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Updated FAQ (markdown)

Hans-Kristian Arntzen 2013-12-17 04:24:27 -08:00
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FAQ.md

@ -3,26 +3,25 @@ Here's a collection of Frequently Answered Questions.
## General ## General
### What is RetroArch? ### What is RetroArch?
RetroArch is a frontend for libretro, an API which exposes the functionality of a game system. libretro started as libsnes with the SNES emulator bSNES, but libretro has since become emulator/game agnostic. RetroArch builds around the emulator/game core to provide a full emulator/game frontend. RetroArch is a frontend for libretro, an API which exposes the functionality of a game, emulator or certain kinds of multimedia applications. libretro started as libsnes with the SNES emulator bSNES, but libretro has since become a far broader API. RetroArch builds around the libretro API to provide a powerful interface.
RetroArch is suitable as a frontend for retro game emulators, as well as retro-style standalone games.
Some cool features to mention are frame-by-frame rewind (Braid-style), multi-pass GPU shaders, FFmpeg on-the-fly raw video recording and netplay. All these features will work independently of the libretro implementation used. Some cool features to mention are frame-by-frame rewind (Braid-style), multi-pass GPU shaders, FFmpeg on-the-fly raw video recording and netplay. All these features will work independently of the libretro implementation used.
RetroArch itself is command-line driven, and relies on a graphical frontend to deliver a GUI. RetroArch itself is command-line driven, and relies on a graphical frontend to deliver a GUI.
RetroArch has a simple built-in GUI (RGUI). RetroArch-Phoenix can also serve as a RetroArch launcher. RetroArch has a simple built-in GUI (RGUI). As RetroArch is designed for CLI, it is easy to launch from various dedicated launchers.
As RetroArch is designed for CLI, it is easy to launch from various dedicated launchers.
### Which platforms are RetroArch available for? ### Which platforms are RetroArch available for?
RetroArch runs and is supported on GNU/Linux, BSD, Windows, Mac OSX (PPC/Intel), PlayStation 3, XBox 360, XBox 1, Raspberry Pi, Nintendo Wii, Android, and soon iOS and Blackberry as well. RetroArch runs and is supported on GNU/Linux, BSD, Windows, Mac OSX (PPC/Intel), PlayStation 3, XBox 360, XBox 1, Raspberry Pi, Nintendo Wii, Android, iOS and Blackberry.
### Where can I get help? ### Where can I get help?
If you have questions or issues which cannot be resolved easily, you can pay a visit to: If you have questions or issues which cannot be resolved easily, you can pay a visit to:
[RetroArch forum](http://forum.themaister.net/) [RetroArch forum](http://www.libretro.com/)
### Are there binaries/packages provided? ### Are there binaries/packages provided?
RetroArch is mostly built from source. RetroArch is mostly built from source.
Binaries are provided for Windows (32-bit/64-bit) in the downloads section. Binaries are provided for Windows (32-bit/64-bit) [here](http://themaister.net/retroarch.html).
Note that these binaries can usually fairly outdated. You can usually find unofficial builds which are far more up-to-date.
OSX binaries might be available on the forums, but you are expected to build it yourself. OSX binaries might be available on the forums, but you are expected to build it yourself.
Ubuntu users should be able to use builds from [Hunterk's PPA](https://launchpad.net/~hunter-kaller/+archive/ppa). Ubuntu users should be able to use builds from [Hunterk's PPA](https://launchpad.net/~hunter-kaller/+archive/ppa).
@ -46,38 +45,4 @@ Do note that RetroArch only supports the older filters from bSNES v082 and older
Using newer filters will most likely crash RetroArch due to the lack of means to verify if a filter is compatible. If you can, prefer using GPU shaders as they are more flexible and much better supported. Using newer filters will most likely crash RetroArch due to the lack of means to verify if a filter is compatible. If you can, prefer using GPU shaders as they are more flexible and much better supported.
### I have a bug to report! Where can I report it? ### I have a bug to report! Where can I report it?
You can either report issues in the [issues](https://github.com/Themaister/RetroArc/issues) section, or create a thread on the [forum](http://forum.themaister.net/). You can either report issues in the [issues](https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/issues) section, or create a thread on the [forum](http://www.libretro.com/).
---
## Windows specific
### Where do I download latest RetroArch binaries for Windows?
Latest PC releases will be found in the [release thread](http://forum.themaister.net/viewtopic.php?id=12).
### I see 'Slim' and 'Full' builds. What is the difference?
Full builds support every feature that RetroArch has implemented. This means shaders, FFmpeg, Python, etc. Since the *.dll footprint of all this is considerable, there is a redist you have to download (just once).
Slim builds have stripped down dependencies, and do not need a redist. This however, means that only features that do not need external *.dlls will work.
To be more precise, the features you get from full build are as follows:<br/>
* XML shaders and cheat loading<br/>
* FreeType On-screen-display fonts<br/>
* RSound<br/>
* Multi-pass shading<br/>
* Cg shaders<br/>
* Python scripting<br/>
* FFmpeg recording<br/>
If you do not need any of these features, slim build is for you.
### So I downloaded RetroArch Windows binaries, and there are two programs here, what's the deal?
RetroArch and [RetroArch-Phoenix](https://github.com/Themaister/RetroArch-Phoenix) are two separate projects, both found here on GitHub. While RetroArch is a command-line application, Retrorch-Phoenix is a GUI which allows you to configure RetroArch and launch games from a comfortable GUI environment. It is fully possible to use your own launching methods which is very suitable for i.e. HTPC setups.
### I downloaded Windows binaries, and it tells me some *.dll file is missing, what do I do?
If you downloaded the full build, you also need the library redist, similar to a DirectX redist or something.
It only needs to be downloaded once. Extract every *.dll from the respective zip below into the RetroArch directory.
32-bit: [Redist](http://themaister.net/retroarch-dl/RetroArch-win32-libs.zip)<br/>
64-bit: [Redist](http://themaister.net/retroarch-dl/RetroArch-win64-libs.zip)
### I tried launching RetroArch in Windows with a different program but there's an annoying command line window there. Any way to remove it?
You can pass the -D flag to RetroArch which will terminate the console window if you launch it outside cmd.exe (from a shortcut or something like that). If you want to use RGUI to select a core and game you also need to add --menu.