fix: type role libretro cores as libretro

2048 and gong (game), radio and video_processor (utility) and the test
cores (test) are libretro builds, but their role sat in type:, which
resolve_platform_cores filters on: all_libretro left them out, so no
platform resolved them and RetroArch's manifest named none, the
--installed-cores gap of issue 87. The role moves to role:, and type
stays libretro: type keeps saying how a profile is built and run, which
the resolver reads, while teaching the resolver that three role values
mean libretro would make type a classification again. The site and
coverage leave test cores out by role. fluidsynth, a library and no
libretro core, keeps type utility. A test keeps every buildbot core
named by RetroArch's resolution.

emulators/00_example.yml

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 emulator: "00_example"
-type: test
+type: libretro
+role: test
 core_classification: pure_libretro
 source: "https://github.com/libretro/libretro-core-info"
 profiled_date: "2026-03-22"

emulators/2048.yml

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 emulator: "2048"
-type: game
+type: libretro
+role: game
 core_classification: pure_libretro
 source: "https://github.com/libretro/libretro-2048"
 upstream: "https://github.com/gabrielecirulli/2048"

emulators/gong.yml

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 emulator: Gong
-type: game
+type: libretro
+role: game
 core_classification: pure_libretro
 source: "https://github.com/libretro/gong"
 upstream: "https://danzaidan.itch.io/"

emulators/radio.yml

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 emulator: "Radio"
-type: utility
+type: libretro
+role: utility
 core_classification: pure_libretro
 source: "https://git.libretro.com/libretro/libretro-radio"
 upstream: "https://github.com/fpscan/libretro-radio"

emulators/test.yml

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 emulator: test
-type: test
+type: libretro
+role: test
 core_classification: pure_libretro
 source: "https://github.com/libretro/libretro-samples"
 upstream: "https://github.com/libretro/libretro-samples"

emulators/testgl.yml

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 emulator: testgl
-type: test
+type: libretro
+role: test
 core_classification: pure_libretro
 source: "https://github.com/libretro/libretro-samples"
 upstream: "https://github.com/libretro/libretro-samples"

emulators/testvulkan.yml

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 emulator: testvulkan
-type: test
+type: libretro
+role: test
 core_classification: pure_libretro
 source: "https://github.com/libretro/libretro-samples"
 upstream: "https://github.com/libretro/libretro-samples"

emulators/video_processor.yml

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 emulator: "V4L2"
-type: utility
+type: libretro
+role: utility
 core_classification: pure_libretro
 source: "https://github.com/libretro/libretro-video-processor"
 source_mirror: "https://git.libretro.com/libretro/libretro-video-processor"

emulators/vidtest.yml

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 emulator: vidtest
-type: test
+type: libretro
+role: test
 core_classification: pure_libretro
 source: "https://github.com/schellingb/vidtest_libretro"
 profiled_date: "2026-03-25"

schemas/emulator.schema.json

@@ -121,6 +121,14 @@
         "standalone + libretro",
         "alias",
         "launcher",
+        "game",
+        "utility"
+      ]
+    },
+    "role": {
+      "description": "What a libretro core is for when it emulates no machine: a game of its own (2048), a utility (radio, video_processor), or a test core. Descriptive: the core stays type libretro, so every reader of all_libretro reaches it, and the site and coverage leave test cores out by this field.",
+      "type": "string",
+      "enum": [
         "game",
         "utility",
         "test"

scripts/common.py

@@ -2209,7 +2209,7 @@ def profiles_for_systems(
     wanted = {_norm_system_id(sid) for sid in system_ids}
     matching = []
     for name, profile in sorted(profiles.items()):
-        if profile.get("type") in ("launcher", "alias", "test"):
+        if profile.get("type") in ("launcher", "alias") or profile.get("role") == "test":
             continue
         if standalone and "standalone" not in profile.get("type", "libretro"):
             continue
@@ -2263,7 +2263,7 @@ def select_emulator_profiles(
             # and the spelling hints sent pcfx to two PlayStation cores.
             claimants = sorted(
                 key for key in upstream_profile_index(all_profiles).get(name, ())
-                if all_profiles[key].get("type") not in ("launcher", "test")
+                if all_profiles[key].get("type") != "launcher" and all_profiles[key].get("role") != "test"
             )
             if len(claimants) == 1:
                 name = claimants[0]
@@ -2276,7 +2276,7 @@ def select_emulator_profiles(
             available = sorted(
                 key
                 for key, value in all_profiles.items()
-                if value.get("type") not in ("alias", "test")
+                if value.get("type") != "alias" and value.get("role") != "test"
             )
             raise ProfileSelectionError(
                 f"emulator '{name}' not found\n"
@@ -2421,7 +2421,7 @@ def _normalize_hash_fields(node: object) -> None:
 def unique_emulator_profiles(profiles: dict[str, dict]) -> dict[str, dict]:
     """Profiles counting as distinct emulators (aliases and tests excluded)."""
     return {
-        k: v for k, v in profiles.items() if v.get("type") not in ("alias", "test")
+        k: v for k, v in profiles.items() if v.get("type") != "alias" and v.get("role") != "test"
     }
 
 
@@ -3993,7 +3993,7 @@ def list_emulator_profiles(emulators_dir: str, skip_aliases: bool = True) -> Non
     profiles = load_emulator_profiles(emulators_dir, skip_aliases=False)
     for name in sorted(profiles):
         p = profiles[name]
-        if p.get("type") in ("alias", "test"):
+        if p.get("type") == "alias" or p.get("role") == "test":
             continue
         display = p.get("emulator", name)
         ptype = p.get("type", "libretro")
@@ -4014,7 +4014,7 @@ def system_index(profiles: dict) -> dict[str, tuple[str, set[str]]]:
     """
     index: dict[str, tuple[str, set[str]]] = {}
     for name, p in sorted(profiles.items()):
-        if p.get("type") in ("alias", "test", "launcher"):
+        if p.get("type") in ("alias", "launcher") or p.get("role") == "test":
             continue
         for sys_id in p.get("systems", []):
             key = _norm_system_id(sys_id)

scripts/generate_site.py

@@ -1174,7 +1174,7 @@ def build_emulator_gap_report(
     unique_profiles = {
         k: v
         for k, v in profiles.items()
-        if v.get("type") not in ("alias", "test")
+        if v.get("type") != "alias" and v.get("role") != "test"
     }
     from common import merged_standalone_set, platform_declarations
     from validation import case_folded_slots
@@ -1306,7 +1306,7 @@ def _cross_reference_export_rows(coverages: dict, profiles: dict) -> list[dict]:
     unique = {
         key: value
         for key, value in profiles.items()
-        if value.get("type") not in ("alias", "test")
+        if value.get("type") != "alias" and value.get("role") != "test"
     }
     rows: list[dict] = []
     for platform_id, coverage in sorted(coverages.items()):
@@ -1922,7 +1922,7 @@ def system_index_items(db: dict, coverages: dict, profiles: dict) -> list[dict]:
             if sha1:
                 held.setdefault(str(detail.get("system", "")), set()).add(sha1)
     for profile in profiles.values():
-        if profile.get("type") in ("alias", "test"):
+        if profile.get("type") == "alias" or profile.get("role") == "test":
             continue
         own = [str(s) for s in profile.get("systems") or []]
         for entry in profile.get("files") or []:
@@ -1973,7 +1973,7 @@ def _first_file_place(
             return parts[1], _site_path(f"systems/{page}.md#sha1-{sha1[:12]}")
     for key in sorted(profiles):
         profile = profiles[key]
-        if profile.get("type") not in ("alias", "test") and sys_id in (profile.get("systems") or []):
+        if profile.get("type") != "alias" and profile.get("role") != "test" and sys_id in (profile.get("systems") or []):
             return "", _site_path(f"emulators/{key}.md")
     return "", None
 
@@ -1988,7 +1988,7 @@ def core_index_items(profiles: dict) -> list[dict]:
     """
     from common import preferred_profile, upstream_profile_index
 
-    published = {name for name, p in profiles.items() if p.get("type") not in ("alias", "test")}
+    published = {name for name, p in profiles.items() if p.get("type") != "alias" and p.get("role") != "test"}
     index = upstream_profile_index(profiles)
     for name, profile in profiles.items():
         target = str(profile.get("alias_of") or "")
@@ -3602,7 +3602,7 @@ def _emulator_named_link(key: str, prefix: str = "") -> str:
     profile with no page (an alias, a test) is named only."""
     profile = _profiles_on_disk().get(key, {})
     label = _escape_tags(str(profile.get("emulator") or key))
-    if profile.get("type") in ("alias", "test"):
+    if profile.get("type") == "alias" or profile.get("role") == "test":
         return label
     return f"[{label}]({prefix}emulators/{key}.md)"
 
@@ -4087,7 +4087,7 @@ def _profiles_by_core_name() -> dict[str, list[str]]:
 @functools.lru_cache(maxsize=None)
 def _core_names_in(emulators_dir: str) -> dict[str, list[str]]:
     profiles = _profiles_in(emulators_dir, skip_aliases=True)
-    with_page = {k for k, v in profiles.items() if v.get("type") not in ("alias", "test")}
+    with_page = {k for k, v in profiles.items() if v.get("type") != "alias" and v.get("role") != "test"}
     return {
         core: sorted(k for k in keys if k in with_page)
         for core, keys in upstream_profile_index(profiles).items()
@@ -4920,7 +4920,7 @@ def _data_member_owners(profiles: dict) -> dict[str, str]:
     """
     owners: dict[str, str] = {}
     for name in sorted(profiles):
-        if profiles[name].get("type") in ("alias", "test"):
+        if profiles[name].get("type") == "alias" or profiles[name].get("role") == "test":
             continue
         for tree in page_data_directories(name, profiles):
             owners.setdefault(str(tree.get("ref", "")), name)
@@ -5145,7 +5145,7 @@ def file_lookup_records(
                             **({"sha1": archive} if archive else {}),
                         })
     for key, profile in sorted(profiles.items()):
-        if profile.get("type") in ("alias", "test"):
+        if profile.get("type") == "alias" or profile.get("role") == "test":
             continue
         entries = profile.get("files") or []
         own_systems = [str(s) for s in profile.get("systems") or []]
@@ -5396,11 +5396,11 @@ def _folder_emulator(folder: str) -> tuple[str, str]:
     named after, by its profile key or its name, else the folder and "".
     """
     profiles = _profiles_on_disk()
-    if folder in profiles and profiles[folder].get("type") not in ("alias", "test"):
+    if folder in profiles and profiles[folder].get("type") != "alias" and profiles[folder].get("role") != "test":
         return str(profiles[folder].get("emulator") or folder), folder
     for key in sorted(profiles):
         profile = profiles[key]
-        if profile.get("type") in ("alias", "test"):
+        if profile.get("type") == "alias" or profile.get("role") == "test":
             continue
         names = {str(profile.get(field) or "").casefold() for field in ("emulator", "display_name")}
         if folder.casefold() in names:
@@ -7857,7 +7857,7 @@ def emulator_initial(display: str) -> str:
 def generate_emulators_index(profiles: dict) -> str:
     unique = {
         k: v for k, v in profiles.items()
-        if v.get("type") not in ("alias", "test")
+        if v.get("type") != "alias" and v.get("role") != "test"
     }
     aliases = {k: v for k, v in profiles.items() if v.get("type") == "alias"}
 
@@ -8660,7 +8660,7 @@ def emulator_romset(profile: dict) -> str:
     1.38.1 on MAME 0.289), else the version of a MAME build or of a
     FinalBurn core, whose sets follow its own release.
     """
-    if profile.get("type") in ("alias", "launcher", "test"):
+    if profile.get("type") in ("alias", "launcher") or profile.get("role") == "test":
         return ""
     emulator = str(profile.get("emulator", ""))
     version = str(profile.get("core_version") or "")
@@ -8939,7 +8939,7 @@ def emulator_install_route(name: str, profile: dict) -> tuple[str, list[str], tu
     the systems both run on: RetroArch's list names AetherSX2, and the
     command filled RetroArch's system folder, which the app never reads.
     """
-    if profile.get("type") in ("alias", "launcher", "test"):
+    if profile.get("type") in ("alias", "launcher") or profile.get("role") == "test":
         return "", [], ()
     if not [f for f in profile.get("files") or [] if isinstance(f, dict) and not comes_with_app(f)]:
         return "", [], ()
@@ -9873,7 +9873,7 @@ def plan_emulator_pages(profiles: dict,
     ``available`` is the test the pages use for a held file."""
     stems = set()
     for name, profile in sorted(profiles.items()):
-        if profile.get("type") in ("alias", "test"):
+        if profile.get("type") == "alias" or profile.get("role") == "test":
             continue
         files = profile.get("files") or []
         anchors = emulator_file_anchors(files)
@@ -11046,7 +11046,7 @@ def generate_gap_analysis(
     unique_profiles = {
         k: v
         for k, v in profiles.items()
-        if v.get("type") not in ("alias", "test")
+        if v.get("type") != "alias" and v.get("role") != "test"
     }
     relevant_set: set[str] = set()
     for _name, cov in coverages.items():
@@ -11139,7 +11139,7 @@ def generate_gap_analysis(
         unique_profiles = {
             k: v
             for k, v in profiles.items()
-            if v.get("type") not in ("alias", "test")
+            if v.get("type") != "alias" and v.get("role") != "test"
         }
         for pname in coverages:
             config = coverages[pname]["config"]
@@ -11547,7 +11547,7 @@ def generate_cross_reference(
     ``moved`` collects one page per platform with its core table.
     """
     unique = {
-        k: v for k, v in profiles.items() if v.get("type") not in ("alias", "test")
+        k: v for k, v in profiles.items() if v.get("type") != "alias" and v.get("role") != "test"
     }
 
     total_cores = len(unique)
@@ -12591,7 +12591,7 @@ def _generate(args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
     _DATA_MEMBERS.update(data_directory_members())
     _DATA_REVISIONS.update(data_directory_revisions())
     for key in sorted(profiles):
-        if profiles[key].get("type") in ("alias", "test"):
+        if profiles[key].get("type") == "alias" or profiles[key].get("role") == "test":
             continue
         display = str(profiles[key].get("emulator", key))
         for tree in page_data_directories(key, profiles):
@@ -12607,7 +12607,7 @@ def _generate(args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
     public_profiles = {
         name: profile
         for name, profile in profiles.items()
-        if profile.get("type") not in ("alias", "test")
+        if profile.get("type") != "alias" and profile.get("role") != "test"
     }
     (public / "api" / "v1" / "emulators").mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
     for name, profile in public_profiles.items():

scripts/pipeline.py

@@ -627,7 +627,7 @@ def check_emulator_packs(
     systems = sorted({
         _norm_system_id(str(sid))
         for profile in profiles.values()
-        if profile.get("type") not in ("launcher", "alias", "test")
+        if profile.get("type") not in ("launcher", "alias") and profile.get("role") != "test"
         for sid in profile.get("systems") or []
     })
     systems_ok = True

scripts/profile_sync.py

@@ -4453,7 +4453,7 @@ def select_profiles(profiles: dict, args: argparse.Namespace) -> dict:
             # alias and test profiles too, "lists all 553" pointed at 530 lines.
             listed = sorted(
                 name for name, profile in profiles.items()
-                if profile.get("type") not in ("alias", "test")
+                if profile.get("type") != "alias" and profile.get("role") != "test"
             )
             raise SystemExit(
                 f"ERROR: unknown profile {', '.join(unknown)}. "
@@ -4466,7 +4466,7 @@ def select_profiles(profiles: dict, args: argparse.Namespace) -> dict:
     wanted_system = _norm_system_id(args.system) if args.system else None
     selected = {}
     for name, profile in sorted(profiles.items()):
-        if profile.get("type") in ("alias", "test"):
+        if profile.get("type") == "alias" or profile.get("role") == "test":
             continue
         if wanted_system and wanted_system not in {
             _norm_system_id(str(s)) for s in profile.get("systems") or []

scripts/sitecollection.py

@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ def _engine_sections(manufacturers: dict[str, dict[str, list]]) -> dict[str, dic
     from siterender import _PROGRAM_TOPS, SECTION_LABELS, record_card_move  # noqa: PLC0415
 
     profiles = {key: profile for key, profile in _profiles_on_disk().items()
-                if profile.get("type") not in ("alias", "test")}
+                if profile.get("type") != "alias" and profile.get("role") != "test"}
     readers: dict[str, set[str]] = {}
     for key, profile in profiles.items():
         for entry in profile.get("files") or []:

scripts/siterender.py

@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ def _build_boards() -> None:
     ids_by_name: dict[str, set[str]] = {}
     for key in sorted(profiles):
         profile = profiles[key]
-        if profile.get("type") == "test":
+        if profile.get("role") == "test":
             continue
         systems = [str(sys_id) for sys_id in profile.get("systems") or []]
         for entry in profile.get("files") or []:

tests/test_profile_names.py

@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@ from common import load_emulator_profiles  # noqa: E402
 STEM_NAMED = {
     # Template and test cores, no emulator page.
     "00_example": "template",
-    "test": "type test",
-    "testgl": "type test",
-    "testvulkan": "type test",
-    "vidtest": "type test",
+    "test": "role test",
+    "testgl": "role test",
+    "testvulkan": "role test",
+    "vidtest": "role test",
     # Aliases, no emulator page.
     "ep128emu": "alias",
     "mednafen_gba": "alias",

tests/test_site_cores.py

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class SiteCoreCounts(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_each_platform_count_is_the_resolved_set(self):
         platforms = str(REPO_ROOT / "platforms")
         profiles = load_emulator_profiles(str(REPO_ROOT / "emulators"))
-        unique = {k: v for k, v in profiles.items() if v.get("type") not in ("alias", "test")}
+        unique = {k: v for k, v in profiles.items() if v.get("type") != "alias" and v.get("role") != "test"}
         coverages = {}
         for name in list_registered_platforms(platforms):
             config = load_platform_config(name, platforms)

tests/test_site_emulators.py

@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ class TheTemplateIsNoEmulator(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertNotIn("00_example", index)
         self.assertIn("melonds.md", index)
         # A test profile gets no page at all (generate_site's public_profiles).
-        self.assertEqual(_profile("00_example")["type"], "test")
+        self.assertEqual(_profile("00_example")["role"], "test")
 
 
 @unittest.skipUnless((DIST / "emulators" / "aethersx2" / "index.html").is_file(), "site not built")
@@ -517,7 +517,7 @@ class TheBuiltEmulatorPages(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertNotIn("RetroArch", page.split("Install this emulator", 1)[1].split("</details>", 1)[0])
 
     def test_the_index_leaves_the_template_out(self):
-        # 00_example is `type: test`: no page, no index row.
+        # 00_example has `role: test`: no page, no index row.
         self.assertNotIn("00_example", self._html("emulators"))
         self.assertIn('data-pagefind-body', self._html("emulators/melonds"))
         self.assertFalse((DIST / "emulators" / "00_example").exists())
@@ -630,7 +630,7 @@ class DataFolderPrinted(unittest.TestCase):
         if not _generated():
             self.skipTest("site pages not generated")
         for name, profile in _profiles_with_data_root().items():
-            if profile.get("type") in ("alias", "test"):
+            if profile.get("type") == "alias" or profile.get("role") == "test":
                 continue
             page = _built_page(name)
             with self.subTest(profile=name):

tests/test_site_integration.py

@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class EngineIntros(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_every_intro_names_what_it_emulates(self):
         for path in sorted(glob.glob(str(REPO_ROOT / "emulators" / "*.yml"))):
             profile = yaml.safe_load(Path(path).read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
-            if not isinstance(profile, dict) or profile.get("type") in ("alias", "test"):
+            if not isinstance(profile, dict) or profile.get("type") == "alias" or profile.get("role") == "test":
                 continue
             name = Path(path).stem
             with self.subTest(profile=name):

tests/test_site_reference.py

@@ -747,7 +747,7 @@ class AnIdLeadsToItsData(unittest.TestCase):
             "pcsx2": {"type": "standalone"},
             "lrps2": {"type": "libretro", "cores": ["pcsx2"]},
             "mednafen_psx_alias": {"type": "alias", "alias_of": "beetle_psx"},
-            "probe": {"type": "test", "cores": ["probe_core"]},
+            "probe": {"type": "libretro", "role": "test", "cores": ["probe_core"]},
         }
         items = generate_site.core_index_items(profiles)
         by_name: dict[str, list[tuple[str, bool]]] = {}

tests/test_target_names.py

@@ -21,6 +21,36 @@ sys.path.insert(0, str(REPO_ROOT / "scripts"))
 from common import canonical_target_name  # noqa: E402
 
 
+class EveryBuildbotCoreIsNamed(unittest.TestCase):
+    """A core RetroArch installs that its manifest does not name is "a core
+    this list does not know" to --installed-cores (issue 87). 2048, gong,
+    radio, video_processor and test were typed by their role, which hid
+    their libretro build from all_libretro."""
+
+    def test_retroarch_names_every_buildbot_core(self):
+        import yaml  # noqa: PLC0415
+
+        from common import (  # noqa: PLC0415
+            load_emulator_profiles,
+            load_platform_config,
+            load_target_config,
+            resolve_platform_cores,
+            upstream_profile_index,
+        )
+
+        platforms = str(REPO_ROOT / "platforms")
+        profiles = load_emulator_profiles(str(REPO_ROOT / "emulators"))
+        runs = resolve_platform_cores(load_platform_config("retroarch", platforms), profiles)
+        index = upstream_profile_index(profiles, include_aliases=True)
+        targets = yaml.safe_load((REPO_ROOT / "platforms" / "targets" / "retroarch.yml").read_text())
+        names = {
+            name for target in targets["targets"]
+            for name in load_target_config("retroarch", target, platforms) or ()
+        }
+        unnamed = sorted(name for name in names if not (index.get(name, set()) & runs))
+        self.assertEqual(unnamed, [])
+
+
 class AliasesResolveToOneName(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_retroarch_switch_aliases(self):
         platforms = str(REPO_ROOT / "platforms")

wiki/profiling.md

@@ -365,9 +365,12 @@ A few field conventions that protect the toolchain:
 - `type:` is operational. `resolve_platform_cores()` uses it to filter
   which profiles apply to a platform. Valid values are `libretro`,
   `standalone + libretro`, `standalone`, `alias`, `launcher`, `game`,
-  `utility`, `test`. Putting a classification concept here (like
+  `utility`. Putting a classification concept here (like
   "bizhawk-native") breaks the filtering. A BizHawk core is
-  `type: standalone`.
+  `type: standalone`. A libretro core that emulates no machine stays
+  `type: libretro` and says what it is for in `role:` (`game`, `utility`
+  or `test`): typed by its role, 2048 fell out of every all_libretro
+  platform and RetroArch's manifest no longer named it.
 
 - `core_classification:` is descriptive. It documents the relationship
   between the core and the original emulator (pure_libretro,
@@ -513,7 +516,8 @@ reports the profile as uncheckable, and the CI job that runs
 | Field | Required | Description |
 |-------|----------|-------------|
 | `emulator` | yes | display name |
-| `type` | yes | `libretro`, `standalone`, `standalone + libretro`, `alias`, `launcher`, `game`, `utility`, `test` |
+| `type` | yes | `libretro`, `standalone`, `standalone + libretro`, `alias`, `launcher`, `game`, `utility` |
+| `role` | no | `game`, `utility`, `test`: what a libretro core that emulates no machine is for. The site and coverage leave `test` cores out |
 | `core_classification` | no | `pure_libretro`, `official_port`, `community_fork`, `frozen_snapshot`, `enhanced_fork`, `game_engine`, `embedded_hle`, `launcher`, `alias`, `other` |
 | `source` | no | libretro core repository URL. A dict when the core ships under several repos |
 | `upstream` | no | original emulator repository URL |