Mame Compiler 100% Automated

[comprx]

So any chance you will let this compile for say linux? say debian with an arm processor?

Really want the high score / remove nag hacks to work on the raspberry pi computer ($35 arm based linux computer)

[Rain]

So any chance you will let this compile for say linux? say debian with an arm processor?

Really want the high score / remove nag hacks to work on the raspberry pi computer ($35 arm based linux computer)

You know, it's funny you as that because I am a Linux developer. The app was developed using the Mono libraries. I has been tested on Gentoo, Fedora, Slax and Arch all with complete compiles. So, long story short, yes it will work on Linux x64 builds.

[zerojay]

If you're on Linux, it's not too hard to compile MAME by hand. You should be quite used to the process already.

[comprx]

Well let us assume I am NOT familiar with compiling Mame.

Again i will be running this on a Debian box with an ARM processor.

I would like to compile mame to work (obviously) and remove the nag screens, and apply the high score patch.

Can someone give me some insight on how to do this? I know where to get the source code on mamedev, but I have no idea what to do from there.

[Rain]

I am now very near for a release of Quick MAME 2.0. I have had a lot of fun over the past several months developing all sorts of wild inventions for the community, everything from mainstream projects to side projects requested by you, the users. However, if you will notice in the threads - somehow my post seem to get a very high number of views.

Therefore, I feel that my threads maybe overshadowing other post of equal importance. So, I have decided to take my threads & applications over to my own website and give BadBoyBill's forums a break & let some of the other applications surface a little more.

I will continue to update my signature with links to my development forums, and completed projects. I do not think the decission to do this will have any impact on my programs or their popularity imo. I do see that there would be good benefits by doing this, so that other applications may get top billing on the main page more often, and therefore more downloads maybe generated for them.

Thanks for your understanding guys, it's been a blast!

-Ronald L. Harsh

[KyoKusagani1999]

RELIEF. Pure Relief. That's a summary for the convenience in using this baby. I had to do it the hard way before this was released, so doing a quick test run... Uhh, yeah... It's almost like cheating. But Cheating can be awesome in some cases, and this is one of them.

[zerojay]

Rain, there's really no need to do that at all. These forums are pretty dead otherwise.

[xagesz]

I agree with rain's move here as this will allow him alot of expansion. Plus if he starts creating software where uploads and downloads will factor in a dedicated site will strengthen this possibilty but ALOT.

[evil eye]

Agree with zerojay, no need to leave and abandon the threads. Your apps are what's hot right now, others will surface in time. Maybe it's just me, but I read pretty much every new post on here when I get some down time. I don't feel like you're hogging up the forum.

[xagesz]

Its not just you Evil i have a few HOURS of work where I sit at a pc and can't do anything So i just sit and scour the forums. ReRead builds just to get ideas an learn. I don't think Rain is hogging but based On what I see his intentions as since he just helped me with my project a dedicated site for him will pay off in the long run all though I am sure this site will still blow up from his work.

[Dazz]

Rain - you are not overshadowing anything. Your apps and posts are greatly appreciated and fully welcomed here.

Honestly, I haven't been following progress with your apps. But then again I really haven't been following much of anything lately.

I did need to compile a new version of MAME over the weekend. I first tried MC64 by habit, but evidently something has changed recently in compiling and I was getting many errors.

Then I remembered that you were working on this app. I downloaded the app and gave it a shot. It did not work but I think that's because you are prepping 2.0, right?

Honestly, I really like the layout and direction you are going with this app. I love the fact that the app downloads the source and diff files. I like the options available and know that this will really make compiling easy for everyone. As stated above I was not able to get a complete compile. I'm assuming that something is connecting to your server.

Just a couple suggestions. It would be great if you could make this an offline app as well. A lot of people don't have their machines connected online. If you could allow people to simply download the source manually this would be great. Also, it would be great to give the user the option to either compile with u diffs or without. As far as I could tell it automatically downloaded the main source and source updates and applied them. I normally compile only keystone versions. ie .144, .145, .146 Its rare that I'll use an update.

Other than those issues and not being able to complete my compile I think this app has tremendous promise. I really like how this is going. Please keep up the great work.

[djvj]

Rain, I think it's a bad idea to move. I have enough sites to check, if you leave here, you risk falling off the radar. I know I would never check your site for updates. Just being honest.

[zerojay]

Rain, I think it's a bad idea to move. I have enough sites to check, if you leave here, you risk falling off the radar. I know I would never check your site for updates. Just being honest.

Bingo, I complete agree with that.

[evil eye]

Its not just you Evil i have a few HOURS of work where I sit at a pc and can't do anything So i just sit and scour the forums. ReRead builds just to get ideas an learn.

Actually, that's what I'm doing right now. Browsing the forums while I should be working.

Also, it would be great to give the user the option to either compile with u diffs or without. As far as I could tell it automatically downloaded the main source and source updates and applied them. I normally compile only keystone versions. ie .144, .145, .146 Its rare that I'll use an update.

He added the ability to compile for keystone versions already. You just have to check the box that says build root, if I remember correctly. It's the one with a little tree icon next to it. I'm the same way though, I don't compile with updates.

[Rain]

Man, you guys are the best; that's all I got too say!

@Dazzy, yeah - I have added an offline compiler to the project as well. Yeah, the new MAME source codes have brought a lot of change and new compiling techniques. Mamedev is getting ready to move to GCC 4.7 to compensate, an offline compiler is a high priority for me as well!

[Rain]

Calling all beta testers, PM me for access to 2.0..... Verified working for u6, with all the trimmings. I am in the process of cleaning off several hundred gigs of data then 2.0 will be ready for mainstream distribution. Man, I have put mad hours into this project!

[xagesz]

I barely touch MAME and I know I'm drooling worse than a St Bernard.

[Rain]

Here ya' go guys, your first look at what's coming at you with Quick MAME 2.0. This will be the last of the screenshots and sneak previews until it's official release. Needless to say, whatever you want this program has it! So, without further delay here is a screenshot of the startup screen. I am going to make this version a final release, as in it will only be updated maybe once every year or more; therefore I am taking extra time, care & attention on this release. I have several programmers assisting in the development of this program. More details will come if and when they are available. Thanks guys!

[evil eye]

Wow, that's pro! Looks like your hard work will pay off.

[Rain]

Wow, that's pro! Looks like your hard work will pay off.

Well, I sure hope so. I have gotten a lot of work done over the past little while with the program, in fact way more than I have led on. I have become very knowledgable in the ways of MAME here as of late. I think this program is going to do really, really well. I cannot really go into a lot of technical details about the features included, but I am sure the community will be very happy as I am reviving a downed "bird" with this program as well.

The screenshot in the above post was a sketchup from about two weeks ago actually. Luckily I still had the old program in archives to take that photo, here is a photo of the startup menu as it sits now (see attached image.) Thanks for your reply!

[jeepguy81]

This is just awesome Rain. Can't say enough.

btw.......you have updates to install, haha

[Rain]

This is just awesome Rain. Can't say enough.

btw.......you have updates to install, haha

LOL, thanks Jeep!

[aupton]

@Rain, hey I know this isn't exactly related to your awesome automated compilation process, however you seem to be pretty intimate with the Mame source so I'm hoping you don't mind me asking this, but a common problem with Mame that plagues anyone running Windows 7 with the ArcadeVGA card and direct draw is that lower resolution direct draw modes are no longer supported under the most recent versions of Direct X. I suspect this is also a problem for people running the Soft 15Khz software solution as well? The only solution is to use Direct 3d "d3d" in mame.ini

While this works, it doesn't support the beautiful 1-to-1 pixel draw because hardware stretching is enforced with in Mame when Mame is running in Direct 3D mode.

Perhaps you're familiar with the code enough to know if disabling the enforced hardware stretching feature in Direct 3D mode was something that could be done during compilation time via a patch?

Here's some more background info on the topic sourced from http://www.ultimarc.com/avgainst.html

"There is currently a known issue with Windows 7 switching between resolutions.

If the desktop is running at an interlaced resolution (eg 640 x 480 on a standard-res monitor), When any game which uses a non-interlaced res is started (which is pretty much any Mame game), an error resuts "Unable to initialize directdraw".

Note this only happens if the desktop is running at an interlaced res, which is the case when using a standard res monitor (not a multi-frequency monitor).

There is a workaround for this: Run the desktop at a non-interlaced res such as 640 x 288. This might mean using a front end which has a 640 x 288 mode such as Mamewah.

The resolution can be switched using the Quickres icon.

Note to Mame devs: This issue does not arise if D3D is selected. But owing to not being able to disable stretching in D3D in Mame this results in a poor quality picture."

The Mame team hasn't responded to this question in the past, I suspect its a pretty minimal concern in the overall grand scheme of the project's goals and affects a small minority of users, ones that are conscious of the issue and use 15Khz arcade monitors.

Thanks again for all your hard work and I hope you don't mind a tiny topic diversion in relation to your project, but you're the only one I know of who is intimate with the Mame source and takes an active role and talks with the user community

Thank you

[Rain]

I will be hosting a live desktop chat tonight in preporation for the release of 2.0, you will be given access to be able to see me programming it front the ground up. Will post more details, come have fun and watch a nerd program!

[djvj]

Rain, you are such a geek.