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Improve debug UI layout and add banner build tooling for v0.2.1.
Restructure Details and Technical pages with aligned columns, wrapped long fields, and a readable filter grid; refresh the header, footer, and Options menu. Add a config-driven banner generator, build.ps1, and release docs for v0.2.1.
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‎.gitignore‎

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@@ -38,4 +38,6 @@ Thumbs.db
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*.temp
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source/title_database_generated.c
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source/title_database.c.backup_*
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scripts/__pycache__/
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# Generated scratch output (committed copies live in meta/)
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meta/banner-src/output/
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‎README.md‎

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@@ -71,21 +71,31 @@ cd 3DS-Random-Game-Launcher
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make
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```
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The build reads semver from [`VERSION`](VERSION) (currently **0.2.0**) and writes to `dist/`, e.g. `3DS-Random-Game-Launcher-v0.2.0.3dsx`. See [docs/VERSIONING.md](docs/VERSIONING.md).
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The build reads semver from [`VERSION`](VERSION) and writes to `dist/`, e.g. `3DS-Random-Game-Launcher-v<VERSION>.3dsx`. See [docs/VERSIONING.md](docs/VERSIONING.md).
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`make` does **not** regenerate banner PNGs — it only embeds `icon.png` in the `.3dsx` SMDH. To refresh store/CIA banner artwork (including the version label), run `build.bat banners` (Windows) or `./build.sh banners` (Linux/Mac) before `build_cia.bat`.
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```bash
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# Windows
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./build.bat release # Release build
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./build.bat debug # Debug build
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# Windows (PowerShell — preferred if cmd/app picker acts up)
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./build.ps1 release
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./build.ps1 debug
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./build.ps1 banners
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./build.ps1 clean
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# Windows (batch)
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./build.bat release
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./build.bat debug
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./build.bat banners
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./build.bat clean
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# Linux/Mac
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./build.sh release
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./build.sh debug
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./build.sh banners
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./build.sh clean
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```
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**CIA builds:** run `build_cia.bat` (Windows) or follow [tools/README.md](tools/README.md). Uses prebuilt tools in `tools/bin/` — no submodules.
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**CIA builds:** run `build.bat banners` then `build_cia.bat` (Windows) or `./build.sh banners` before packaging — see [tools/README.md](tools/README.md). Uses prebuilt tools in `tools/bin/` — no submodules.
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**Debug build:** `make DEBUG=1` — adds `-debug` to output filenames and verbose logging.
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@@ -94,8 +104,9 @@ The build reads semver from [`VERSION`](VERSION) (currently **0.2.0**) and write
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| Path | What it is |
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|------|------------|
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| `source/` | App source (`main.c`, `title_picker.c`, `title_smdh.c`, `settings.c`, `ui.c`, …) |
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| `Makefile`, `build.bat` | Build `.3dsx` homebrew |
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| `Makefile`, `build.bat`, `build.sh` | Build `.3dsx` homebrew |
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| `build_cia.bat` | One-step `.cia` packaging (Windows) |
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| `meta/banner-src/` | Config-driven banner generator — see [meta/banner-src/README.md](meta/banner-src/README.md) |
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| `dist/` | Versioned build output (gitignored) |
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| `scripts/` | Python tools to refresh the title database |
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| `meta/` | Distribution assets — see [meta/README.md](meta/README.md) |

‎VERSION‎

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0.2.0
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0.2.1

‎build.bat‎

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echo - Additional title information
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echo - No optimization for easier debugging
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echo.
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echo Output files are in the dist/ directory (semver from VERSION file).
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echo Output files are in the dist/ directory - semver from VERSION file.
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) else (
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echo.
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echo DEBUG build failed!
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echo RELEASE build completed successfully!
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echo Optimized for performance and smaller size.
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echo.
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echo Output files are in the dist/ directory (semver from VERSION file).
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echo Output files are in the dist/ directory - semver from VERSION file.
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) else (
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echo.
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echo RELEASE build failed!
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echo Please check the error messages above.
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)
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) else if "%1"=="banners" (
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call meta\banner-src\build.bat
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) else if "%1"=="clean" (
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echo Cleaning build files...
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make clean
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echo No dist/ directory found.
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)
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) else (
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echo Usage: build.bat [debug^|release^|clean^|list]
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echo Usage: build.bat [debug^|release^|banners^|clean^|list]
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echo.
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echo debug - Build with debug features enabled
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echo release - Build optimized release version
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echo banners - Regenerate meta/banner*.png from meta/banner-src/ - needs: pip install pillow
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echo clean - Clean build files and dist directory
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echo list - List available builds in dist/ directory
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echo.

‎build.ps1‎

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# PowerShell build wrapper - avoids MSYS cmd shadowing and .bat parenthesis pitfalls.
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param(
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[Parameter(Position = 0)]
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[ValidateSet('debug', 'release', 'banners', 'clean', 'list', 'help')]
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[string] $Command = 'help'
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)
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$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
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$Root = $PSScriptRoot
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function Show-Help {
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Write-Host '3DS Random Game Launcher Build Script'
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Write-Host '====================================='
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Write-Host ''
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Write-Host 'Usage: .\build.ps1 [debug|release|banners|clean|list]'
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Write-Host ''
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Write-Host 'debug - Build with debug features enabled'
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Write-Host 'release - Build optimized release version'
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Write-Host 'banners - Regenerate meta/banner*.png from meta/banner-src/'
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Write-Host 'clean - Clean build files and dist directory'
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Write-Host 'list - List available builds in dist/'
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}
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switch ($Command) {
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'debug' {
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Write-Host 'Building DEBUG version...'
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& make DEBUG=1
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if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { exit $LASTEXITCODE }
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Write-Host 'DEBUG build completed. Output in dist/.'
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}
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'release' {
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Write-Host 'Building RELEASE version...'
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& make
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if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { exit $LASTEXITCODE }
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Write-Host 'RELEASE build completed. Output in dist/.'
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}
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'banners' {
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& "$Root\meta\banner-src\build.ps1"
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}
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'clean' {
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Write-Host 'Cleaning build files...'
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& make clean
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Write-Host 'Clean completed.'
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}
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'list' {
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if (Test-Path "$Root\dist") {
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Get-ChildItem "$Root\dist\*.3dsx" | ForEach-Object { $_.Name }
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} else {
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Write-Host 'No dist/ directory found.'
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}
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}
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default {
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Show-Help
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}
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}

‎build.sh‎

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echo "No dist/ directory found."
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fi
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;;
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"banners")
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bash meta/banner-src/build.sh
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;;
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*)
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echo "Usage: ./build.sh [debug|release|clean|list]"
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echo "Usage: ./build.sh [debug|release|banners|clean|list]"
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echo ""
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echo "debug - Build with debug features enabled"
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echo "release - Build optimized release version"
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echo "banners - Regenerate meta/banner*.png from meta/banner-src/ (needs: pip install pillow)"
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echo "clean - Clean build files and dist directory"
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echo "list - List available builds in dist/ directory"
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echo ""

‎docs/DEVELOPMENT_PRIORITIES.md‎

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# Development priorities by version
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This project has repeatedly traded **progress** (how fast we can build), **functionality** (how much the app can do), and **performance** (how fast it runs on hardware). None of the three can be maximized at once; each prototype picked a different balance.
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After **v0.3** — when the UI is in very good shape — the plan is to optimize for **performance** again.
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---
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## The triangle model
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Every version can be drawn as a triangle with three corners:
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| Corner | Meaning |
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|--------|---------|
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| **Progress** | Speed of development; shipping visible changes quickly; iteration over polish |
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| **Functionality** | Features, settings, filters, metadata, screens, user-facing capability |
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| **Performance** | Responsiveness on a real 3DS; I/O cost; rebuild time; redraw cost |
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The **centre of gravity** (★) shows what that version optimized for. Closer to a corner or edge = stronger emphasis there.
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---
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## Version history (narrative)
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### Initial prototype
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Built for **speed** and assembled **very quickly**. That pass produced a lot of **progress** and the app felt **fast** on device. Scope was narrow by design.
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### Next prototype
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Gained a little **more functionality**, with **less focus on progress** — more time went into features than into raw shipping speed. **Performance was left untouched**; what worked stayed as-is.
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### v0.2.0
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Built with **functionality** and **rapid building** in mind. Filters, options, multiple screens, title database growth, and richer pick logic landed in a short window. **Performance took a hit** here: more work per reroll, full pool rebuilds, linear catalog scans, and heavier I/O were accepted as the cost of capability.
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### v0.2.1 (current)
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Focus is **UI**: layout, copy, inverted header/footer, paginator, filter section, fixed rows — built **rapidly** (**progress**) while preserving and surfacing **functionality**. **Performance has been hit hard** again: every interaction still triggers full `consoleClear()` redraws on top of the v0.2.0 backend costs, without backend optimization in this pass.
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### v0.3 (planned)
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UI should be in **very good shape**. Then **performance** becomes the primary optimization target again, rebalancing the triangle without dropping the features and UI already shipped.
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---
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## Priority balance diagrams
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Each diagram uses the same three corners. **★** = centre of gravity for that version.
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### Diagram 1 — Initial prototype
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**Emphasis:** Progress + Performance. Minimal functionality.
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```
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PROGRESS
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(rapid build)
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▲
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/ \
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/ \
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/ \
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/ ★ \ ← high progress, high performance
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/ \
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/ \
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/_____________\
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FUNCTIONALITY PERFORMANCE
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(minimal) (strong)
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```
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| Priority | Level |
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|----------|-------|
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| Progress | ●●●●● High |
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| Functionality | ● Low |
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| Performance | ●●●●● High |
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---
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### Diagram 2 — Next prototype → v0.2.0
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**Emphasis:** Functionality rises; progress stays strong through v0.2.0; performance starts to slip at v0.2.0.
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**Next prototype** (lighter shift):
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```
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PROGRESS
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▲
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/ \
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/ \
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/ ★ \ ← functionality grows; perf unchanged
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/ \
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/_________\
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FUNCTIONALITY PERFORMANCE
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(growing) (held)
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```
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**v0.2.0** (same diagram family, centre moves):
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```
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PROGRESS
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▲
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/ \
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/ ★ \
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/ \ ← functionality + rapid feature build
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/ \
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/_________\
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FUNCTIONALITY PERFORMANCE
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(strong) (weaker)
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```
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| Version | Progress | Functionality | Performance |
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|---------|----------|---------------|-------------|
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| Next prototype | ●●● Medium | ●●● Growing | ●●●● Unchanged |
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| v0.2.0 | ●●●● High | ●●●● Strong | ●● Declining |
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---
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### Diagram 3 — v0.2.1 (current) → v0.3 (planned)
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**v0.2.1 — today:** UI + progress + functionality; performance deprioritized.
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```
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PROGRESS
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▲
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/ \
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/ \
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/ \
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/ \
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/ ★ \ ← UI built fast; features exposed;
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/ \ backend perf not addressed
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/_______________\
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FUNCTIONALITY PERFORMANCE
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(strong) (weak)
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```
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| Priority | Level |
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|----------|-------|
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| Progress | ●●●● High (rapid UI iteration) |
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| Functionality | ●●●● Strong (filters, pages, settings) |
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| Performance | ● Weak (full redraws + v0.2.0 backend cost) |
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**v0.3 — planned:** UI complete; centre of gravity moves toward Performance.
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```
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PROGRESS
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▲
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/ \
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/ \
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/ \
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/ \
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/ \
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/ ★ \ ← perf optimization pass
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/_______________\
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FUNCTIONALITY PERFORMANCE
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(maintain) (restore)
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```
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| Priority | Level |
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|----------|-------|
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| Progress | ●● Medium (polish + optimization) |
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| Functionality | ●●●● Maintain |
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| Performance | ●●●●● Primary focus |
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---
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## Evolution at a glance
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```
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Initial Next v0.2.0 v0.2.1 v0.3 (plan)
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prototype prototype
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│ │ │ │ │
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▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼
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progress functionality functionality UI/progress performance
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+ + + + +
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performance (perf flat) (perf ↓) (perf ↓↓) (perf ↑)
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(function low)
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```
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---
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## Performance notes (v0.2.1)
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The UI pass did not fix underlying costs from v0.2.0. The main bottlenecks today are:
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- **SMDH / icon file read** on every reroll (`title_smdh_load`)
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- **Linear scan** of ~8,700-entry title database during pool rebuild
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- **Full pool rebuild** on every filter toggle
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- **`consoleClear()`** full-screen redraw on most interactions
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These are documented in more detail in code review and [`MAIN_C_FUNCTIONALITY.md`](MAIN_C_FUNCTIONALITY.md). A v0.3 performance pass would likely target catalog lookup, pick caching, lazy metadata load, and partial UI updates first.
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---
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## Related
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- [`VERSIONING.md`](VERSIONING.md) — semver rules and release mapping
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- [`VERSION`](../VERSION) — current version file

‎docs/MENTIONS.md‎

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# Mentions & links
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Curated links where **3DS Random Game Launcher** is listed, discussed, or referenced. Add new entries as they appear.
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## Source
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- [GitHub repository](https://github.com/selloa/3DS-Random-Game-Launcher)
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## Distribution & listings
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- [Universal-DB](https://db.universal-team.net/3ds/3ds-random-game-launcher) — install via Universal Updater
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## Documentation & wikis
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- [GameBrew wiki](https://www.gamebrew.org/wiki/3DS_Random_Game_Launcher)
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## Videos
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- [Maxquaza — *Nintendo 3DS Hacks You Should Try!* @ 7:26](https://youtu.be/rdoZhKAb3rM?t=446) — mentions this app
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- [beachballs — *best homebrew 3ds apps 2026* @ 3:00](https://youtu.be/MR7o_fKnwHA?t=180) — covers [einso's original](https://github.com/einso/3ds-randomtitlepicker)
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## Community
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- [GBATemp release thread](https://gbatemp.net/threads/3ds-random-game-launcher-finally-something-to-solve-the-what-should-i-play-problem.675053/)
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- [r/3dshacks — discussion](https://www.reddit.com/r/3dshacks/comments/1nazswi/comment/ongdpf6/) — ~Aug 2025 · 66 upvotes · ~30k views

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