lessui-hq · nchapman · Dec 22, 2025 · Dec 20, 2025 · Dec 21, 2025 · Dec 21, 2025
diff --git a/docs/analog-input.md b/docs/analog-input.md
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+# Analog Input Architecture
+
+This document explains how LessUI handles analog stick input and the challenges for devices with limited controls.
+
+## How Analog Input Works
+
+LessUI has two separate input paths:
+
+```
+┌─────────────────────┐     ┌──────────────────┐
+│   Config File       │     │   Hardware       │
+│   (digital only)    │     │   (if present)   │
+│                     │     │                  │
+│  bind A = B         │     │  Analog stick    │
+│  bind Up = UP       │     │  events          │
+└─────────┬───────────┘     └────────┬─────────┘
+          │                          │
+          ▼                          ▼
+   ┌──────────────┐          ┌──────────────┐
+   │   buttons    │          │  pad.laxis   │
+   │   bitmask    │          │  pad.raxis   │
+   └──────┬───────┘          └──────┬───────┘
+          │                          │
+          └──────────┬───────────────┘
+                     ▼
+              input_state_callback()
+                     │
+                     ▼
+                   Core
+```
+
+**Digital buttons** (d-pad, face buttons, triggers) flow through the config system. The `.cfg` files map core buttons to device buttons.
+
+**Analog sticks** bypass the config system entirely. Hardware events write directly to `pad.laxis` and `pad.raxis`, which are returned to cores when they request `RETRO_DEVICE_ANALOG` input.
+
+### Supported Config Mappings
+
+The config file syntax only supports digital buttons:
+
+```
+bind <core_button> = <device_button>
+```
+
+Available device buttons:
+
+```
+UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, A, B, X, Y, START, SELECT, L1, R1, L2, R2, L3, R3
+```
+
+Plus modifier variants: `MENU+A`, `MENU+B`, etc.
+
+There is no config syntax for analog stick mapping (e.g., no `L_STICK_UP`).
+
+## Device Categories
+
+### No Analog Sticks
+
+**Devices:** miyoomini, trimuismart, rg35xx, my355, tg5040, zero28
+
+These devices have no hardware analog sticks. The `pad.laxis` and `pad.raxis` values remain at zero, meaning cores receive no analog input.
+
+| System     | Impact                                          |
+| ---------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
+| N64        | Unplayable - analog stick required for 3D games |
+| PSP        | Unplayable - analog nub required for many games |
+| Dreamcast  | Degraded - d-pad works but analog preferred     |
+| Atari 5200 | May have issues - original used analog joystick |
+| All others | Fine - d-pad based systems                      |
+
+### One Analog Stick
+
+**Devices:** rgb30, my282
+
+These devices have a single (left) analog stick. The left stick works automatically for cores that need it.
+
+| System         | Impact                                     |
+| -------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
+| N64            | Works - left stick maps to N64 analog      |
+| PSP            | Works - left stick maps to PSP nub         |
+| Dreamcast      | Partial - left stick works, no right stick |
+| PS (DualShock) | Partial - only left stick available        |
+
+### Two Analog Sticks
+
+**Devices:** rg35xxplus, m17, magicmini
+
+These devices have full analog capability. Both sticks pass through to cores automatically.
+
+| System         | Impact       |
+| -------------- | ------------ |
+| N64            | Full support |
+| PSP            | Full support |
+| Dreamcast      | Full support |
+| PS (DualShock) | Full support |
+
+## The Problem
+
+The current architecture assumes hardware capability matches core requirements. There is no translation layer.
+
+- **Have the hardware?** Analog sticks automatically work. No config needed.
+- **Missing the hardware?** Cores receive zeros. No workaround exists.
+
+This means N64 and PSP are effectively broken on devices without analog sticks.
+
+## Proposed Solution
+
+Add a d-pad to analog emulation option:
+
+```
+dpad_to_analog = left    # d-pad simulates left stick
+dpad_to_analog = right   # d-pad simulates right stick
+dpad_to_analog = none    # default, current behavior
+```
+
+When enabled, `input_state_callback` would return full-deflection analog values (±32767) when d-pad directions are pressed.
+
+This provides digital-only control (no gradual movement) but makes analog-dependent games **playable** rather than broken.
+
+### Implementation Location
+
+The change would be in `workspace/all/player/player.c` in the `input_state_callback` function, which currently returns raw `pad.laxis`/`pad.raxis` values for `RETRO_DEVICE_ANALOG` requests.
+
+## Platform Analog Support Reference
+
+Platforms define analog axes in their `platform.h`:
+
+| Platform    | AXIS_LX/LY | AXIS_RX/RY | Analog Support                     |
+| ----------- | ---------- | ---------- | ---------------------------------- |
+| miyoomini   | AXIS_NA    | AXIS_NA    | None                               |
+| trimuismart | AXIS_NA    | AXIS_NA    | None                               |
+| rg35xx      | AXIS_NA    | AXIS_NA    | None                               |
+| rg35xxplus  | Defined    | Defined    | 2 sticks                           |
+| my355       | Defined    | Defined    | Hardware present but not wired     |
+| tg5040      | Defined    | Defined    | Hardware present but not wired     |
+| zero28      | Defined    | Defined    | Hardware present but not wired     |
+| rgb30       | Defined    | Defined    | 1 stick (left only in practice)    |
+| m17         | Defined    | Defined    | 2 sticks (currently commented out) |
+| my282       | Defined    | AXIS_NA    | 1 stick                            |
+| magicmini   | Defined    | Defined    | 2 sticks                           |
+
+`AXIS_NA = -1` means the axis is not available. When an axis equals `AXIS_NA`, the comparison in `api.c` never matches, so `pad.laxis`/`pad.raxis` stay at zero.
diff --git a/docs/cores-research.md b/docs/cores-research.md
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@
 | Sega CD                                |  SEGACD | SEGACD.pak  | picodrive           | `picodrive_libretro.so`           |
 | Sega 32X                               |     32X | 32X.pak     | picodrive           | `picodrive_libretro.so`           |
 | SG-1000                                |  SG1000 | SG1000.pak  | picodrive           | `picodrive_libretro.so`           |
-| Atari 2600                             |   ATARI | ATARI.pak   | stella              | `stella_libretro.so`              |
-| Atari 5200                             |   A5200 | A5200.pak   | atari800            | `atari800_libretro.so`            |
+| Atari 2600                             |   A2600 | A2600.pak   | stella2014          | `stella2014_libretro.so`          |
+| Atari 5200                             |   A5200 | A5200.pak   | a5200               | `a5200_libretro.so`               |
 | Atari 7800                             |   A7800 | A7800.pak   | prosystem           | `prosystem_libretro.so`           |
 | Atari Lynx                             |    LYNX | LYNX.pak    | mednafen_lynx       | `mednafen_lynx_libretro.so`       |
 | WonderSwan & Color                     |      WS | WS.pak      | mednafen_wswan      | `mednafen_wswan_libretro.so`      |
@@ -73,41 +73,38 @@
 
 ## LessUI-Cores (Cores we currently build)
 
-1. atari800 - libretro/libretro-atari800 - atari800_libretro.so
+1. a5200 - libretro/a5200 - a5200_libretro.so
 2. beetle-lynx - libretro/beetle-lynx-libretro - mednafen_lynx_libretro.so
 3. beetle-pce-fast - libretro/beetle-pce-fast-libretro - mednafen_pce_fast_libretro.so
-4. beetle-supergrafx - libretro/beetle-supergrafx-libretro - mednafen_supergrafx_libretro.so
-5. beetle-vb - libretro/beetle-vb-libretro - mednafen_vb_libretro.so
-6. beetle-wswan - libretro/beetle-wswan-libretro - mednafen_wswan_libretro.so
-7. bluemsx - libretro/blueMSX-libretro - bluemsx_libretro.so
-8. dosbox-pure - libretro/dosbox-pure - dosbox_pure_libretro.so
-9. fake08 - jtothebell/fake-08 - fake08_libretro.so
-10. fbneo - libretro/FBNeo - fbneo_libretro.so
-11. fceumm - libretro/libretro-fceumm - fceumm_libretro.so
-12. flycast - flyinghead/flycast - flycast_libretro.so
-13. fuse - libretro/fuse-libretro - fuse_libretro.so
-14. gambatte - libretro/gambatte-libretro - gambatte_libretro.so
-15. gpsp - libretro/gpsp - gpsp_libretro.so
-16. gw - libretro/gw-libretro - gw_libretro.so
-17. mame2003-plus - libretro/mame2003-plus-libretro - mame2003_plus_libretro.so
-18. melonds - libretro/melonds - melonds_libretro.so
-19. mgba - libretro/mgba - mgba_libretro.so
-20. mupen64plus-next - libretro/mupen64plus-libretro-nx - mupen64plus_next_libretro.so
-21. neocd - libretro/neocd_libretro - neocd_libretro.so
-22. pcsx - libretro/pcsx_rearmed - pcsx_rearmed_libretro.so
-23. picodrive - libretro/picodrive - picodrive_libretro.so
-24. pokemini - libretro/PokeMini - pokemini_libretro.so
-25. ppsspp - hrydgard/ppsspp - ppsspp_libretro.so
-26. prosystem - libretro/prosystem-libretro - prosystem_libretro.so
-27. puae - libretro/libretro-uae - puae_libretro.so
-28. race - libretro/RACE - race_libretro.so
-29. scummvm - libretro/scummvm - scummvm_libretro.so
-30. snes9x2005 - libretro/snes9x2005 - snes9x2005_plus_libretro.so
-31. stella - stella-emu/stella - stella_libretro.so
-32. supafaust - libretro/supafaust - mednafen_supafaust_libretro.so
-33. tic80 - libretro/TIC-80 - tic80_libretro.so
-34. vecx - libretro/libretro-vecx - vecx_libretro.so
-35. vice - libretro/vice-libretro - vice_x64_libretro.so
+4. beetle-vb - libretro/beetle-vb-libretro - mednafen_vb_libretro.so
+5. beetle-wswan - libretro/beetle-wswan-libretro - mednafen_wswan_libretro.so
+6. bluemsx - libretro/blueMSX-libretro - bluemsx_libretro.so
+7. dosbox-pure - libretro/dosbox-pure - dosbox_pure_libretro.so
+8. fake08 - jtothebell/fake-08 - fake08_libretro.so
+9. fbneo - libretro/FBNeo - fbneo_libretro.so
+10. fceumm - libretro/libretro-fceumm - fceumm_libretro.so
+11. flycast - flyinghead/flycast - flycast_libretro.so
+12. fuse - libretro/fuse-libretro - fuse_libretro.so
+13. gambatte - libretro/gambatte-libretro - gambatte_libretro.so
+14. gpsp - libretro/gpsp - gpsp_libretro.so
+15. mame2003-plus - libretro/mame2003-plus-libretro - mame2003_plus_libretro.so
+16. melonds - libretro/melonds - melonds_libretro.so
+17. mgba - libretro/mgba - mgba_libretro.so
+18. mupen64plus-next - libretro/mupen64plus-libretro-nx - mupen64plus_next_libretro.so
+19. neocd - libretro/neocd_libretro - neocd_libretro.so
+20. pcsx - libretro/pcsx_rearmed - pcsx_rearmed_libretro.so
+21. picodrive - libretro/picodrive - picodrive_libretro.so
+22. pokemini - libretro/PokeMini - pokemini_libretro.so
+23. ppsspp - hrydgard/ppsspp - ppsspp_libretro.so
+24. prosystem - libretro/prosystem-libretro - prosystem_libretro.so
+25. puae - libretro/libretro-uae - puae_libretro.so
+26. race - libretro/RACE - race_libretro.so
+27. scummvm - libretro/scummvm - scummvm_libretro.so
+28. snes9x2005 - libretro/snes9x2005 - snes9x2005_plus_libretro.so
+29. stella - stella-emu/stella - stella_libretro.so
+30. supafaust - libretro/supafaust - mednafen_supafaust_libretro.so
+31. tic80 - libretro/TIC-80 - tic80_libretro.so
+32. vice - libretro/vice-libretro - vice_x64_libretro.so
 
 ## Launcher Cores
 
@@ -264,12 +261,12 @@ The SG-1000 is the exception, using **gearsystem** as its default rather than pi
 
 ### Atari systems span multiple generations
 
-| System     | Folder              | Default Core   |
-| ---------- | ------------------- | -------------- |
-| Atari 2600 | ATARI               | **stella2014** |
-| Atari 5200 | FIFTYTWOHUNDRED     | **atari800**   |
-| Atari 7800 | SEVENTYEIGHTHUNDRED | **prosystem**  |
-| Atari Lynx | LYNX                | **handy**      |
+| System     | Folder              | Default Core      |
+| ---------- | ------------------- | ----------------- |
+| Atari 2600 | ATARI               | **stella2014**    |
+| Atari 5200 | FIFTYTWOHUNDRED     | **a5200**         |
+| Atari 7800 | SEVENTYEIGHTHUNDRED | **prosystem**     |
+| Atari Lynx | LYNX                | **mednafen_lynx** |
 
 ### NEC PC Engine family uses Mednafen cores
 

diff --git a/docs/cores.md b/docs/cores.md
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ The main LessUI Makefile downloads cores during the build:
 
 ```makefile
 # Pre-built cores from LessUI-Cores repository (versioned releases)
-PLAYER_CORES_VERSION ?= 20251218-0
+PLAYER_CORES_VERSION ?= 20251220-2
 CORES_BASE = https://github.com/lessui-hq/LessUI-Cores/releases/download/$(PLAYER_CORES_VERSION)
 
 cores-download:

diff --git a/scripts/calculate-buffer-scale.py b/scripts/calculate-buffer-scale.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
     "NGP/NGPC (race)": (160, 152),
     # Atari
     "A2600 (stella)": (160, 192),
-    "A5200 (atari800)": (336, 240),
+    "A5200 (a5200)": (336, 240),
     "A7800 (prosystem)": (320, 225),
     "LYNX (mednafen_lynx)": (160, 102),
     # Arcade

diff --git a/scripts/generate-scaling-configs.py b/scripts/generate-scaling-configs.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 # =============================================================================
 
 # Minimum fill percentage to recommend Native scaling
-FILL_THRESHOLD_LARGE_SCREEN = 90  # Screens >= 3"
+FILL_THRESHOLD_LARGE_SCREEN = 94  # Screens >= 3"
 FILL_THRESHOLD_SMALL_SCREEN = 100  # Screens < 3" (must be perfect fit)
 
 # Screen size threshold (inches)
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 
 # Format: (width, height, diagonal_inches)
 PLATFORMS = {
-    "miyoomini":    (640, 480, 2.8),    # Under 3" - strict threshold
+    # miyoomini excluded: has 480p/560p and 2.8"/3.5" variants we can't detect yet
     "rg35xxplus":   (640, 480, 3.5),
     "rgb30":        (720, 720, 4.0),    # Square
     "m17":          (480, 272, 4.3),    # Miyoo A30 / similar
@@ -60,32 +60,45 @@
 # =============================================================================
 
 # From workspace/all/paks/Emus/cores.json
-# Skip MAME/FBN which have "varies" resolution
+# Skip MAME/FBN/GW which have "varies" resolution
 # Skip PS - always uses aspect scaling (many games use non-native resolutions)
 CORES = {
+    # Nintendo
     "GB":    (160, 144),
     "GBC":   (160, 144),
     "GBA":   (240, 160),
+    "MGBA":  (240, 160),
+    "SGB":   (256, 224),
     "FC":    (256, 240),
     "SFC":   (256, 224),
+    "SUPA":  (256, 224),
+    "VB":    (384, 224),
+    # Sega
     "MD":    (320, 224),
     "GG":    (160, 144),
     "SMS":   (256, 192),
+    # NEC
     "PCE":   (512, 243),
     "PCECD": (512, 243),
-    "VB":    (384, 224),
+    # SNK
     "NGP":   (160, 152),
     "NGPC":  (160, 152),
-    "PKM":   (96, 64),
-    "PICO":  (128, 128),
-    "TIC":   (240, 136),
-    "SGB":   (256, 224),
-    "MGBA":  (240, 160),
-    "SUPA":  (256, 224),
+    "NG":    (320, 224),
+    "NEOCD": (320, 224),
     "CPS1":  (384, 224),
     "CPS2":  (384, 224),
     "CPS3":  (384, 224),
-    "NG":    (320, 224),
+    # Atari
+    "A2600": (160, 192),
+    "A5200": (336, 240),
+    "A7800": (320, 240),
+    "LYNX":  (160, 102),
+    # Bandai
+    "WS":    (224, 144),
+    "WSC":   (224, 144),
+    # Other
+    "PKM":   (96, 64),
+    "PICO":  (128, 128),
 }
 
 # =============================================================================

diff --git a/skeleton/BASE/Bios/A5200/about.txt b/skeleton/BASE/Bios/A5200/about.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+Atari 5200
+
+Core: a5200
+
+BIOS (required):
+  5200.rom - Atari 5200 BIOS
+    MD5: 281f20ea4320404ec820fb7ec0693b38
diff --git a/skeleton/BASE/Bios/A7800/about.txt b/skeleton/BASE/Bios/A7800/about.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+Atari 7800
+
+Core: prosystem
+
+BIOS (optional but recommended):
+  7800 BIOS (U).rom - NTSC/US BIOS
+  7800 BIOS (E).rom - PAL/EU BIOS
diff --git a/skeleton/BASE/Bios/LYNX/about.txt b/skeleton/BASE/Bios/LYNX/about.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+Atari Lynx
+
+Core: mednafen_lynx
+
+BIOS (required):
+  lynxboot.img - Lynx boot ROM
+    MD5: fcd403db69f54290b51035d82f835e7b
diff --git a/skeleton/BASE/Bios/NEOCD/about.txt b/skeleton/BASE/Bios/NEOCD/about.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+Neo Geo CD
+
+Core: neocd
+
+BIOS (required):
+  neocd_z.rom - CDZ BIOS (recommended)
+    MD5: 11526d58d4c524daef7d5d677dc6b004
+  neocd_f.rom - Front Loader BIOS (optional)
+    MD5: 8834880c33164ccbe6476b559f3e37de
diff --git a/skeleton/BASE/Roms/Atari 2600 (A2600)/about.txt b/skeleton/BASE/Roms/Atari 2600 (A2600)/about.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+Atari 2600
+
+Core: stella
+
+Supported file types:
+  .a26, .bin, .zip, .7z
+
+No BIOS required.
diff --git a/skeleton/BASE/Roms/Atari 5200 (A5200)/about.txt b/skeleton/BASE/Roms/Atari 5200 (A5200)/about.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+Atari 5200
+
+Core: a5200
+
+Supported file types:
+  .a52, .bin, .zip, .7z
+
+BIOS (required):
+  5200.rom - Atari 5200 BIOS
+
+Place BIOS files in: /Bios/A5200/