RetroArch

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# RetroArch

RetroArch is the reference frontend for the libretro API.
Popular examples of implementations for this API includes video game system emulators and game engines as well as
more generalized 3D programs.
These programs are instantiated as dynamic libraries. We refer to these as "libretro cores".

![XMB menu driver](docs/XMB-main-menu.jpg "XMB menu driver")

![rgui menu driver](docs/rgui-main-menu.jpg "rgui menu driver")

![glui menu driver](docs/glui-main-menu.jpg "glui menu driver")

![ozone menu driver](docs/ozone-main-menu.jpg "ozone menu driver")

## libretro

[libretro](https://www.libretro.com) is an API that exposes generic audio/video/input callbacks.
A frontend for libretro (such as RetroArch) handles video output, audio output, input and application lifecycle.
A libretro core written in portable C or C++ can run seamlessly on many platforms with very little to no porting effort.

While RetroArch is the reference frontend for libretro, several other projects have used the libretro
interface to include support for emulators and/or game engines. libretro is completely open and free for anyone to use.

[libretro API header](https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/blob/master/libretro-common/include/libretro.h)

## Binaries

Latest binaries are currently hosted on the [buildbot](http://buildbot.libretro.com/).

## Support

To reach developers, either make an issue here on GitHub, make a thread on the [forum](https://www.libretro.com/forums/), chat on [Discord](https://discord.gg/C4amCeV). You could create a post in [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/RetroArch/) with *Technical Support* flair.

## Documentation

See our [Documentation Center](https://docs.libretro.com/). On Unix, man-pages are provided.
More developer-centric stuff is found [here](https://docs.libretro.com/development/libretro-overview/).

## Related projects

   - Cg/HLSL shaders: [common-shaders](https://github.com/libretro/common-shaders)
   - slang shaders: [slang-shaders](https://github.com/libretro/slang-shaders)
   - GLSL shaders: [glsl-shaders](https://github.com/libretro/glsl-shaders)
   - Helper scripts to build libretro implementations: [libretro-super](https://github.com/libretro/libretro-super)
   - GitHub mirrors of projects, useful for generating diff files: [libretro-mirrors](https://github.com/libretro-mirrors/)

## Philosophy

RetroArch attempts to be small and lean
while still having all the useful core features expected from an emulator.
It is designed to be very portable and features a gamepad-centric and touchscreen UI.
It also has a full-featured command-line interface.

In some areas, RetroArch goes beyond and emphasizes on not-so-common technical features such as multi-pass shader support,
real-time rewind (Braid-style), video recording (using FFmpeg), run-ahead input latency removal, etc.

RetroArch also emphasizes being easy to integrate