via typical desktop-environment file-system open-dialogues instead of just trying to select one that is recognized via hash. It just seems an ugly mess to cram it all in one folder, while meanwhile all other folders are neatly organized, that's all.

ghost commented 1 year ago

I think a more fleshed out BIOS checker in the application could help with this. The current page seems pretty restrictive on what it covers, when there's so many systems covered by the various RA cores and emulators.

I don't necessarily agree with creating folders for every emulator though. That seems way messier to me. RA will still needs its BIOS in Emulation/bios. Creating folders for everything else removes that simple general convention of placing your files directly into Emulation/bios.

Regarding: "some traditional names overlap", I haven't seen any emulators share similar BIOS names other than maybe PSX and PS2. But even then, your BIOS usually match your PSX or PS2's system identifier (SCPHXXXX). You really should have very few BIOS files for PSX and PS2 so I don't understand the confusion.

OdinVex commented 1 year ago

I don't necessarily agree with creating folders for every emulator though.

I wouldn't create a folder per emulator...rather per console/system.

I haven't seen any emulators share similar BIOS names other than maybe PSX and PS2. But even then, your BIOS usually match your PSX or PS2's system identifier (SCPHXXXX). You really should have very few BIOS files for PSX and PS2 so I don't understand the confusion.

It isn't always about the filename. Sometimes the extension can be an issue. .ROM, .BIN...several emulators can use those extensions. Take Sega Saturn and PSX and PS2, for an example. It's just more organized and clean, but I don't mind doing it for myself. I've already cloned and heavily modified the EmuDeck repo to suit myself.