RetroDECK: Debugging
Launch RetroDECK with debug log level
This command sets Log Level to Debug and gives you a as much data in the logs and terminal as possible.
Flatpak CLI Shell: Debug Mode
You can use the Flatpak shell for debugging individual components from bash in RetroDECK by using the following command:
On Wayland it is in some cases needed to add additional parameters to get all the components GUI's to show up that have not yet transitioned into Wayland:
This is what we refer to as Debug Mode.
How to run retrodeck from shell?
Just type retrodeck and it launches full RetroDECK.
How to run a component?
You can also launch specific components by typing retrodeck --open <componentname>
Example:
retrodeck --open retroarch launches RetroArch.
Typing retrodeck --open without a component will give you a list of currently installed components.
Flatpak CLI Shell Folders Paths
/var and /app links to other folders then the normal Linux host system.
| Sandbox Path | Corresponding Host Path | Comment |
|---|---|---|
/app |
~/.local/share/flatpak/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/current/active/files/or /var/lib/flatpak/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/current/active/files/ Contains: bin, lib, libexec, manifest-base-1.json, manifest.json, retrodeck, share, tools. |
Read‑only runtime environment supplied by the Flatpak package. |
/var |
~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/[cache, config, data], db, home, mnt, opt, run, srv, tmp |
Writable portion of the sandbox. |
Launch ES-DE in Debug Mode:
From the RetroDECK Debug Mode use the following command to open ES-DE in Debug Mode.
Debugging a specific game via ES-DE in Debug Mode
The easiest way is to run:
Then start or try to start the game or content you want to debug.
ES-DE will spit out two important values Raw emulator launch command & Expanded emulator launch command.
Raw emulator launch command
This tell you the dynamic pathing to the core file + rom file.
Example output of amstrad game being launch via the RetroArch core:
Raw emulator launch command:
Debug:
%EMULATOR_RETROARCH% -L %CORE_RETROARCH%/cap32_libretro.so %ROM%
This tells that the Emulator that is launched is retroarch and the core is cap32 via the selected %ROM%
Expanded emulator launch command:
This is the full-command to launch the file
Example output of the game above, a game called Dank Rider:
Expanded emulator launch command:
Info:
/app/bin/retroarch -L /app/share/libretro/cores/cap32_libretro.so /home/deck/retrodeck/roms/amstradcpc/1001\ BC\ (1984)(Dank Rider)(fr).zip
Deeper per game / content debugging
If we want to debug a game or content copy and run the full Expanded emulator launch command from above.
Example debugging of a fake game called Dank Rider for the Amstrad:
/app/bin/retroarch -L /app/share/libretro/cores/cap32_libretro.so /home/deck/retrodeck/roms/amstradcpc/1001\ BC\ (1984)(Dank Rider)(fr).zip
This will give you the raw RetroArch output.