rom

Python CLI to find and download ROMs, ISOs and Switch games from the terminal. It has an interactive UI (Textual) like epub-search, name search, downloads with a progress bar, and a folder organised by platform.

English-language version of the original Portuguese project by sostenesapollo. Thanks to the original author for the base work — this fork translates the interface and docs to English and tracks the upstream fixes.

• Python 3.8+
• macOS or Linux
• textual (install.sh installs it into its own venv)

git clone https://github.com/danisiber/rom-cli.git
cd rom-cli
./install.sh

This creates a venv in ~/.venvs/rom, installs textual, and publishes rom (and rom-remote) into ~/bin. Use PREFIX=/usr/local ./install.sh for a different destination.

rom                          # opens the platform picker and browses
rom -p switch                # opens straight into the Switch catalog
rom -p switchports           # only the Switch ports/homebrew
rom "metroid"                # searches every source
rom -y -p gba "pokemon"      # downloads the best match without asking
rom --list "metroid"         # lists only, does not download
rom --print-url -p switch …  # prints the direct link (aria2/curl)
rom -l                       # lists the platforms
rom --index                  # builds/prints the catalog index
rom --refresh                # rebuilds the index (ignores the cache)

With no query, rom opens the platform picker; once you pick one, it lists that platform's whole catalog (pages of 300, n/b to move) — so you can browse without typing anything. Typing in the field and pressing Enter goes back to searching.

In the UI: ↑↓ navigate, space mark, d download (the marked ones or the current one), p switch platform, n/b page, ctrl+b options palette, ctrl+a select all, ctrl+n clear, q quit.

Platforms: switch, switchports, ps5, ps4, ps3, psv, ps2, ps1, psp, nds, gba, snes, pc, nes, gb, gbc, n64, 3ds, gc, wii, genesis, mastersystem, dreamcast, saturn, arcade.

Files go to ~/Downloads/roms/<platform>/.

• Switch: the dlarchive index (files_api.php). The nsp-roms page embeds links with a token that expires; here rom resolves through the index and grabs a direct, token-free URL. It also works for NDS, GBA, SNES and PC.
• Switch ports: the switchports platform merges two sources — the dlarchive catalog and an Archive.org scan (switch port / homebrew port / nsp+port), with a 7-day cache. Around 35 ports (GTA, Halo, Simpsons Hit & Run, SM64 NX, Twilight Princess, Cave Story, Pizza Tower, Max Payne, Hello Neighbor, Diablo...).
• PS3 and PS Vita: NoPayStation — downloads .pkg straight from Sony's CDN (zeus.dl.playstation.net), no token needed.
• PS2, PS1 and PSP: RomsGames (search + a POST that returns the file).
• PS4 and PS5: dlpsgame (search via WP REST). The direct download works when the post links a supported host (mediafire, Google Drive, 1fichier); when it doesn't, rom shows the page so you can grab the link yourself.
• Best sellers first: while browsing a platform, the best-selling titles (Wikipedia lists, 30-day cache) come first with ★; the rest follow alphabetically. Platforms without a full listing (PS4/PS5) are browsed through that best-seller list itself.
• Fallback: Archive.org on platforms with a thin catalogue.
• The catalog index is cached (~/.cache/rom-cli/dlarchive.json, 12h TTL) — which makes searches instant. --refresh rebuilds it.
• Ranking is by title match, with a penalty for hacks/translations/betas and a preference for Base over Update/DLC.
• Files are validated before being written (zip, 7z, PFS0 for .nsp, and PKG/CNT for .pkg).
• Downloads are resumable (.part + Range).

Runs on the Mac worker (ssh mac) and brings the files back. Useful when this Mac's network blocks the download hosts.

rom-remote -p switch "mario kart"    # opens the UI on the worker
rom-remote -y -p snes "metroid"      # downloads there and syncs back here

Tune it with ROM_REMOTE_HOST, ROM_REMOTE_DIR and ROM_DIR.

Only use what you have the right to.