Wiki/wiki-rtd/docs/wiki_development/testing/release-candidate-testing.md

# Release Candidate: Cooker Testing

If you are on SteamOS make sure you are in `Desktop Mode` before you begin.

**Do not use the the Rowan Skye Method**
We do not recommend to blindly install the Cooker without reading this guide and just hope for the best aka the `Rowan Skye Method`. This is only recommended for chaotic blue dragonic wolfkin testers living on the edge.

## Step 1: Take some Backups

First take some backups:

- Make a copy of `~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/` folder and name it `old.net.retrodeck.retrodeck`
- Make a full back up or partial backups of the retrodeck folder normally under `~/retrodeck` or sdcard/other drive.

**Notes on the retrodeck folder back up:**

Generally, very few things would target the roms folder, but the other folders could be targeted for various scripts. Our recommendation would be to back up the full `/retrodeck` folder, but as a tester you can decide how much you want to risk.

**Disclamer:**

The RetroDECK Team also had never had any major data loss so far and we do cooker updates almost daily.

## Step 2: Download the Cooker

- Download the latest cooker release from: https://github.com/XargonWan/RetroDECK-cooker/releases/latest to your download folder
- Make a note of the version id, is a randomly generated word written like cooker-0.8.0b-**HelloWorld**, in this example it's "HelloWorld"

## Step 3: Terminal

Open the terminal window.

### Remove and Install

- `flatpak remove net.retrodeck.retrodeck` and press (y) yes to remove RetroDECK. If you have more then one version installed for some reason choose to remove all versions.
- `flatpak install --user --bundle --noninteractive -y "~/Downloads/RetroDECK-cooker.flatpak"` this will install RetroDECK Cooker.

## Step 4: Upgrade

**IMPORTANT:**

Under **NO** circumstances press the `Full Wipe and Fresh Install` button. That is **NOT** to be confused with Configurators `Reset RetroDECK` option. This in fact a `Nuke Everything` option, it will remove all of RetroDECK including all ROMS/BIOS/Downloaded Media and everything else you have in RetroDECK's folders...forever.

### Upgrading:

- After the installation is complete type:  `flatpak run --command=sh net.retrodeck.retrodeck` followed by `retrodeck`.
- Press the `Upgrade` button and keep the installation moving until all the steps are complete and RetroDECK will launch.
- Quit RetroDECK again and save all the output from the terminal into a text file.

#### When upgrading

**IMPORTANT:**

Check for the message `"In version 0.8.0b, the following changes were made that required config file updates/reset or other changes to the filesystem:"` in the terminal. This is a sign that tell you the post update migration is running, this is crucial for RetroDECK's upgrade to fully happen.

This is what should happend in the post migration.

```
- Remove any of the following files, if they exist:
	"$HOME/.steam/steam/controller_base/templates/RetroDECK_controller_config.vdf"
    "$HOME/.steam/steam/controller_base/templates/RetroDECK_controller_generic_standard.vdf"
    "$HOME/.steam/steam/controller_base/templates/RetroDECK_controller_ps3_dualshock3.vdf"
    "$HOME/.steam/steam/controller_base/templates/RetroDECK_controller_ps4_dualshock4.vdf"
    "$HOME/.steam/steam/controller_base/templates/RetroDECK_controller_ps5_dualsense.vdf"
    "$HOME/.steam/steam/controller_base/templates/RetroDECK_controller_steam_controller_gordon.vdf"
    "$HOME/.steam/steam/controller_base/templates/RetroDECK_controller_neptune.vdf"
    "$HOME/.steam/steam/controller_base/templates/RetroDECK_controller_switch_pro.vdf"
    "$HOME/.steam/steam/controller_base/templates/RetroDECK_controller_xbox360.vdf"
	"$HOME/.steam/steam/controller_base/templates/RetroDECK_controller_xboxone.vdf"
- The line "[nintendo_button_layout]" should be renamed "[abxy_button_swap]" in retrodeck.cfg
- The folder "/var/config/emulationstation" should be renamed to "/var/config/ES-DE" (internal Flatpak paths)
- ES-DE should be put through a reset process (verify via logs)
- MAME should be put through a reset process (verify via logs)
- Vita3K should be put through a reset process (verify via logs)
- GZDOOM should be put through a reset process (verify via logs)
- If the folder ~/retrodeck/.logs exists, it should be renamed to ~/retrodeck/logs
- The RPCS3 saves should be migrated by the following steps:
	- The folder ~/retrodeck/backups should be created if it doesn't already exist
	- A backup of current RPCS3 save data should be created at ~/retrodeck/backups/(date and time backup started)_rpcs3_save_data.zip
	- The symlink and real folders for save data should be switched:
		- The folder at ~/retrodeck/saves/ps3/rpcs3 should now be real
		- The folder at ~/retrodeck/bios/rpcs3/dev_hdd0/home/00000001/savedata should now be a symlink back to ~/retrodeck/saves/ps3/rpcs3
- Rename the folder ~/retrodeck/bios/switch/registered to ~/retrodeck/bios/switch/firmware
- Default ROMs folders should be recreated by ES-DE to add new systems
```

## Step 5: Start testing

On the SteamOS return to `Game Mode` for this step.

Feel free to test all the new features of 0.8.0b and report any issues.

- Configurator functions
- Controller Layouts
- Emulators / Engines

All logs will be saved in the new `retrodeck/logs` folder

Thank you! ❤️