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🐸 TreeFrogUI

TreeFrogUI is a free, custom retro-emulation frontend for a range of MIPS-based Hichip handhelds.

It replaces the stock game menu with a faster, more configurable interface and expands the number of supported systems and features.

TreeFrogUI includes a lightweight game browser, emulator cores, save states, Quick Resume, configurable audio and video options, themes, artwork, media applications, USB / OTG game libraries, and more.

New to TreeFrogUI?
The recommended way to get started is with the TreeFrogUI Installer.

Manual installation is also available through the Installation Guide.

📱 Supported Devices

TreeFrogUI currently supports:

Device | Support -- | -- R36SX v2.6 | ✅ Supported R36SX v2.7 | ✅ Supported R36HD / compatible R36SX clones | ✅ Supported SF3000 | ✅ Supported SF3000 HD | ✅ Supported SF3100 | ✅ Supported SF3500 | ✅ Supported GB350 | ✅ Supported

☕ Support the Project

TreeFrogUI is maintained independently, and supporting new handheld models often requires access to physical hardware for development and testing.

➡️ Support TreeFrogUI on Ko-fi

📄 License and Attribution

TreeFrogUI combines multiple open-source components, and each component retains its respective license.

➡️ License and Attribution

Welcome to TreeFrogUI. 🐸🎮

Enjoy your handheld, explore the available systems, customize the interface, and help improve TreeFrogUI by sharing your experience and reporting issues.

# 🐸 TreeFrogUI

TreeFrogUI is a free, custom retro-emulation frontend for a range of MIPS-based Hichip handhelds.

It replaces the stock game menu with a faster, more configurable interface and expands the number of supported systems and features.

TreeFrogUI includes a lightweight game browser, emulator cores, save states, Quick Resume, configurable audio and video options, themes, artwork, media applications, USB / OTG game libraries, and more.

New to TreeFrogUI? The recommended way to get started is with the [TreeFrogUI Installer](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI-installer/releases).

Manual installation is also available through the [Installation Guide](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/blob/main/install.md).

📱 Supported Devices

TreeFrogUI currently supports:

Device Support
R36SX v2.6 ✅ Supported
R36SX v2.7 ✅ Supported
R36HD / compatible R36SX clones ✅ Supported
SF3000 ✅ Supported
SF3000 HD ✅ Supported
SF3100 ✅ Supported
SF3500 ✅ Supported
GB350 ✅ Supported

A single TreeFrogUI release package supports multiple device families and automatically detects the appropriate hardware configuration at boot.

Device revisions can differ internally even when the consoles look almost identical. Always make sure you are using a supported device and the correct installation method.

🚀 Installation

Recommended Method: TreeFrogUI Installer

The recommended way to install TreeFrogUI is by using the official TreeFrogUI Installer.

The installer guides you through the process and handles the required device-specific setup.

It is available for:

  • Windows
  • Linux
  • macOS

➡️ [Download the TreeFrogUI Installer](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI-installer/releases)

⚠️ Important Installation Warning

Do not install TreeFrogUI over the factory/preinstalled SD-card operating system.

TreeFrogUI should be installed on a freshly prepared SD card.

Installing it directly over the factory/preinstalled system may cause issues such as:

  • missing or broken audio;
  • incorrect controls;
  • display problems;
  • crashes;
  • boot failures.

Whenever possible, keep a backup of your original SD card before making any changes.

Using a separate, good-quality SD card for TreeFrogUI is strongly recommended.

Basic Installation Flow

  1. Identify your exact device model.
  2. Back up your original SD card.
  3. Prepare a fresh SD card.
  4. Download the [TreeFrogUI Installer](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI-installer/releases).
  5. Follow the installer instructions and select the appropriate device.
  6. Insert the prepared SD card into your console.
  7. Boot TreeFrogUI.
  8. Add your games and any required BIOS files.

For advanced or unsupported installation scenarios:

➡️ [Manual Installation Guide](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/blob/main/install.md)

✨ Features

TreeFrogUI provides a complete frontend and emulation environment designed for supported handhelds.

🎮 Emulation

Supported systems include:

  • NES / Famicom
  • SNES / Super Famicom
  • Game Boy / Game Boy Color
  • Game Boy Advance
  • Mega Drive / Genesis
  • Sega Master System
  • Game Gear
  • Sega CD
  • PlayStation 1
  • PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16
  • Neo Geo
  • Arcade systems
  • Atari systems
  • Commodore Amiga
  • Commodore 64
  • MSX
  • ZX Spectrum
  • DOS / PC
  • PICO-8
  • Doom
  • Quake
  • Cave Story
  • Arduboy
  • and many more

➡️ [Supported Systems and Cores](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/blob/main/cores.md)

🕹️ Interface and Gameplay

TreeFrogUI includes features such as:

  • configurable emulator options;
  • save states;
  • automatic save/load support;
  • Quick Resume;
  • Recent Games;
  • optional Game Switcher;
  • favourites;
  • play-time statistics;
  • screenshots;
  • fast-forward;
  • rewind;
  • configurable audio and video;
  • multiple menu layouts;
  • themes and custom artwork.

🎵 Media and Applications

Additional applications include:

  • 📖 Ebook reader
  • 🎬 Video player
  • 🎵 Music player
  • 🖼️ Image viewer
  • 🎧 Rockbox support

🎮 Adding Games

Games are stored inside the roms/ directory on your SD card.

The folder name determines which system or emulator TreeFrogUI uses.

Example:

roms/
├── FC/
│   └── Super Mario Bros.nes
├── SFC/
│   └── Super Mario World.sfc
├── GBA/
│   └── Advance Wars.gba
├── gb/
│   └── Tetris.gb
├── MD/
│   └── Sonic.md
└── PS/
    ├── Game.bin
    └── Game.cue

Common folders:

Folder System
FC NES / Famicom
SFC SNES / Super Famicom
GBA Game Boy Advance
gb Game Boy / Game Boy Color
MD Mega Drive / Genesis
GG Game Gear
PS PlayStation 1
pce PC Engine
amiga Commodore Amiga
c64 Commodore 64
m2k MAME 2000
pico8 PICO-8

➡️ [Full ROM Folder and Emulator Mapping](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/blob/main/README.md#rom-folder-setup)

🕹️ Arcade Games

Arcade emulators generally require ROM sets matching the specific emulator/core version.

In most cases, arcade .zip files should remain zipped.

Using an incompatible ROM set may result in games failing to launch, missing files, graphical or audio problems, or crashes.

➡️ [Arcade Setup Documentation](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/blob/main/docs/cores/arcade.md)

💾 BIOS and Firmware

Some systems require additional BIOS or firmware files.

Examples include:

  • PlayStation 1
  • Game Boy Advance
  • Sega CD
  • Famicom Disk System
  • Neo Geo
  • Commodore Amiga
  • Atari ST
  • Odyssey² / Videopac
  • PC-FX
  • PC-88

BIOS files are typically stored in:

cubegm/bios/

Some emulator cores may have different requirements.

TreeFrogUI does not provide proprietary BIOS files, commercial ROM sets, or copyrighted game data that must be supplied by the user.

🎮 Essential In-Game Shortcuts

For most libretro-based systems, SELECT acts as the function key.

Shortcut Action
SELECT + START Open the in-game menu
SELECT + R2 Save state
SELECT + L2 Load state
SELECT + R1 Fast-forward
SELECT + B Hold to rewind
SELECT + L1 Take a screenshot

Some standalone emulators use their own menus and shortcut systems.

🎨 Customization

TreeFrogUI supports:

  • color themes;
  • menu styles;
  • system icon packs;
  • background themes;
  • per-system backgrounds;
  • wallpapers;
  • fonts;
  • box art;
  • screenshots;
  • title-screen artwork;
  • display scaling.

➡️ [Customization Guide](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/blob/main/theme.md)

Game Artwork

Artwork can be placed alongside ROM collections using .res directories.

Example:

roms/GBA/Advance Wars.gba
roms/GBA/.res/Advance Wars.png

🔌 USB / OTG Game Libraries

TreeFrogUI can use a FAT32 USB / OTG drive as a separate game library on supported hardware.

A typical external drive looks like:

roms/
├── GBA/
├── FC/
├── SFC/
├── PS/
└── ...

➡️ [USB / OTG Storage Guide](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/blob/main/docs/otg-storage.md)

🖥️ Display Scaling

Depending on the device and emulator, TreeFrogUI provides scaling options such as:

  • Integer scaling
  • Native scaling
  • Fill
  • Aspect-ratio scaling

Display capabilities vary between device families.

➡️ [Display Scaling Guide](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/blob/main/docs/display-scaling.md)

🔄 Updating TreeFrogUI

TreeFrogUI supports offline updates on compatible installations.

Typically:

  1. Download the official update.zip.
  2. Copy it to the root of the SD card.
  3. Safely eject the card.
  4. Insert it into the console.
  5. Boot the device.
  6. Allow TreeFrogUI to verify and apply the update.

Updates are designed to preserve personal content including ROMs, BIOS files, saves, save states, screenshots, favourites, recent games, play-time data, and personal media.

➡️ [Latest TreeFrogUI Release](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/releases/latest) ➡️ [Release Notes](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/blob/main/release-notes.md)

🛠️ Troubleshooting

If TreeFrogUI does not boot or behaves unexpectedly, first verify that:

  • your device is supported;
  • the correct device was selected during installation;
  • the SD card was prepared correctly;
  • TreeFrogUI was not installed over the factory/preinstalled system;
  • required BIOS files are present;
  • ROMs are stored in the correct folders;
  • the SD card is working correctly.

Diagnostic Logging

To enable diagnostic logging:

  1. Power off the console.
  2. Insert the SD card into your computer.
  3. Create an empty file named:
log.txt

at the root of the SD card.

  1. Boot the device.
  2. Reproduce the problem.
  3. Inspect /log.txt.

Delete log.txt afterwards to disable logging again.

🧑‍💻 Development and Contributions

TreeFrogUI is open source and includes components such as:

  • TreeFrogUI / FrogUI — game browser and launcher;
  • picoarch — libretro frontend and hardware integration layer;
  • libretro cores;
  • standalone applications and emulators;
  • device-specific boot integration;
  • device-specific patches and configuration.

Developers interested in building, porting, testing, debugging, or contributing can use:

➡️ [TreeFrogUI Repository](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI) ➡️ [Developer Documentation](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/tree/main/docs/dev)

Found a bug or have an idea?

➡️ [Open a GitHub Issue](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/issues) ➡️ [TreeFrogUI Discord](https://discord.gg/JYFsmBYFBd)

When reporting a device-specific issue, please include:

  • exact device model and revision;
  • TreeFrogUI version;
  • installation method;
  • expected behavior;
  • actual behavior;
  • reproduction steps;
  • log.txt, when applicable.

📚 Documentation

Topic Documentation
Recommended Installation [TreeFrogUI Installer](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI-installer/releases)
Manual Installation [Installation Guide](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/blob/main/install.md)
Downloads [TreeFrogUI Releases](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/releases/latest)
ROM folders [ROM Folder Setup](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/blob/main/README.md#rom-folder-setup)
Emulator cores [Cores Reference](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/blob/main/cores.md)
Core-specific setup [Core Guides](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/tree/main/docs/cores)
Themes [Customization Guide](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/blob/main/theme.md)
USB / OTG [OTG Storage](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/blob/main/docs/otg-storage.md)
Display scaling [Display Scaling](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/blob/main/docs/display-scaling.md)
Release history [Release Notes](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/blob/main/release-notes.md)
Developer documentation [Developer Docs](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/tree/main/docs/dev)

☕ Support the Project

TreeFrogUI is maintained independently, and supporting new handheld models often requires access to physical hardware for development and testing.

➡️ [Support TreeFrogUI on Ko-fi](https://ko-fi.com/proszty)

📄 License and Attribution

TreeFrogUI combines multiple open-source components, and each component retains its respective license.

➡️ [License and Attribution](https://github.com/tzubertowski/TreeFrogUI/blob/main/LICENSE.md)

Welcome to TreeFrogUI. 🐸🎮

Enjoy your handheld, explore the available systems, customize the interface, and help improve TreeFrogUI by sharing your experience and reporting issues.

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