Jinxter wrote on 2023-03-12, 17:06:
I like Rloader, but the work is to get all the content/metadata. Has someone made a package with a metadata like description, screenshots etc for a bunch of games?
I talked about something like this with two other users here https://github.com/marco-sacchi/RLoader/issues/35 and I'm trying to find a step-by-step solution.
An excellent source of metadata is MobyGames, which also implements APIs, the problem is that there is still no parameter that can correctly match a binary to the respective game, regardless of the name of the executable.
Over time, it would be necessary to create a database such as the xml file that can be generated by MAME, where each program has registered its binary with size and hash (such as md5, sha1, etc.). In this way it would be possible to securely link each binary to its metadata that could be retrieved. Rloader users should be able to contribute to this database.
This is obviously the ideal solution, and it is far from being achieved.
I'm currently working on an Electron based UI client that generates a set consisting of list.txt file and related folders, ready to be used in DOSBox or similar, or on real hardware.
Source LFN (long filename) directories represent the title, and contain the games/programs. The client translates these directories into DOS compatible names, resolving collisions when possible.
The user will be able to finalize the details of each list entry and manipulate its screenshots. Fixed all collisions that can't be resolved automatically, the client will generate the set in the specified output directory.
This client will be the starting point for allowing a user to download the metadata he needs, contribute to the database, and so on.
Notes: I'm talking something like months if not years of development, so... step by step.
Interested in music, graphics, programming and electronics.
Nostalgic MS-DOS developer using 16 and 32-bit compilers like Borland, Watcom and Djgpp.