Mame Compiler 100% Automated

[jeepguy81]

I gotta side with moving forward with the win7 platform, compiling in XP is already a cake walk with headkaze's compiler. As hypnoziz said, stating it is strictly a win7 compiler would be a must.

[Rain]

I am going to evaluate the platform decisions very soon. The original source for the code was derived from an old compiler I built for the gtk platform. So I will get all my hens together very shortly guys.

Big thanks to everybody for taking an interest in this.

Sent from my MB508 using Tapatalk

Edit September 17, 2011 [23:29MST]

So, the debate as whether or not to make the compiling environment Windows 7 only, or add Windows XP to the fold has been decided.

And the winner is:

We are keeping support for Windows XP (x86/64), Windows 7 (x86/64)

While I wish that everybody would move on to Windows 7 from Windows XP I do realize that this is not the case. Windows XP still has an avid fanbase and is the choice operating system for many computer users today.

Thanks to a recently submitted API branch by one of my sub-developers we found ways to "mimic" certain Windows 7 features into Windows XP. So, the program will no longer require Windows 7 to function in the manner it needs to.

I would like to thank everybody whom voiced their opinions and shared their thoughts. However, Hypno is correct in saying that people will always request backwards compatible versions and a good rule of programming is make something everybody can use.

Recently I have been playing with the beta of Visual Studio designed for Windows 8, and I can say once it is released it will change the way we compute because IMO so far the capabilities make Windows 7 look like a vista beta version!

Thanks guys!

[Thommo]

looking foward to seeing this. I have been considering compiling but get a little lost in all the options of MAME complier.

Anything closer to idiot proof the better IMO.

Bring it on!

[Rain]

Okay, so I have started some preliminary builds of the one click IDE and here is what I have come up with in the design process thus far. I am trying to make it as easy as possible to compile any Mame version available. While attempting to make it easy I am also trying to capture tome of the extended options that are available to users during the compilation process.

As you can tell by the screenshot below, I think the user interface has a nice flow to it, and thus far I am satisfied with it. Now, what do you think of it? Does it look okay, is it too intimidating, too complex? After all I am making this application for the people, not for myself - and it is those people (you) who are actually designing this program, I am just the keyboard jockey throwing it all together.

Screenshot:

This is the main interface of the application.

So as you can see from the above image I have added many options that are not available from any other Mame compiling program. For instance you will be able to compile: Mess, MessUI, MameUI, SDL Mame & a few other exotic builds. Along with building all of the above mentioned Mame executables, you will be able to build them for a broad range of devices, processors as well as multiple platform configurations.

This will not be a portable program, let me say that once more: this will not be a portable program. This compiler is much more than just a command prompt interface, it will contain the tools needed to debug your Mame build line by line, do a run test and check to see if any problems exist in your last build.

For all intents and purposes you could consider this to Mame what Visual Studio is to programmers. But even with the thousands of lines of code, and the dozens of processes running in the background my primary goal is and will always be to make it as simple as possible for the everyday computer user, with no prior programming skills.

However, for all of the real cowboys out there fear not, there will be an advanced mode that will allow you to compile with other features such as DirectX, SDL and a few other graphical plug-ins that are currently supported by the official Mame installation. However, the advanced mode can and will only be active by checking a box from the file menu (as I would feel bad if a user attempted to compile a version of Mame that crashed their computer on boot.)

A few key features that I am happy that I put in is the CRC checks. What this will do is after every build it will query the Mame files in the newly built program folder, then compare those files to the official Mame build. This will ensure that your Mame installation is working, and free of defects. I am also adding ZIP/RAR/GZIP/7Z/TAR support to the application that can clean your Mame build and package it for redistribution or whatever your purpose may be.

So, with all of these changes and features included I just need to know what you think? The above screenshot is very close to what you will be seeing on the final builds of the application. Is there something that you don't see that perhaps you could suggest, is what you see confusing, or do you think it is pretty straight forward?

Well, this is my update for the day - thanks guys, and thank you for all the support during this process!

[THK]

Sweet stuff dude!

Only one minor question. I thought it was not allowed to distribute MAME source code & stuff, or am I wrong? Though I personally wouldn't mind

[Rain]

Sweet stuff dude!

Only one minor question. I thought it was not allowed to distribute MAME source code & stuff, or am I wrong? Though I personally wouldn't mind

Technically no modified source code will be districted through the IDE just the original source code (which is not being districted from peer to peer, but rather you would be downloading any said source code from the developers themselves through an automation process.)

I have read the Mame license and know it better than I know my wife lol. Any code modified from its original source is permitted whereas you must also distribute the original source with the distribution (and since you are the one whom may modify any code you already have the original source so that part is upheld.) Now, you can distribute vanilla Mame all day long with no strings attached but if you modify the code then you have to include the original source, and that burden Ly on the distributor not the IDE developer.

Another part of the agreement say that we can district if we do not sell nor attempt to make monies (less the wove paragraph conditions are met.) Since no one would ever sell Mame to gin with I don't think that is an issue.

The final part of the agreement states the original copyright remain in tact, and since that is compiled at run time no problem there.

Also, I think almost everybody here will be compiling Mame for personal use anyhow so as long as the original Copyrights remain in tact (which the burden Ly on myself as the IDE developer, and whomever may attempt to redistribute) I do not see any license issues.

However, I will address any concerns with anyone whenever things need to be cleared.

Plus before each compile the user must accept two licensing agreements stating the facts above, including the Mame license.

BTW thanks for your comment, I am having fun developing the program. Hope you like it.

Sent from my MB508 using Tapatalk

[djvj]

Looks nice and clean rain, can't wait to try it out.

[Rain]

Looks nice and clean rain, can't wait to try it out.

Hey, thanks DJ. Since I last posted I have made some really great progress with the application. I now have it to where the download source is working completley! Now, when a user selects their source it is automatically downloaded, extracted and the building environment is then assembled.

So here is what the program does thus far:

• 
  
  • Downloads the source code (for version you specify)
    
  • Extracts the source code
    
  • Sets up the compiling environment
    
  • Compiles the Mame source code
    

While this may not sound like nothing special, bear in mind that it is all automated - and no user action is required to do any of this! I am really stoked about this program so far. The internal programming is really mind boggling though as it has swollen to roughly 5300 lines of code thus far and I suspect the final version will be about 10 to 20k lines of code.

Just in case anybody is interested, I am programming this application in Visual C++ (2011 build.)

I think that I have completed the GUI at this point, and I really like the flow of the program. I have attached screenshots to this post of the various windows that a user may see when using the application.

Now, let's go back to the stone age!

With this application you will be able to compile any Mame build going all the way back to it's initial release in 1997. So, you have the choice to automatically build all of the official releases (but please bear in mind that high score can only be enabled on versions 108 and above.) So, I just thought I'd throw that out there for ya'. There will be about 130+ official releases of Mame you can build using the application.

Thanks guys! I'm off work tomorrow so expect to see big progress on the program!

[djvj]

Maybe put a little tooltip or ? next to the hi-score box with a popup that it only works with v108+

[jeepguy81]

looking great Rain, can't wait to give it a whirl!

[Rain]

Maybe put a little tooltip or ? next to the hi-score box with a popup that it only works with v108+

Yes sir, the program will not let you apply patches that are not correct for your target Mame system. Thanks for the tip, I foresaw that as being a slight issue as well. The user waits for two hours for their Mame build to be done only to realize it is broken/not working: naturally they would blame the fault on the compiler not themselves lol. Thanks for the tip, it's been built in to the application.

Keep the good ideals coming!

looking great Rain, can't wait to give it a whirl!

Thanks for the comment, I have been putting in alot of hard work to the application and hope that people find use of it!

[Skitprat]

I've been using Mame for many years now, and I never had a chance to compile it myself for many reasons. I must say I would definitely use such an amazing tool ! Can't wait

[Rain]

Scary, just looking at the numbers on the poll. So many people are not sure about their Mame version. Hope this program can fix that!

[Beaps]

When do you think this will be availible Rain?

[Rain]

When do you think this will be availible Rain?

Ah, now that is the question of questions at the moment. Well, over here on my end I am hitting keys and doing everything within my power to pull this release off by Friday afternoon. So far the development process has been pretty straight forward and without a hitch.

I have now created a posting on the main thread that will stay up to date with current releases, scheduled releases and planned updates: click here to visit.

Thanks for your comment!

[SUBZERO]

Thanks for your time on all the nice proggies Rain, really digging your stuff, and making my life a whole lot easier

[Rain]

Thanks for your time on all the nice proggies Rain, really digging your stuff, and making my life a whole lot easier

You are welcome Donnie, it is my pleasure to make neat little programs that the community may find useful!

[Rain]

Well guys and gals I suppose its time to give everybody a little update on MyMame. Right now the program downloads installs everything just by setting a few options.

I think I feel very comfortable in saying that this program will blow other Mame compiling programs out of the water as far as options and ease of use.

Debugging is going a little slower than I would like (because it takes well over an hour to compile 143u5.) But I have only noticed minor bugs in the program thus far no fc as of yet.

I will make a little video tonight and upload so you can see it in action.

I am now seeking a few testers to give it a whirl before final release. So if you are interested in testing shoot me a private message.

Thanks guys!

Sent from my MB508 using Tapatalk

[bent98]

Great news. I am tied up this week but I could test on weekend.

[Beaps]

Will it compile all versions of MAME?

MAMEUI32 etc

[Rain]

Will it compile all versions of MAME?

MAMEUI32 etc

That is the ultimate goal of the program. There are just so many files for the program to keep track of. Here is a nifty little fact all of the files for all Mame versions including their Make environments (which there are eighteen of) total to over 835,000 files!

That is an automation programmers worst nightmare lol.

[Rain]

I uploaded a small working video that shows how MyMame works:

view it here: http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/forum/showpost.php?p=140129&postcount=3

[jeepguy81]

this looks really good Rain

[billpa]

can't wait to try it out Rain...big thanks!

[Rain]

Thanks for all the nice comments guys, I am still hard at work getting this program just how I want it! Rest assured that the final version will be a very handy tool for a long time to come!