Feature Request: Support Custom Vulkan Driver Loading on Android (Mesa Turnip for ParaLLEl N64)
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- Dominant language
- C
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Description
Please add support in RetroArch Android to load a custom Adreno Driver (e.g. Mesa Turnip) from user storage. This would allow users to bypass limited Adreno system drivers and enable full functionality in cores like ParaLLEl (with ParaLLEl GFX + RSP Plugins).
Problem:
On Adreno GPUs (e.g. Adreno 650), using ParaLLEl (with ParaLLEl GFX + RSP Plugins) results in a black screen with only "ERR" shown. Logs confirm missing Vulkan features:
VK_KHR_8bit_storage
VK_KHR_16bit_storage
VK_EXT_external_memory_host
These are required for ParaLLEl (with ParaLLEl GFX + RSP Plugins) to boot and render.
Solution:
Add support for loading custom Vulkan drivers from internal storage:
Accept .zip or folder with Community Drivers
Path-based override (e.g. /sdcard/RetroArch/mesa/)
Benefit:
ParaLLEl (with ParaLLEl GFX + RSP Plugins) becomes usable on Adreno devices
Matches Vulkan flexibility in other Android emulators
EDIT: I contacted K11MCH1 from Adrenotools and he said VK_KHR_8bit_storage and VK_KHR_16bit_storage were already implemented.
Link to Adrenotools-source: https://github.com/bylaws/libadrenotools/tree/master
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
The issue names no files, tests, or entry points. Start by locating RetroArch's Android Vulkan driver-loading path and review the linked libadrenotools source. Done means defining and validating a supported custom-driver source, path override, and loading behavior that enables the required Vulkan features.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- android, c
- Domain
- computer-graphics, mobile-dev
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 5/5
- Estimated time
- Over a week
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 35/100