Docs: describe legacy vs gamecenter tracks

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Marco Allegretti 2026-02-09 14:19:21 +01:00
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A unified game launcher for KDE Plasma 6, inspired by [KDE Apps Initiative issue#26](https://invent.kde.org/teams/apps-initiative/tasks/-/issues/26). A unified game launcher for KDE Plasma 6, inspired by [KDE Apps Initiative issue#26](https://invent.kde.org/teams/apps-initiative/tasks/-/issues/26).
## Project tracks
This repository currently has two development tracks:
- **Legacy (launcher-first)**
- The current `master`/`legacy` baseline: a traditional game launcher UI.
- See `docs/LEGACY.md`.
- **Gamecenter (launcher + daemons)**
- The `gamecenter` branch: an experimental direction to evolve A-La-Karte into a launcher + game center suitable for a console-like KDE experience.
- See `docs/GAMECENTER.md`.
For documentation index, see `docs/README.md`.
## Features ## Features
- Import games from Steam, Lutris, Heroic, Bottles, itch.io, Legendary, RetroArch playlists, Flatpak applications, and desktop entries - Import games from Steam, Lutris, Heroic, Bottles, itch.io, Legendary, RetroArch playlists, Flatpak applications, and desktop entries

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# Gamecenter track (Launcher + Game Center)
## Goal
The gamecenter track evolves A-La-Karte from “a launcher” into “a launcher + game center” suitable for a **fully integrated, console-like experience on KDE**.
Key ideas:
- The UI becomes a client of background services.
- Launching and monitoring games is handled by a daemon.
- Runner resolution (Wine/Proton) is handled by a runner manager service.
## Architecture (high level)
### UI (A-La-Karte)
- Displays the library and settings.
- Requests launches via the Game Center daemon instead of launching processes directly.
- Surfaces daemon/service errors to the user.
### Game Center daemon
- Manages game sessions (launch/stop, running state, concurrency policy).
- Tracks/monitors sessions so Steam/Lutris URL-based launches can still be managed.
- Intended to be activatable via DBus/systemd.
DBus service (planned/implemented on the gamecenter branch):
- `org.kde.GameCenter1`
### Runner manager daemon
- Manages “runners” (e.g. Proton, Wine, GE builds):
- install/uninstall
- inventory listing
- resolve launch specs deterministically
- prefix lifecycle helpers
DBus service (planned/implemented on the gamecenter branch):
- `org.kde.ALaKarte.Runner1`
## Branches
- `master` / `legacy`
- Launcher-focused baseline.
- `gamecenter`
- Experimental daemon-based direction.
## Status
This document is intentionally a living overview. Detailed API docs / roadmaps should live in separate documents as they solidify.

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# Legacy track (Launcher)
## What it is
The legacy track is a traditional desktop application:
- The UI directly owns the game library.
- The UI launches games.
- Focus is on being a high-quality KDE Plasma launcher with good keyboard/gamepad navigation.
## What it is not
- A system-level game session manager.
- A daemon that monitors and manages sessions across launchers.
## Why it exists
This track is the stable baseline and the fastest way to iterate on UX, importers, and per-game configuration.

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# Documentation
This folder contains higher-level project documentation.
## Overview
- `LEGACY.md`
- Notes on the current launcher-focused architecture (historically the "legacy" track).
- `GAMECENTER.md`
- Notes on the "gamecenter" track: a launcher + Game Center daemon-based architecture for a more console-like KDE experience.
## Contributing docs
If you add a new document, link it from this index so it stays discoverable.

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# Roadmap
This document captures the high-level direction of the project.
## Legacy track (launcher-first)
- Maintain a stable, polished KDE Plasma launcher.
- Keep importers and library UX solid and reliable.
## Gamecenter track (launcher + daemons)
- Evolve into a fully integrated, console-like experience on KDE.
- Move launching + session monitoring into a daemon.
- Add runner management (Wine/Proton) as a service.
## Near-term goals
- (Fill in)
## Longer-term goals
- (Fill in)