Debian Based Linux Setup | libretro | Page 1

exotic copper Jan 12, 2026, 9:02 PM

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i went through the discover app available through the kde plasma gui. downloaded just fine and launched the program. after spending while looking through the settings i found an options turned off that let me see a dialogue option for "download a core" under "load a core". no matter what i click on in there though nothing seems to download. for example i download pcsx as a random example. on the bottom left of the screen it goes through the percentage till reaching 100% and disappears. i back up to load a core and it shows what you see in the image. no items.

not sure where i go from here. i have some experience using retroarch via windows before i made the switch to linux. just not sure how to download a core if selecting download a core in the app doesn't give me a selectable option to load said core. restarting the app does not rectify the issue.

onyx fjord Jan 12, 2026, 10:20 PM

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distro packages are weird because package managers aren't allowed to write to user directories, so they typically configure RetroArch to look at root-owned directories and expect you to install cores and assets, etc. via distro packages, as well

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if you want to use the online updater, you'll need to change all of those directories back user-owned locations so RetroArch can read/write to them

exotic copper Jan 12, 2026, 10:21 PM

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would there be a better way to install it then? i'm semi new to linux. i've been using the os for around 2 months.

onyx fjord Jan 12, 2026, 10:24 PM

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yeah... the distro packages tend to be a hassle. I suggest using our official AppImage

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it comes with a portable home directory, so you can always wipe it out and start over if something goes wrong

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without messing up your actual home directory

exotic copper Jan 13, 2026, 12:03 AM

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onyx fjord yeah... the distro packages tend to be a hassle. I suggest using our official Ap...

never used an appimage before, but i've heard of em. i'll check it out tomorrow.

muted cloak Jan 13, 2026, 5:15 AM

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Iirc, appimages use fuse2 or 3. You may have to install it through apt install, but I don't know for sure.

exotic copper Jan 13, 2026, 7:29 AM

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so far i've learned that linux u can install thing 5 different ways and i'm only brushing the surface. i know: app install command line thing. appimage though i duno how to do it so far, flat/snap packs which as far as i know don't allow root access, and then finally through the application interface like discoery or pop shop that come with the gui.

it's freakin confusin man. but i'll give that appimage thing a try tomorrow after i watch a youtube video or two on how to actually run them. i'm just assuming it's available for download on the retroarch website, and while i don't recall the official website i'm sure i can find it in this discord channel or just searching for "officianl retroarch website".

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i suppose it's still better than what windows is turning into, what with is becoming a full on key logging, snapshot taking spyware. scary stuff. i figure in another 2 years i'll be running linux and knowing how to get back into software overclocking and other power user functions with time.

#Debian Based Linux Setup