Copy midnight commander (mc) from raspbian to recalbox

Midnight commander is the best double-panel file manager for GNU/Linux console. This is a very useful tool for newbies and lazy users like myself, by example using ssh protocol:

The easier way to get mc in recalbox is "steal" it to a raspbian we previously installed it.
These are the files and folders you need to copy:

Rasbian	►►►	Recalbox
/usr/bin/mc	...	/usr/bin/mc
/usr/lib/mc	...	/usr/lib/mc
/etc/mc	...	/etc/mc
/usr/share/mc	...	/usr/share/mc
/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libgpm.so.2	...	/lib/libgpm.so.2
/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/libssh2.so.1	...	/lib/libssh2.so.1

You can copy the files by ssh, using the same mc if you have GNU/Linux in your PC (plug the cart to the PC), from raspbian if you have this system and recalbox, WinSCP if you use Windows, etc...

If you haven't raspbian here you are all the necesary files, each in the correct path.

Warning: you probably need copy again each time Recalbox will be updated (This is a fast and simple operation and Recalbox is updated every long time).
Anyway, if you want mc will be part of recalbox you can join to the request I asked in the official forum.

How to run DOS games in Batocera or Recalbox 4.1

You can run fullscreen DOS games in Batocera or Recalbox (4.1 or newer).
You need copy them like this:

1. Select /recalbox/share/roms/dos/
2. Create a folder with the name of the game adding ".pc" (like  galaxia.pc)
3. Copy all the files of the game to this folder.
4. Create a dosbox.bat file, these file must content the fullname of the executable file (like GALAXIA.EXE).
5. Update games in recalbox/batocera menu.

We need repeat steps 1 to 4 for each game we add, and do the step 5 when we finished.

Note: Don't use notepad for Windows because this buggy software can add strange and invisible characters. Better use a good text edit like jEdit.

Manage recalbox from your PC browser: configuration, file upload, virtual remote control and kodi

Recalbox is surprising me every day with its ease of use and power, today I will talk about the wide possibilities of use from your PC browser.

Access to your configuration: http://recalbox.local

You can do here:

• Configure the Recalbox OS.
• Upload files dragging them.
• Monitory the activity and see logs.

Virtual Game Pad: http://recalbox.local:8080 

If you click on Use Virtual Game Pad or input this url in your browser you see an image of a SNES virtual controller you can use like a real one.

You can use it with a mobile phone or tablet with access to your wifi.
Warning: Do not expect a high speed response due to limitations in your screen device.

 

Kodi: http://recalbox.local:8081 

You are probably asking for Kodi web service, can I use?

Yes, you can, but in recalbox use the 8081 port, and you can access if Kodi is running and the service activated.

So we can access from your PC web browser to your raspberry pi mediacenter, send youtube videos with Send to Kodi or use the mobile like a remote control with Yatse or any similar app.

Advice: If you can't access from these URLs, use your IP instead of recalbox.local

Add your favorites apps in raspbian aplications panel

You can change your favourites apps in aplications panel editing the file /home/pi/.config/lxpanel/LXDE-pi/panels/panel 

Modify the zone with these line at the beginning:

Plugin {
   type=launchbar
There must be a content like this:
Plugin {
  type=launchbar
  Config {
    Button {
      id=/usr/share/applications/iceweasel.desktop
    }
    Button {
      id=/usr/share/raspi-ui-overrides/applications/pcmanfm.desktop
    }
    Button {
      id=/usr/share/raspi-ui-overrides/applications/lxterminal.desktop
    }
    Button {
      id=/usr/share/applications/kodi.desktop
    }
  }
} Here we define like our favorites apps iceweasel web browser, pcmanfm file explorer, lxterminal and kodi:

You need restart rasbian or at least X server:

sudo /etc/init.d/lightdm restart

Compiling LeoCAD in any GNU/Linux

LeoCAD is a LDraw file editor, a open format to make LEGO(R), TENTE(R), EXIN CASTILLOS(R), etc... virtual models.

I follow this steps to compile Leocad:

1. Install subversion and the necesary libraries to compile QT code:
   sudo apt-get install git libqt4-dev zlib1g-dev
2. Download the lastest version of code in a folder, for example $HOME
   cd $HOME
git clone https://github.com/leozide/leocad/
3. Change to this directory, compile and install:
   cd leocad
qmake leocad.pro
make
sudo make install 
4. If we use the LEGO library we might launch the software with this command (I suppose you download the library in /opt/ldraw/lego):
   leocad -l /opt/ldraw/lego/

You can also use the Tente® 3D library, then the comand to run might be:
leocad -l /opt/ldraw/tente
If you compile in a raspberry pi, use qmake-qt4 leocad.pro instead of qmake leocad.pro.

Original articles

• Tente 3D en Raspberry pi 2 (I): compilando LeoCAD.
• LeoCAD en Ubuntu 14.04 LTS de 64 bits.
• LeoCAD en Ubuntu (II): configuración para Tente 3D.

Some of the best native games in raspberry pi

Raspberry pi has many leisure options beyond emulators and kodi, for example, you can play many GNU / Linux games that do not abuse graphics acceleration.

I made a brief list of funniest and fluid ones for our little computer, I group by installation method:

From official repositories

These are the game you can install with the command apt-get install name_of_the_game:

1. Block Attack, rise of the blocks: Very addictive diamond game, it's hard to stop playing.
2. lBreakOut 2: arkanoid remake.
3. Epiphany: Boulder Dash remake.
4. Ltris: tetris clone, very good.
5. Pingus: lemmings clone, with a lot of improvements.
6. Xgalaga: kill alien ships game. No rest.
7. Slimey Volley: simple and funny volleyball game.
8. SuperTux: like Mario but tux is the main character.
9. Tux football: soccer game, similar to Goal goal goal or Emilio Butragueño.
10. Pix frogger: frogger remake.
11. Minecraft Pi: Minecraft for raspberry pi.
12. Eat the whistle: soccer game similar to Football Manager or Yoda Soccer.
13. PySOL FC: 1000 cards games in one, very good and very well documented.

Install the form retropie

You need to use retropie script to install them:

1. Giana's return: Mario clone with amazing graphics.
2. OpenTyrian: amazing kill alien ships game, see how install it and configure.
3. zDoom: Doom adapted to raspberry pi.
4. Quake III: another first person shoot'em all game.
5. eduke32: Duke Nukem 3D adapted to raspberry pi.

 

Manual installation (binaries)

You need follow the author's instructions to install them, compile them is not necessary:

1. Hurrican: Turrican remake. Pure adrenaline.
2. Maldita Castilla (cursed Castilla): zombie game similar to Ghost'n'Goblings, master piece and guaranteed fun.
3. They need to be feed: Amazing game with worlds with their own gravity where you have to feed a dying alien race.
4. Air Hockey Arcade: you must put the disc into the goal.
5. Super Crate Box: a game that will not give you a respite.

To compile them

Compiling is very easy following the author's instructions:

1. Capitan Sevilla, el remake (Captain S): Another recovered classic game. You are the Captain Sevilla trying to prevent the evil Pr. Torrebruno enslaved the city and the World.
2. Rock'n'diamons: boulder dash clone with improved graphics (download the source code and compile with the command make sdl)
3. Lpairs: pairs game, you can change the images always with the same format than original ones.
4. Vorton: Highway encounter remake, recently recovered.
5. Stepmania: software to use dance mats.
6. PyDance: another software to use dance mats.

Java games

You only need java in your raspberry to run them:

1. The abbey of crime extensum: Remake of one of the most successful Spanish games of all time that takes full advantage of the capabilities of today's computers. It takes a while to boot but then it goes very well.

I want more...

This is just a small sample of the number of games that are available for our gadget, for example, I have not put any of the countless table games that work in luxury.
You can see a more extensible list in this thread in official raspberry pi forum.

Remember you also use emulators for more games, best DOS ones included.

Other interesting links

• Webfootgames: 15 games for raspberry pi (privative).
• Yoyo games: 3 games for raspberry pi (privative).
• List of games for raspberry pi in official forum.
• ScummVM games with raspberry pi.