drpetersonfernandes/SimpleLauncher release4.7.0

on GitHub

🚀 New Features

• Group Files by Folder: Groups multi-file MAME games (e.g., Software List CHDs/ROMs from PleasureDome) into single UI entries. Compatible only with MAME—warnings shown for non-MAME setups. Handy to launch MAME Software List CHDs.
• RetroGameCoverDownloader: New tool to help users get cover art for their games.
• Automatic Creation of 'Microsoft Windows' System: Introduced an algorithm to automatically add links to Epic Games, Steam Games, and Windows Store Games to the frontend.
• Advanced Global Search: Filter by system, filename, MAME description, folder name, and recursive search.
• First-Run Welcome Flow: Guides new users to Easy Mode for quick setup.
• Kebab Menu: "..." button on game entries for quick context actions.
• Configurable Status Bar: Timeout (default 3s) with detailed feedback for loading/saving/actions.

🔧 Core Refactoring

• Dependency Injection (DI): GameLauncher, GamePadController, UpdateChecker, ExtractionService, PlaySoundEffects, etc., now instance-based services.
• ExtractionService: Refactored from ExtractCompressedFile with IExtractionService interface; retry logic for file locks.
• Thread Safety: SemaphoreSlim for game caches; Dispatcher.InvokeAsync preferred.
• .NET 10: Target framework upgraded; C# 14 features.

🎨 UI/UX Improvements

• UpdateHistoryWindow: Native Markdown rendering (no external deps).
• EditSystemWindow: GroupBox → Expander (collapsible); persist states.
• Resizable Windows: SetFuzzyMatchingWindow, SetGamepadDeadZoneWindow.
• Dark Mode Toggle: Navigation menu icon/handler.
• Loading Overlays: Consistent across windows; disable UI during ops.

🛠️ Tools & Emulators

• Updated Binaries: tools (bchunk.exe, GameCoverScraper, FindRomCover.exe, BatchConvertIsoToXiso.exe etc.).
• New Emulators: Ymir (Saturn), NooDs (DS), Gearlynx/Gearboy (Lynx).
• Docs: Updated parameters.md/helpuser.xml with Amiga models, MAME rompath examples.

🛡️ Robustness & Perf

• Cancellation Tokens: GlobalSearchWindow, PlayHistoryWindow.
• Atomic Saves: Favorites prevent corruption via temp files.
• Cache Invalidation: Clear RA cache on credential changes.
• Localization: 100+ new strings (artwork, Easy Mode, errors).