* Drop-in ROM: first-run sidecar conversion, no Python (issue #6, Part A + interim)
The release bundle now turns a dropped-in NTSC-U ROM into a playable game
with zero tooling: when data/pcmodels-* / data/pccg-* are missing at boot,
the engine spawns the frozen prepare-assets converter shipped in the bundle
(prepare-assets/ge007-convert[.exe], PyInstaller --onefile), waits for it,
and re-checks before continuing (port/src/romconvert.c, called from
romdataInit after ROM validation). Failure aborts boot with a message
instead of the later D179-class crash.
- prepare-assets.py: runs in-process via runpy when frozen (no user Python
to exec); NTSC-U-only gate with a clear message for PAL/JP ROMs; d88's
sibling import needs an explicit sys.path entry (run_path does not set
one). Verified: frozen exe output byte-identical to the unfrozen path and
to the shipped sidecars.
- CI (linux + windows): PyInstaller freeze step before bundling
(ensurepip / --break-system-packages for MSYS2's pip-less python).
- bundle scripts: copy ge007-convert into prepare-assets/ (hard-fail if not
frozen), size guard 60 -> 120 MB.
- Release notes: US-only drop-in instructions, no Python required.
- D258: PAL/JP filelist naming defects documented; multi-region deferred to
the Part B follow-up.
* CI: install pip via pacman on Windows (MSYS2 ensurepip is disabled); regen findings index for D258
- README: manual Contents TOC dropped (GitHub auto-generates); Download
table moved to the top with Quick start under it; Status compressed to
a Working paragraph + tight known-issue list (D-numbers live in the
release notes / finding log now); How-it-works tightened.
- Pages (docs/index.md): demo gif is the hero; download table up top;
new How-it-works and Honest-status sections; legal footer; the 19-shot
playtest gallery unchanged.
- Options overlay is now gamepad-driven: README Steam Deck section, the
bundle README (new @DECK@ block on Linux, controller column added to
the controls table), and the release-notes template all document
Select / D-pad / A / B / Start instead of a Steam key-mapping workaround.
The $ORIGIN verification compared ldd's absolute resolved path against the
relative $OUT, so it always failed even though the bundled libSDL2 was the
copy being resolved (CI 34778363397 showed exactly that). Match both forms;
the remaining-deps listing now filters by bundle dir name for the same
reason.
bundle-linux.sh now copies the exact libSDL2 the exe was linked against next
to it and sets the rpath to $ORIGIN via patchelf, with an ldd assertion that
the bundled copy is the one resolved. zlib/libGL remain system deps
(preinstalled on desktop distros and SteamOS). CI installs patchelf; the
generated in-bundle README gains a Steam Deck sideload note and the SDL2
zlib-license copyright file is carried when the distro ships one.
Also refreshes the release-facing docs that ship with / describe the cut:
- .github/release-notes.md: v0.1.0-alpha body -> <version> pre-release body
(what's new + known issues incl. D243/D230/D245/D246/D197/D75, the D251
4K ghost row, and 'not yet verified on real Deck hardware')
- tools_pc/dist/README.md.in: alpha claims (no audio / black sky / US-only)
-> pre-release status; ROM table now lists all three regions (the asset
step auto-detects by SHA-1)
- tools_pc/bundle-linux.sh: package a Linux build (exe + README + licenses +
prepare-assets) as a .tar.gz. Mirrors bundle-win.sh's ROM / size guards and
prepare-assets assembly. No shared libs bundled — the generated README tells
the user to install SDL2 / zlib / libGL from their distro.
- tools_pc/dist/README.md.in: made OS-neutral via @PLATFORM@ / @EXE@ / @DEPS@ /
@LICENSE_EXTRA@ tokens; refreshed the known-issues list (dropped the stale
"ladders don't work" line — D177 fixed M-36; added black sky + missing HUD
weapon icon).
- .github/workflows/ci.yml: linux-build now packages + uploads the Linux
bundle; the release job attaches both platforms to the draft pre-release.
- .github/release-notes.md: rewritten for the two-platform NTSC-U alpha with
the prepare-assets step and current known issues.
Alpha scope: NTSC-U only, one-time prepare-assets step (Part A launcher and
Part B native converter from release-dropin-rom-plan.md remain follow-ups).
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01V4pK3pT83YnPsBp3Ey4RP2
James Dansereau