melonDS-android v0.7.0.rc2 Major Vulkan Performance Upgrade and support for Retroarch Shaders Presets!

A major Vulkan performance upgrade, support for RetroArch shader presets, requested features, and broader Vulkan compatibility improvements are now part of RC2.

https://github.com/SapphireRhodonite/melonDS-android/releases/tag/0.7.0.rc2

Main feature:

One of biggest highlight of this release is the new simple Vulkan pipeline.

This new path gives a major performance improvement to the Vulkan renderer profile on many devices.

To use it:

• Select Vulkan as the renderer

• Go to Video Settings

• Enable Use simple pipeline

This mode is much more efficient, but it still has some remaining bugs that are being worked on.

My goal for RC3 is to bring this simple Vulkan path much closer to the more complex compute Vulkan path.

New shader support:

RC2 also adds support for librashader on Vulkan.

This allows Vulkan to move away from the old .msha shader format and use RetroArch shader presets (.slangp) instead.

Recommended setup:

• Download and extract slang-shaders

• In settings, set RetroArch shader root to the extracted slang-shaders folder

• Make sure that folder contains the full shader folder structure inside it

• Then use Relative .slangp path inside the selected shader root to choose the preset you want

If you need to create new presets, I recommend doing it in RetroArch or editing the preset file manually.

Requested features:

This RC also includes several requested features from supporters.

• Slot-2 analog input support was added for games like Super Mario 64 DS using the patched ROM workflow

• Automatic save/load state management was added

• Save file extension selection was added, with support for .sav or .srm

• Duplicate layout / save as new was added while editing a layout

• Double tap position adjustment was added for layout components, allowing direct X/Y adjustment through a popup

Vulkan compatibility and fixes:

RC2 also includes important Vulkan compatibility work for more devices.

This includes:

• Fixed crash on Snapdragon 865

• Made AndroidHardwareBuffer extensions optional

• Added fallbacks for Vulkan timeline semaphores

• Added fallbacks for dynamic indexing

• Added more Vulkan-side performance improvements

These changes should help Vulkan run on a wider range of devices while also improving performance.

Upstream changes:

This RC also integrates upstream work from @rafaelvcaetano.

This includes:

• RetroAchievements improvements

• Localization and string updates

• Screenshot pipeline improvements

• Performance and input/device behavior improvements

• ROM launch validation and file handling improvements

I need help from you!

Please test this build and report:

• Device model

• GPU / SoC

• Game tested

• Whether Vulkan works correctly

• Whether performance improved or regressed

• Whether the simple Vulkan path works correctly

• Whether RetroArch .slangp shader loading works correctly

• Whether Slot-2 analog input works correctly

• Whether the new layout tools work correctly

Testing feedback for this RC is especially important.

Current follow-up:

Some issues are still planned for RC3.

This includes:

• Vulkan internal resolution / top screen upscaling issues

• Custom layout background orientation issues

• RetroAchievements sync / state inconsistencies

• Remaining bugs in the new simple Vulkan path

I will also open a new discussion and begin initial follow-up work on some RetroAchievements issues, especially:

• Intermittent login failures

• Cases where Encore Mode remains incorrectly active

I need help from you!

Please keep sending test results.

This RC includes a very important Vulkan performance step, new shader support, and several requested features, so broad testing will help a lot before moving forward with RC3.

Thank you very much for the support, the reports, and the patience while this work continues.

- Sapphire 💙