XarcadeOS

[blipsahoy]

I've started a build of Linux that boots a single ROM from a flash drive. It is still a work in progress, but I am hoping that this could be useful for some arcades. Working on the installer at the moment.

GitHub - Bainerd/XarcadeOS: Xubuntu reskin for a single autolaunching MAME game arcade setup

Xubuntu reskin for a single autolaunching MAME game arcade setup - Bainerd/XarcadeOS

github.com

 

[Scott C]

The challenge is going to be natively supporting the chosen computer hardware is use, including external controllers and displays. That said, I applaud the effort. There are some computer based games that could benefit from using alternate hardware.

Scott C.

 

[blipsahoy]

@Scott C I'm not sure I understand what you are getting at? This is an Xubuntu 64 bit OS. It would be up to the user to find compatible hardware. So any merged ROM file that runs in MAME should run just fine.

 

[brokentoken]

This is interesting.

For the oldtimers...it kind of reminds me of arcade machine on a disk (AMOAD) from waaaaaaay back in the day.

 

[Scott C]

@Scott C I'm not sure I understand what you are getting at? This is an Xubuntu 64 bit OS. It would be up to the user to find compatible hardware. So any merged ROM file that runs in MAME should run just fine.

As I'm not familiar with Xubuntu, only Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora, Red Hat, etc. Does Xubuntu include the same kernel and driver support as current Ubuntu? If so, a lot of hardware support is already included. If Xubuntu has limited driver support and requires specific, compatible hardware, then that will require more effort and knowledge.

Scott C.

 

[CamoYoshi]

To clarify my questions...

As I'm not familiar with Xubuntu, only Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora, Red Hat, etc. Does Xubuntu include the same kernel and driver support as current Ubuntu? If so, a lot of hardware support is already included. If Xubuntu has limited driver support and requires specific, compatible hardware, then that will require more effort and knowledge.

Scott C.

Yes, it does. Xubuntu just uses a different display manager and has the same hardware support as Ubuntu.

 

[blipsahoy]

As I'm not familiar with Xubuntu, only Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora, Red Hat, etc. Does Xubuntu include the same kernel and driver support as current Ubuntu? If so, a lot of hardware support is already included. If Xubuntu has limited driver support and requires specific, compatible hardware, then that will require more effort and knowledge.

Scott C.

Yes, it uses XFCE, otherwise very similar to Ubuntu.

 

[blipsahoy]

Alpha ISO available for anyone that wants to test. This image can run a rom from a USB live or installed.

XarcadeOS 24.04.1-2025.02.05-desktop-amd64.iso

drive.google.com