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Version: Stable

Zaparoo Frontend

Zaparoo Frontend displaying a Genesis library on a CRT television

Zaparoo Frontend running as part of BigBlue709's CRT setup in Community Showcase #6.

Zaparoo Frontend is a TV and controller-friendly interface for browsing and launching your Zaparoo Core media library on MiSTer FPGA.

Frontend is optional. It runs on the MiSTer display and uses Core for media scanning, launching, metadata, favorites, and token writing. You can continue using physical tokens, the Zaparoo App, the Web UI, or the TUI with or without Frontend.

Choose a task

Install and set up Frontend

Install Frontend, update it, scan your library, and configure the display.

Add artwork and metadata

Choose an artwork source, import it with Core, and refresh existing artwork.

Browse and launch games

Navigate your library, use menus and controls, and choose alternate launchers.

Troubleshoot Frontend

Fix missing games, unavailable scrape actions, missing artwork, and setup problems.

Customize Frontend

Change system artwork, Hub icons, system names, and regional logo styles.

How Frontend works​

Frontend displays the library managed by Core. Core finds games during a media database update, imports local artwork and metadata during a scrape, and launches the selected game. Frontend provides the on-screen library, menus, and controller interface for those actions.

Frontend does not download artwork from the internet. Start with Add Artwork and Metadata if you want covers, screenshots, descriptions, or other game information in the browser.

Quick start​

  1. Install or update Frontend on MiSTer.
  2. Start Frontend and run the first media database update when prompted.
  3. Add artwork and metadata if you want game covers and descriptions.
  4. Browse and launch games from the library hub.

For platform-specific launcher behavior, see the MiSTer launcher documentation.

Credits​

A big thank you to Andrea Bogazzi, BossRighteous, and Tim Wilsie for creating Zaparoo Frontend with Wizzo.

Source and license​

The Frontend source code is available under the PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0. Non-commercial use is allowed under that license. For commercial licensing, contact legal@zaparoo.org.