feat: platform-core registry for exact pack generation

resolve_platform_cores() links platforms to their cores via
three strategies: all_libretro, explicit list, system ID
fallback. Pack generation always includes core requirements
beyond platform baseline. Case-insensitive dedup prevents
conflicts on Windows/macOS. Data dir strip_components fixes
doubled paths for Dolphin and PPSSPP caches.

database.json

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "generated_at": "2026-03-19T13:30:04Z",
+  "generated_at": "2026-03-19T15:04:46Z",
   "total_files": 5593,
   "total_size": 4909044289,
   "files": {

platforms/_data_dirs.yml

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ data_directories:
     source_type: zip
     for_platforms: [retroarch, lakka, retropie]
     local_cache: data/dolphin-sys
+    strip_components: 2
     exclude: [Themes]
     description: "Dolphin system data (GameSettings, DSP, fonts, shaders)"
 
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ data_directories:
     source_type: zip
     for_platforms: [retroarch, lakka, retropie]
     local_cache: data/ppsspp-assets
+    strip_components: 1
     description: "PPSSPP fonts, backgrounds, shaders, lang files"
 
   # ref: bluemsx-libretro/system/ — system/Databases/ + system/Machines/

platforms/_registry.yml

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ platforms:
     source_format: clrmamepro_dat
     hash_type: sha1
     schedule: weekly
-    emulators: [pcsx_rearmed, beetle_psx, genesis_plus_gx, flycast, melonds, mgba, snes9x, mupen64plus, beetle_saturn, dolphin]
+    cores: all_libretro
 
   batocera:
     config: batocera.yml
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ platforms:
     source_format: python_dict
     hash_type: md5
     schedule: weekly
-    emulators: [flycast, dolphin, pcsx2, duckstation, rpcs3, ppsspp, beetle_psx, beetle_saturn, genesis_plus_gx, picodrive, fbneo, puae, hatari, fuse, opera, bluemsx, fmsx, np2kai, quasi88]
+    cores: [81, a5200, abuse, arduous, atari800, azahar, bennugd, bk, bluemsx, bsnes, bstone, cannonball, cap32, catacombgl, cdogs, cemu, cgenius, citron, clk, corsixth, demul, devilutionx, dhewm3, dice, dolphin, dosbox_pure, dxx-rebirth, easyrpg, ecwolf, eduke32, eka2l1, emuscv, etlegacy, fake08, fallout1-ce, fallout2-ce, fbneo, fceumm, flatpak, flycast, freechaf, freeintv, fury, fuse, gambatte, gearsystem, genesisplusgx, glide64mk2, gong, gsplus, gw, gzdoom, hatari, hcl, hurrican, hypseus-singe, ikemen, ioquake3, iortcw, jazz2-native, lindbergh-loader, lowresnx, lutro, mame, mame078plus, mednafen_lynx, mednafen_ngp, mednafen_supergrafx, mednafen_wswan, melonds, mgba, minivmac, model2emu, moonlight, mrboom, neocd, np2kai, nxengine, o2em, odcommander, openbor6412, openjazz, openjk, openjkdf2, openmohaa, opera, pce_fast, pcfx, pcsx2, pcsx_rearmed, pd777, picodrive, play, pokemini, potator, ppsspp, prboom, prosystem, puae, px68k, pygame, pyxel, quasi88, raze, reminiscence, rpcs3, ruffle, samcoupe, sameduck, scummvm, sdlpop, sh, shadps4, snes9x, solarus, sonic2013, sonic3-air, sonic-mania, steam, stella, superbroswar, supermodel, taradino, tgbdual, theforceengine, theodore, thextech, tic80, tr1x, tr2x, tsugaru, tyrian, tyrquake, uqm, uzem, vb, vecx, vice_x64, vircon32, virtualjaguar, vita3k, vox_official, vpinball, wasm4, wine-tkg, x1, x128, x16emu, xash3d_fwgs, xemu, xenia-canary, xpet, xplus4, xrick, xvic, yabasanshiro, yquake2, zc210]
 
   recalbox:
     config: recalbox.yml
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ platforms:
     source_format: xml
     hash_type: md5
     schedule: monthly
-    emulators: [flycast, dolphin, pcsx2, beetle_psx, beetle_saturn, genesis_plus_gx, picodrive, fbneo, puae, hatari, opera, bluemsx, fmsx]
+    cores: ["2048", 81, a5200, advancemame, amiberry, applewin, arduous, atari800, b2, beebem, bk, bluemsx, boom3, bsnes, bsneshd, cannonball, cap32, cdi2015, corsixth, craft, crocods, daphne, desmume, dice, dinothawr, dirksimple, dolphin, dolphin-gui, dosbox, dosbox_pure, duckstation, easyrpg, ecwolf, emuscv, fake08, fba2x, fbneo, fceumm, flycast, flycast-next, fmsx, freechaf, freeintv, frotz, fuse, gambatte, gearcoleco, geargrafx, gearsystem, genesisplusgx, genesisplusgx_ex, genesisplusgxwide, geolith, glide64mk2, gliden64, gliden64_20, gong, gpsp, gsplus, gw, handy, hatari, hatarib, holani, imageviewer, julius, kronos, lowresnx, lutro, mame0258, mame0278, mame2000, mame2003, mame2003_plus, mame2010, mame2015, mame2016, mednafen_lynx, mednafen_ngp, mednafen_pce_fast, mednafen_pcfx, mednafen_psx, mednafen_psx_hw, mednafen_saturn, mednafen_supafaust, mednafen_supergrafx, mednafen_vb, mednafen_wswan, melonds, mesen, mesen_s, meteor, mgba, minivmac, mojozork, moonlight, mrboom, mu, mupen64plus, mupen64plus_next, n64_gles2, neocd, nestopia, np2kai, nxengine, o2em, openbor, openlara, opera, oricutron, parallel_n64, pcsx2, pcsx_rearmed, pico8, picodrive, pisnes, pokemini, potator, ppsspp, prboom, prosystem, ps2, puae, px68k, quasi88, quicknes, race, rb5000, reicast, reminiscence, retro8, retrodream, rice, rice_gles2, sameboy, same_cdi, sameduck, scummvm, sdlpop, simcoupe, snes9x, snes9x2002, snes9x2005, snes9x2010, solarus, stella, stella2014, stonesoup, supermodel, swanstation, tamalibretro, tgbdual, theodore, thepowdertoy, ti99sim, tic80, tyrquake, uae4all, uae4arm, uzem, vecx, vice_x128, vice_x64, vice_x64sc, vice_xcbm2, vice_xcbm5x0, vice_xpet, vice_xplus4, vice_xscpu64, vice_xvic, virtualjaguar, vitaquake2, vitaquake3, vitavoyager, vpinball, vvvvvv, wasm4, x1, x128, x64, x64sx, xcbm2, xcbm5x0, xemu, xpet, xplus4, xrick, xroar, xscpu64, xvic, yabasanshiro, yabause]
 
   retrobat:
     config: retrobat.yml
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ platforms:
     source_format: json
     hash_type: md5
     schedule: weekly
-    emulators: [duckstation, pcsx2, dolphin, rpcs3, ppsspp, cemu, xemu, flycast, beetle_psx, beetle_saturn, genesis_plus_gx, puae, opera]
+    cores: [81, a5200, abuse, arduous, atari800, azahar, bennugd, bk, bluemsx, bsnes, bstone, cannonball, cap32, catacombgl, cdogs, cemu, cgenius, citron, clk, corsixth, demul, devilutionx, dhewm3, dice, dolphin, dosbox_pure, dxx-rebirth, easyrpg, ecwolf, eduke32, eka2l1, emuscv, etlegacy, fake08, fallout1-ce, fallout2-ce, fbneo, fceumm, flatpak, flycast, freechaf, freeintv, fury, fuse, gambatte, gearsystem, genesisplusgx, glide64mk2, gong, gsplus, gw, gzdoom, hatari, hcl, hurrican, hypseus-singe, ikemen, ioquake3, iortcw, jazz2-native, lindbergh-loader, lowresnx, lutro, mame, mame078plus, mednafen_lynx, mednafen_ngp, mednafen_supergrafx, mednafen_wswan, melonds, mgba, minivmac, model2emu, moonlight, mrboom, neocd, np2kai, nxengine, o2em, odcommander, openbor6412, openjazz, openjk, openjkdf2, openmohaa, opera, pce_fast, pcfx, pcsx2, pcsx_rearmed, pd777, picodrive, play, pokemini, potator, ppsspp, prboom, prosystem, puae, px68k, pygame, pyxel, quasi88, raze, reminiscence, rpcs3, ruffle, samcoupe, sameduck, scummvm, sdlpop, sh, shadps4, snes9x, solarus, sonic2013, sonic3-air, sonic-mania, steam, stella, superbroswar, supermodel, taradino, tgbdual, theforceengine, theodore, thextech, tic80, tr1x, tr2x, tsugaru, tyrian, tyrquake, uqm, uzem, vb, vecx, vice_x64, vircon32, virtualjaguar, vita3k, vox_official, vpinball, wasm4, wine-tkg, x1, x128, x16emu, xash3d_fwgs, xemu, xenia-canary, xpet, xplus4, xrick, xvic, yabasanshiro, yquake2, zc210]
 
   emudeck:
     config: emudeck.yml
@@ -61,7 +61,6 @@ platforms:
     source_format: bash_script+csv
     hash_type: md5
     schedule: weekly
-    emulators: [duckstation, pcsx2, dolphin, rpcs3, ppsspp, cemu, xemu, vita3k, citra, melonds]
     # dragoonDorise/EmuDeck = official repo (creator's account, 3.4k stars)
     # EmuDeck/emudeck.github.io = official wiki (org account)
 
@@ -71,6 +70,7 @@ platforms:
     logo: "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/libretro/retroarch-assets/master/src/xmb/flatui/lakka.svg"
     scraper: libretro
     inherits_from: retroarch
+    cores: all_libretro
     schedule: weekly
 
   retropie:
@@ -78,4 +78,5 @@ platforms:
     status: archived  # Last release: v4.8 (March 2022) - no update in 4 years
     logo: "https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/11378204"
     scraper: null
+    cores: all_libretro
     schedule: null

platforms/_shared.yml

@@ -76,11 +76,6 @@ shared_groups:
       md5: "7da1e5b7c482d4108d22a5b09631d967"
       crc32: "d271798b"
       size: 524350
-    # NP2kai also accepts FONT.ROM (uppercase) — ref: libretro.c:1813
-    - name: FONT.ROM
-      destination: np2kai/FONT.ROM
-      required: true
-      md5: "2af6179d7de4893ea0b705c00e9a98d6"
     - name: 2608_bd.wav
       destination: np2kai/2608_bd.wav
       required: true

platforms/batocera.yml

@@ -5,6 +5,165 @@ source: "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/batocera-linux/batocera.linux/master/
 base_destination: bios
 hash_type: md5
 verification_mode: md5
+cores:
+  - 81
+  - a5200
+  - abuse
+  - arduous
+  - atari800
+  - azahar
+  - bennugd
+  - bk
+  - bluemsx
+  - bsnes
+  - bstone
+  - cannonball
+  - cap32
+  - catacombgl
+  - cdogs
+  - cemu
+  - cgenius
+  - citron
+  - clk
+  - corsixth
+  - demul
+  - devilutionx
+  - dhewm3
+  - dice
+  - dolphin
+  - dosbox_pure
+  - dxx-rebirth
+  - easyrpg
+  - ecwolf
+  - eduke32
+  - eka2l1
+  - emuscv
+  - etlegacy
+  - fake08
+  - fallout1-ce
+  - fallout2-ce
+  - fbneo
+  - fceumm
+  - flatpak
+  - flycast
+  - freechaf
+  - freeintv
+  - fury
+  - fuse
+  - gambatte
+  - gearsystem
+  - genesisplusgx
+  - glide64mk2
+  - gong
+  - gsplus
+  - gw
+  - gzdoom
+  - hatari
+  - hcl
+  - hurrican
+  - hypseus-singe
+  - ikemen
+  - ioquake3
+  - iortcw
+  - jazz2-native
+  - lindbergh-loader
+  - lowresnx
+  - lutro
+  - mame
+  - mame078plus
+  - mednafen_lynx
+  - mednafen_ngp
+  - mednafen_supergrafx
+  - mednafen_wswan
+  - melonds
+  - mgba
+  - minivmac
+  - model2emu
+  - moonlight
+  - mrboom
+  - neocd
+  - np2kai
+  - nxengine
+  - o2em
+  - odcommander
+  - openbor6412
+  - openjazz
+  - openjk
+  - openjkdf2
+  - openmohaa
+  - opera
+  - pce_fast
+  - pcfx
+  - pcsx2
+  - pcsx_rearmed
+  - pd777
+  - picodrive
+  - play
+  - pokemini
+  - potator
+  - ppsspp
+  - prboom
+  - prosystem
+  - puae
+  - px68k
+  - pygame
+  - pyxel
+  - quasi88
+  - raze
+  - reminiscence
+  - rpcs3
+  - ruffle
+  - samcoupe
+  - sameduck
+  - scummvm
+  - sdlpop
+  - sh
+  - shadps4
+  - snes9x
+  - solarus
+  - sonic2013
+  - sonic3-air
+  - sonic-mania
+  - steam
+  - stella
+  - superbroswar
+  - supermodel
+  - taradino
+  - tgbdual
+  - theforceengine
+  - theodore
+  - thextech
+  - tic80
+  - tr1x
+  - tr2x
+  - tsugaru
+  - tyrian
+  - tyrquake
+  - uqm
+  - uzem
+  - vb
+  - vecx
+  - vice_x64
+  - vircon32
+  - virtualjaguar
+  - vita3k
+  - vox_official
+  - vpinball
+  - wasm4
+  - wine-tkg
+  - x1
+  - x128
+  - x16emu
+  - xash3d_fwgs
+  - xemu
+  - xenia-canary
+  - xpet
+  - xplus4
+  - xrick
+  - xvic
+  - yabasanshiro
+  - yquake2
+  - zc210
 systems:
   atari-400-800:
     files:

platforms/recalbox.yml

@@ -5,6 +5,199 @@ source: "https://gitlab.com/recalbox/recalbox/-/raw/master/board/recalbox/fsover
 base_destination: bios
 hash_type: md5
 verification_mode: md5
+cores:
+  - "2048"
+  - 81
+  - a5200
+  - advancemame
+  - amiberry
+  - applewin
+  - arduous
+  - atari800
+  - b2
+  - beebem
+  - bk
+  - bluemsx
+  - boom3
+  - bsnes
+  - bsneshd
+  - cannonball
+  - cap32
+  - cdi2015
+  - corsixth
+  - craft
+  - crocods
+  - daphne
+  - desmume
+  - dice
+  - dinothawr
+  - dirksimple
+  - dolphin
+  - dolphin-gui
+  - dosbox
+  - dosbox_pure
+  - duckstation
+  - easyrpg
+  - ecwolf
+  - emuscv
+  - fake08
+  - fba2x
+  - fbneo
+  - fceumm
+  - flycast
+  - flycast-next
+  - fmsx
+  - freechaf
+  - freeintv
+  - frotz
+  - fuse
+  - gambatte
+  - gearcoleco
+  - geargrafx
+  - gearsystem
+  - genesisplusgx
+  - genesisplusgx_ex
+  - genesisplusgxwide
+  - geolith
+  - glide64mk2
+  - gliden64
+  - gliden64_20
+  - gong
+  - gpsp
+  - gsplus
+  - gw
+  - handy
+  - hatari
+  - hatarib
+  - holani
+  - imageviewer
+  - julius
+  - kronos
+  - lowresnx
+  - lutro
+  - mame0258
+  - mame0278
+  - mame2000
+  - mame2003
+  - mame2003_plus
+  - mame2010
+  - mame2015
+  - mame2016
+  - mednafen_lynx
+  - mednafen_ngp
+  - mednafen_pce_fast
+  - mednafen_pcfx
+  - mednafen_psx
+  - mednafen_psx_hw
+  - mednafen_saturn
+  - mednafen_supafaust
+  - mednafen_supergrafx
+  - mednafen_vb
+  - mednafen_wswan
+  - melonds
+  - mesen
+  - mesen_s
+  - meteor
+  - mgba
+  - minivmac
+  - mojozork
+  - moonlight
+  - mrboom
+  - mu
+  - mupen64plus
+  - mupen64plus_next
+  - n64_gles2
+  - neocd
+  - nestopia
+  - np2kai
+  - nxengine
+  - o2em
+  - openbor
+  - openlara
+  - opera
+  - oricutron
+  - parallel_n64
+  - pcsx2
+  - pcsx_rearmed
+  - pico8
+  - picodrive
+  - pisnes
+  - pokemini
+  - potator
+  - ppsspp
+  - prboom
+  - prosystem
+  - ps2
+  - puae
+  - px68k
+  - quasi88
+  - quicknes
+  - race
+  - rb5000
+  - reicast
+  - reminiscence
+  - retro8
+  - retrodream
+  - rice
+  - rice_gles2
+  - sameboy
+  - same_cdi
+  - sameduck
+  - scummvm
+  - sdlpop
+  - simcoupe
+  - snes9x
+  - snes9x2002
+  - snes9x2005
+  - snes9x2010
+  - solarus
+  - stella
+  - stella2014
+  - stonesoup
+  - supermodel
+  - swanstation
+  - tamalibretro
+  - tgbdual
+  - theodore
+  - thepowdertoy
+  - ti99sim
+  - tic80
+  - tyrquake
+  - uae4all
+  - uae4arm
+  - uzem
+  - vecx
+  - vice_x128
+  - vice_x64
+  - vice_x64sc
+  - vice_xcbm2
+  - vice_xcbm5x0
+  - vice_xpet
+  - vice_xplus4
+  - vice_xscpu64
+  - vice_xvic
+  - virtualjaguar
+  - vitaquake2
+  - vitaquake3
+  - vitavoyager
+  - vpinball
+  - vvvvvv
+  - wasm4
+  - x1
+  - x128
+  - x64
+  - x64sx
+  - xcbm2
+  - xcbm5x0
+  - xemu
+  - xpet
+  - xplus4
+  - xrick
+  - xroar
+  - xscpu64
+  - xvic
+  - yabasanshiro
+  - yabause
 systems:
   commodore-amiga:
     files:

platforms/retroarch.yml

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ dat_version: v1.19.0
 homepage: https://www.retroarch.com
 source: https://github.com/libretro/libretro-database/blob/master/dat/System.dat
 base_destination: system
+cores: all_libretro
 hash_type: sha1
 verification_mode: existence
 systems:

platforms/retrobat.yml

@@ -5,6 +5,165 @@ source: "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/RetroBat-Official/emulatorlauncher/ma
 base_destination: bios
 hash_type: md5
 verification_mode: md5
+cores:
+  - 81
+  - a5200
+  - abuse
+  - arduous
+  - atari800
+  - azahar
+  - bennugd
+  - bk
+  - bluemsx
+  - bsnes
+  - bstone
+  - cannonball
+  - cap32
+  - catacombgl
+  - cdogs
+  - cemu
+  - cgenius
+  - citron
+  - clk
+  - corsixth
+  - demul
+  - devilutionx
+  - dhewm3
+  - dice
+  - dolphin
+  - dosbox_pure
+  - dxx-rebirth
+  - easyrpg
+  - ecwolf
+  - eduke32
+  - eka2l1
+  - emuscv
+  - etlegacy
+  - fake08
+  - fallout1-ce
+  - fallout2-ce
+  - fbneo
+  - fceumm
+  - flatpak
+  - flycast
+  - freechaf
+  - freeintv
+  - fury
+  - fuse
+  - gambatte
+  - gearsystem
+  - genesisplusgx
+  - glide64mk2
+  - gong
+  - gsplus
+  - gw
+  - gzdoom
+  - hatari
+  - hcl
+  - hurrican
+  - hypseus-singe
+  - ikemen
+  - ioquake3
+  - iortcw
+  - jazz2-native
+  - lindbergh-loader
+  - lowresnx
+  - lutro
+  - mame
+  - mame078plus
+  - mednafen_lynx
+  - mednafen_ngp
+  - mednafen_supergrafx
+  - mednafen_wswan
+  - melonds
+  - mgba
+  - minivmac
+  - model2emu
+  - moonlight
+  - mrboom
+  - neocd
+  - np2kai
+  - nxengine
+  - o2em
+  - odcommander
+  - openbor6412
+  - openjazz
+  - openjk
+  - openjkdf2
+  - openmohaa
+  - opera
+  - pce_fast
+  - pcfx
+  - pcsx2
+  - pcsx_rearmed
+  - pd777
+  - picodrive
+  - play
+  - pokemini
+  - potator
+  - ppsspp
+  - prboom
+  - prosystem
+  - puae
+  - px68k
+  - pygame
+  - pyxel
+  - quasi88
+  - raze
+  - reminiscence
+  - rpcs3
+  - ruffle
+  - samcoupe
+  - sameduck
+  - scummvm
+  - sdlpop
+  - sh
+  - shadps4
+  - snes9x
+  - solarus
+  - sonic2013
+  - sonic3-air
+  - sonic-mania
+  - steam
+  - stella
+  - superbroswar
+  - supermodel
+  - taradino
+  - tgbdual
+  - theforceengine
+  - theodore
+  - thextech
+  - tic80
+  - tr1x
+  - tr2x
+  - tsugaru
+  - tyrian
+  - tyrquake
+  - uqm
+  - uzem
+  - vb
+  - vecx
+  - vice_x64
+  - vircon32
+  - virtualjaguar
+  - vita3k
+  - vox_official
+  - vpinball
+  - wasm4
+  - wine-tkg
+  - x1
+  - x128
+  - x16emu
+  - xash3d_fwgs
+  - xemu
+  - xenia-canary
+  - xpet
+  - xplus4
+  - xrick
+  - xvic
+  - yabasanshiro
+  - yquake2
+  - zc210
 systems:
   3do:
     files:

scripts/common.py

@@ -125,9 +125,14 @@ def load_platform_config(platform_name: str, platforms_dir: str = "platforms") -
                         (f.get("name"), f.get("destination", f.get("name")))
                         for f in system.get("files", [])
                     }
+                    existing_lower = {
+                        f.get("destination", f.get("name", "")).lower()
+                        for f in system.get("files", [])
+                    }
                     for gf in shared_groups[group_name]:
                         key = (gf.get("name"), gf.get("destination", gf.get("name")))
-                        if key not in existing:
+                        dest_lower = gf.get("destination", gf.get("name", "")).lower()
+                        if key not in existing and dest_lower not in existing_lower:
                             system.setdefault("files", []).append(gf)
                             existing.add(key)
 
@@ -348,6 +353,44 @@ def group_identical_platforms(
     return [(group, representatives[fp]) for fp, group in fingerprints.items()]
 
 
+def resolve_platform_cores(
+    config: dict, profiles: dict[str, dict],
+) -> set[str]:
+    """Resolve which emulator profiles are relevant for a platform.
+
+    Resolution strategies (by priority):
+    1. cores: "all_libretro" — all profiles with libretro in type
+    2. cores: [list] — profiles whose dict key matches a core name
+    3. cores: absent — fallback to systems intersection
+
+    Alias profiles are always excluded (they point to another profile).
+    """
+    cores_config = config.get("cores")
+
+    if cores_config == "all_libretro":
+        return {
+            name for name, p in profiles.items()
+            if "libretro" in p.get("type", "")
+            and p.get("type") != "alias"
+        }
+
+    if isinstance(cores_config, list):
+        core_set = set(cores_config)
+        return {
+            name for name in profiles
+            if name in core_set
+            and profiles[name].get("type") != "alias"
+        }
+
+    # Fallback: system ID intersection
+    platform_systems = set(config.get("systems", {}).keys())
+    return {
+        name for name, p in profiles.items()
+        if set(p.get("systems", [])) & platform_systems
+        and p.get("type") != "alias"
+    }
+
+
 def safe_extract_zip(zip_path: str, dest_dir: str) -> None:
     """Extract a ZIP file safely, preventing zip-slip path traversal."""
     dest = os.path.realpath(dest_dir)

scripts/generate_pack.py

@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ def _collect_emulator_extras(
     base_dest: str,
     emu_profiles: dict | None = None,
 ) -> list[dict]:
-    """Collect extra files from emulator profiles not in the platform pack.
+    """Collect core requirement files from emulator profiles not in the platform pack.
 
     Uses the same system-overlap matching as verify.py cross-reference:
     - Matches emulators by shared system IDs with the platform
@@ -237,15 +237,15 @@ def generate_pack(
     platform_display = config.get("platform", platform_name)
     base_dest = config.get("base_destination", "")
 
-    suffix = "Complete_Pack" if include_extras else "BIOS_Pack"
+    zip_name = f"{platform_display.replace(' ', '_')}_BIOS_Pack.zip"
-    zip_name = f"{platform_display.replace(' ', '_')}_{suffix}.zip"
     zip_path = os.path.join(output_dir, zip_name)
     os.makedirs(output_dir, exist_ok=True)
 
     total_files = 0
     missing_files = []
     user_provided = []
-    seen_destinations = set()
+    seen_destinations: set[str] = set()
+    seen_lower: set[str] = set()  # case-insensitive dedup for Windows/macOS
     # Per-file status: worst status wins (missing > untested > ok)
     file_status: dict[str, str] = {}
     file_reasons: dict[str, str] = {}
@@ -277,6 +277,7 @@ def generate_pack(
                     if already_packed:
                         continue
                     seen_destinations.add(dedup_key)
+                    seen_lower.add(dedup_key.lower())
                     file_status.setdefault(dedup_key, "ok")
                     instructions = file_entry.get("instructions", "Please provide this file manually.")
                     instr_name = f"INSTRUCTIONS_{file_entry['name']}.txt"
@@ -301,6 +302,7 @@ def generate_pack(
                             else:
                                 zf.write(tmp_path, full_dest)
                             seen_destinations.add(dedup_key)
+                            seen_lower.add(dedup_key.lower())
                             file_status.setdefault(dedup_key, "ok")
                             total_files += 1
                         else:
@@ -352,6 +354,7 @@ def generate_pack(
                 if already_packed:
                     continue
                 seen_destinations.add(dedup_key)
+                seen_lower.add(dedup_key.lower())
 
                 extract = file_entry.get("extract", False)
                 if extract and local_path.endswith(".zip"):
@@ -360,30 +363,33 @@ def generate_pack(
                     zf.write(local_path, full_dest)
                 total_files += 1
 
-        # Tier 2: emulator extras (files cores need but platform doesn't declare)
+        # Core requirements: files platform's cores need but YAML doesn't declare
-        extra_count = 0
+        emu_profiles = load_emulator_profiles(emulators_dir)
-        if include_extras:
+        core_files = _collect_emulator_extras(
-            emu_profiles = load_emulator_profiles(emulators_dir)
+            config, emulators_dir, db,
-            extras = _collect_emulator_extras(
+            seen_destinations, base_dest, emu_profiles,
-                config, emulators_dir, db,
+        )
-                seen_destinations, base_dest, emu_profiles,
+        core_count = 0
-            )
+        for fe in core_files:
-            for fe in extras:
+            dest = _sanitize_path(fe.get("destination", fe["name"]))
-                dest = _sanitize_path(fe.get("destination", fe["name"]))
+            if not dest:
-                if not dest:
+                continue
-                    continue
+            full_dest = f"{base_dest}/{dest}" if base_dest else dest
-                full_dest = f"{base_dest}/{dest}" if base_dest else dest
+            if full_dest in seen_destinations:
-                if full_dest in seen_destinations:
+                continue
-                    continue
+            # Skip case-insensitive duplicates (Windows/macOS FS safety)
+            if full_dest.lower() in seen_lower:
+                continue
 
-                local_path, status = resolve_file(fe, db, bios_dir, zip_contents)
+            local_path, status = resolve_file(fe, db, bios_dir, zip_contents)
-                if status in ("not_found", "external", "user_provided"):
+            if status in ("not_found", "external", "user_provided"):
-                    continue
+                continue
 
-                zf.write(local_path, full_dest)
+            zf.write(local_path, full_dest)
-                seen_destinations.add(full_dest)
+            seen_destinations.add(full_dest)
-                extra_count += 1
+            seen_lower.add(full_dest.lower())
-                total_files += 1
+            core_count += 1
+            total_files += 1
 
         # Data directories from _data_dirs.yml
         for sys_id, system in sorted(config.get("systems", {}).items()):
@@ -406,9 +412,10 @@ def generate_pack(
                         src = os.path.join(root, fname)
                         rel = os.path.relpath(src, local_path)
                         full = f"{dd_prefix}/{rel}"
-                        if full in seen_destinations:
+                        if full in seen_destinations or full.lower() in seen_lower:
                             continue
                         seen_destinations.add(full)
+                        seen_lower.add(full.lower())
                         zf.write(src, full)
                         total_files += 1
 
@@ -422,8 +429,8 @@ def generate_pack(
         parts.append(f"{files_untested} untested")
     if files_miss:
         parts.append(f"{files_miss} missing")
-    extras_msg = f", {extra_count} extras" if extra_count else ""
+    baseline = total_files - core_count
-    print(f"  {zip_path}: {total_files} files packed{extras_msg}, {', '.join(parts)} [{verification_mode}]")
+    print(f"  {zip_path}: {total_files} files packed ({baseline} baseline + {core_count} from cores), {', '.join(parts)} [{verification_mode}]")
 
     for key, reason in sorted(file_reasons.items()):
         status = file_status.get(key, "")
@@ -467,8 +474,9 @@ def main():
     parser.add_argument("--db", default=DEFAULT_DB_FILE, help="Path to database.json")
     parser.add_argument("--bios-dir", default=DEFAULT_BIOS_DIR)
     parser.add_argument("--output-dir", "-o", default=DEFAULT_OUTPUT_DIR)
+    # --include-extras is now a no-op: core requirements are always included
     parser.add_argument("--include-extras", action="store_true",
-                        help="Include emulator-recommended files not declared by platform")
+                        help="(no-op) Core requirements are always included")
     parser.add_argument("--emulators-dir", default="emulators")
     parser.add_argument("--offline", action="store_true",
                         help="Skip data directory freshness check, use cache only")

scripts/pipeline.py

@@ -73,9 +73,18 @@ def parse_pack_counts(output: str) -> dict[str, tuple[int, int]]:
         if m:
             current_label = m.group(1)
             continue
-        frac_m = re.search(r"(\d+)/(\d+) files OK", line)
+        if "files packed" not in line:
-        if frac_m and "files packed" in line:
+            continue
-            ok, total = int(frac_m.group(1)), int(frac_m.group(2))
+        # New format: "622 files packed (359 baseline + 263 from cores), 358/359 files OK"
+        base_m = re.search(r"\((\d+) baseline", line)
+        ok_m = re.search(r"(\d+)/(\d+) files OK", line)
+        if base_m and ok_m:
+            baseline = int(base_m.group(1))
+            ok, total = int(ok_m.group(1)), int(ok_m.group(2))
+            counts[current_label] = (ok, total)
+        elif ok_m:
+            # Fallback: old format without baseline
+            ok, total = int(ok_m.group(1)), int(ok_m.group(2))
             counts[current_label] = (ok, total)
     return counts
 
@@ -123,8 +132,9 @@ def main():
                         help="Skip data directory refresh")
     parser.add_argument("--output-dir", default="dist",
                         help="Pack output directory (default: dist/)")
+    # --include-extras is now a no-op: core requirements are always included
     parser.add_argument("--include-extras", action="store_true",
-                        help="Include Tier 2 emulator extras in packs")
+                        help="(no-op) Core requirements are always included")
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     results = {}

scripts/scraper/batocera_scraper.py

@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ import sys
 import urllib.request
 import urllib.error
 
+import yaml
+
 from .base_scraper import BaseScraper, BiosRequirement, fetch_github_latest_tag
 
 PLATFORM_NAME = "batocera"
@@ -23,6 +25,12 @@ SOURCE_URL = (
     "master/package/batocera/core/batocera-scripts/scripts/batocera-systems"
 )
 
+CONFIGGEN_DEFAULTS_URL = (
+    "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/batocera-linux/batocera.linux/"
+    "master/package/batocera/core/batocera-configgen/configs/"
+    "configgen-defaults.yml"
+)
+
 SYSTEM_SLUG_MAP = {
     "atari800": "atari-400-800",
     "atari5200": "atari-5200",
@@ -91,6 +99,28 @@ class Scraper(BaseScraper):
     def __init__(self, url: str = SOURCE_URL):
         super().__init__(url=url)
 
+    def _fetch_cores(self) -> list[str]:
+        """Extract core names from Batocera configgen-defaults.yml."""
+        try:
+            req = urllib.request.Request(
+                CONFIGGEN_DEFAULTS_URL,
+                headers={"User-Agent": "retrobios-scraper/1.0"},
+            )
+            with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=30) as resp:
+                raw = resp.read().decode("utf-8")
+        except urllib.error.URLError as e:
+            raise ConnectionError(
+                f"Failed to fetch {CONFIGGEN_DEFAULTS_URL}: {e}"
+            ) from e
+        data = yaml.safe_load(raw)
+        cores: set[str] = set()
+        for system, cfg in data.items():
+            if system == "default" or not isinstance(cfg, dict):
+                continue
+            core = cfg.get("core")
+            if core:
+                cores.add(core)
+        return sorted(cores)
 
     def _extract_systems_dict(self, raw: str) -> dict:
         """Extract and parse the 'systems' dict from the Python source via ast.literal_eval."""
@@ -244,6 +274,7 @@ class Scraper(BaseScraper):
             "base_destination": "bios",
             "hash_type": "md5",
             "verification_mode": "md5",
+            "cores": self._fetch_cores(),
             "systems": systems,
         }
 

scripts/scraper/recalbox_scraper.py

@@ -88,6 +88,20 @@ class Scraper(BaseScraper):
     def __init__(self, url: str = SOURCE_URL):
         super().__init__(url=url)
 
+    def _fetch_cores(self) -> list[str]:
+        """Extract unique core names from es_bios.xml bios elements."""
+        raw = self._fetch_raw()
+        root = ET.fromstring(raw)
+        cores: set[str] = set()
+        for bios_elem in root.findall(".//system/bios"):
+            raw_core = bios_elem.get("core", "").strip()
+            if not raw_core:
+                continue
+            for part in raw_core.split(","):
+                name = part.strip()
+                if name:
+                    cores.add(name)
+        return sorted(cores)
 
     def fetch_requirements(self) -> list[BiosRequirement]:
         """Parse es_bios.xml and return BIOS requirements."""
@@ -214,6 +228,7 @@ class Scraper(BaseScraper):
             "base_destination": "bios",
             "hash_type": "md5",
             "verification_mode": "md5",
+            "cores": self._fetch_cores(),
             "systems": systems,
         }
 

scripts/verify.py

@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ sys.path.insert(0, os.path.dirname(__file__))
 from common import (
     build_zip_contents_index, check_inside_zip, group_identical_platforms,
     load_emulator_profiles, load_platform_config, md5sum, md5_composite,
-    resolve_local_file,
+    resolve_local_file, resolve_platform_cores,
 )
 
 DEFAULT_DB = "database.json"
@@ -198,9 +198,7 @@ def find_undeclared_files(
     """Find files needed by cores but not declared in platform config."""
     # Collect all filenames declared by this platform
     declared_names: set[str] = set()
-    platform_systems: set[str] = set()
     for sys_id, system in config.get("systems", {}).items():
-        platform_systems.add(sys_id)
         for fe in system.get("files", []):
             name = fe.get("name", "")
             if name:
@@ -217,15 +215,13 @@ def find_undeclared_files(
     by_name = db.get("indexes", {}).get("by_name", {})
     profiles = emu_profiles if emu_profiles is not None else load_emulator_profiles(emulators_dir)
 
+    relevant = resolve_platform_cores(config, profiles)
     undeclared = []
     seen = set()
     for emu_name, profile in sorted(profiles.items()):
-        # Skip launchers — they don't use system_dir for BIOS
+        if profile.get("type") in ("launcher", "alias"):
-        if profile.get("type") == "launcher":
             continue
-        emu_systems = set(profile.get("systems", []))
+        if emu_name not in relevant:
-        # Only check emulators whose systems overlap with this platform
-        if not emu_systems & platform_systems:
             continue
 
         for f in profile.get("files", []):
@@ -268,10 +264,12 @@ def find_exclusion_notes(
     for sys_id in config.get("systems", {}):
         platform_systems.add(sys_id)
 
+    relevant = resolve_platform_cores(config, profiles)
     notes = []
     for emu_name, profile in sorted(profiles.items()):
         emu_systems = set(profile.get("systems", []))
-        if not emu_systems & platform_systems:
+        # Match by core resolution OR system intersection (documents all potential emulators)
+        if emu_name not in relevant and not (emu_systems & platform_systems):
             continue
 
         emu_display = profile.get("emulator", emu_name)

tests/test_e2e.py

@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@ import yaml
 from common import (
     build_zip_contents_index, check_inside_zip, group_identical_platforms,
     load_emulator_profiles, load_platform_config, md5_composite, md5sum,
-    resolve_local_file,
+    resolve_local_file, resolve_platform_cores,
 )
-from verify import Severity, Status, verify_platform, find_undeclared_files
+from verify import Severity, Status, verify_platform, find_undeclared_files, find_exclusion_notes
 
 
 def _h(data: bytes) -> dict:
@@ -555,5 +555,91 @@ class TestE2E(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(status, "user_provided")
 
 
+    def test_resolve_cores_all_libretro(self):
+        """all_libretro resolves to all libretro-type profiles, excludes alias/standalone."""
+        config = {"cores": "all_libretro", "systems": {"nes": {"files": []}}}
+        profiles = {
+            "fceumm": {"type": "libretro", "systems": ["nes"], "files": []},
+            "dolphin_standalone": {"type": "standalone", "systems": ["gc"], "files": []},
+            "gambatte": {"type": "pure_libretro", "systems": ["gb"], "files": []},
+            "mednafen_psx_hw": {"type": "alias", "alias_of": "beetle_psx", "files": []},
+        }
+        result = resolve_platform_cores(config, profiles)
+        self.assertEqual(result, {"fceumm", "gambatte"})
+
+    def test_resolve_cores_explicit_list(self):
+        """Explicit cores list matches against profile dict keys."""
+        config = {"cores": ["fbneo", "opera"], "systems": {"arcade": {"files": []}}}
+        profiles = {
+            "fbneo": {"type": "pure_libretro", "systems": ["arcade"], "files": []},
+            "opera": {"type": "libretro", "systems": ["3do"], "files": []},
+            "mame": {"type": "libretro", "systems": ["arcade"], "files": []},
+        }
+        result = resolve_platform_cores(config, profiles)
+        self.assertEqual(result, {"fbneo", "opera"})
+
+    def test_resolve_cores_fallback_systems(self):
+        """Missing cores: field falls back to system ID intersection."""
+        config = {"systems": {"nes": {"files": []}}}
+        profiles = {
+            "fceumm": {"type": "libretro", "systems": ["nes"], "files": []},
+            "dolphin": {"type": "libretro", "systems": ["gc"], "files": []},
+        }
+        result = resolve_platform_cores(config, profiles)
+        self.assertEqual(result, {"fceumm"})
+
+    def test_resolve_cores_excludes_alias(self):
+        """Alias profiles never included even if name matches cores list."""
+        config = {"cores": ["mednafen_psx_hw"], "systems": {}}
+        profiles = {
+            "mednafen_psx_hw": {"type": "alias", "alias_of": "beetle_psx", "files": []},
+        }
+        result = resolve_platform_cores(config, profiles)
+        self.assertEqual(result, set())
+
+
+    def test_cross_reference_uses_core_resolution(self):
+        """Cross-reference matches by cores: field, not system intersection."""
+        config = {
+            "cores": ["fbneo"],
+            "systems": {
+                "arcade": {"files": [{"name": "neogeo.zip", "md5": "abc"}]}
+            }
+        }
+        profiles = {
+            "fbneo": {
+                "emulator": "FBNeo", "systems": ["snk-neogeo-mvs"],
+                "type": "pure_libretro",
+                "files": [
+                    {"name": "neogeo.zip", "required": True},
+                    {"name": "neocdz.zip", "required": True},
+                ],
+            },
+        }
+        db = {"indexes": {"by_name": {"neocdz.zip": {"sha1": "x"}}}}
+        undeclared = find_undeclared_files(config, self.emulators_dir, db, profiles)
+        names = [u["name"] for u in undeclared]
+        self.assertIn("neocdz.zip", names)
+        self.assertNotIn("neogeo.zip", names)
+
+    def test_exclusion_notes_uses_core_resolution(self):
+        """Exclusion notes match by cores: field, not system intersection."""
+        config = {
+            "cores": ["desmume2015"],
+            "systems": {"nds": {"files": []}}
+        }
+        profiles = {
+            "desmume2015": {
+                "emulator": "DeSmuME 2015", "type": "frozen_snapshot",
+                "systems": ["nintendo-ds"],
+                "files": [],
+                "exclusion_note": "Frozen snapshot, code never loads BIOS",
+            },
+        }
+        notes = find_exclusion_notes(config, self.emulators_dir, profiles)
+        emu_names = [n["emulator"] for n in notes]
+        self.assertIn("DeSmuME 2015", emu_names)
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()