Refactor cores to use externally built minarch-cores

.gitignore

@@ -10,11 +10,22 @@ releases
 toolchains
 libretro-common
 
+# Old per-platform cores (no longer used - migrated to shared cores)
 **/cores/src
 **/cores/output
+workspace/shared/*/cores/
+
+# New shared cores architecture
+build/.system/cores/
 **/boot/output
 **/squashfs/output
 
+# Generated paks (from skeleton/TEMPLATES/)
+# Note: Old duplicated paks removed from skeleton/SYSTEM/*/paks/Emus/ and skeleton/EXTRAS/Emus/
+# Paks are now generated during build from templates - see docs/PAK-TEMPLATES.md
+build/SYSTEM/*/paks/Emus/*.pak
+build/EXTRAS/Emus/*/*.pak
+
 **/other/evtest
 **/other/jstest
 **/other/dtc

CLAUDE.md

@@ -105,7 +105,45 @@ make PLATFORM=miyoomini build
 
 ### Available Platforms
 
-Active platforms (as of most recent): miyoomini, trimuismart, rg35xx, rg35xxplus, my355, tg5040, zero28, rgb30, m17, gkdpixel, my282, magicmini
+Active platforms (as of most recent): miyoomini, trimuismart, rg35xx, rg35xxplus, my355, tg5040, zero28, rgb30, m17, my282, magicmini
+
+### Pak Template System
+
+LessUI uses **two systems** for generating platform-specific `.pak` directories:
+
+**1. MinArch Paks** (`skeleton/TEMPLATES/minarch-paks/`) - Template-based for libretro cores:
+- `platforms.json` - Platform metadata (nice prefix, default settings)
+- `cores.json` - Core definitions (8 stock + 11 extra cores)
+- `launch.sh.template` - Shared launch script template
+- `configs/` - Config templates (19 configs generate 228 paks across platforms)
+
+**2. Direct Paks** (`skeleton/TEMPLATES/paks/`) - Copied as-is for special cases:
+- PAK.pak - Native application launcher (copied to all platforms)
+
+**Generation:**
+```bash
+# Automatic during build
+make setup  # Generates all paks
+
+# Manual generation
+./scripts/generate-paks.sh all              # All platforms
+./scripts/generate-paks.sh miyoomini        # Specific platform
+./scripts/generate-paks.sh miyoomini GB GBA # Specific cores
+```
+
+**Adding a new emulator core:**
+1. Add to `skeleton/TEMPLATES/minarch-paks/cores.json`
+2. Create `skeleton/TEMPLATES/minarch-paks/configs/<CORE>.cfg`
+3. Run `./scripts/generate-paks.sh all`
+
+**Adding a special pak:**
+1. Create directory in `skeleton/TEMPLATES/paks/<NAME>.pak/`
+2. Add `launch.sh` and any other files
+3. Run `./scripts/generate-paks.sh all` (copied to all platforms)
+
+**Key benefit:** One template → 12 platforms (108 SYSTEM + 132 EXTRAS = 240 total paks)
+
+See `docs/PAK-TEMPLATES.md` for comprehensive documentation.
 
 ## Development Commands
 

SUPPORTED-CORES.md

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+# Supported MinArch Cores
+
+This document lists all libretro cores supported by LessUI, organized by base (stock) and extras packages.
+
+## Base Cores (13 systems)
+
+These cores are included in the standard LessUI distribution:
+
+1. **Arcade (MAME)** - Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator
+2. **CPS-1 (CPS1)** - Capcom Play System 1
+3. **CPS-2 (CPS2)** - Capcom Play System 2
+4. **CPS-3 (CPS3)** - Capcom Play System 3
+5. **Game Boy (GB)** - Nintendo Game Boy
+6. **Game Boy Advance (GBA)** - Nintendo Game Boy Advance
+7. **Game Boy Color (GBC)** - Nintendo Game Boy Color
+8. **Native Games (PAK)** - Native application launcher
+9. **Neo Geo (FBN)** - SNK Neo Geo (FinalBurn Neo)
+10. **Nintendo Entertainment System (FC)** - NES/Famicom
+11. **Sega Genesis (MD)** - Sega Mega Drive/Genesis
+12. **Sony PlayStation (PS)** - Sony PlayStation 1
+13. **Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SFC)** - SNES/Super Famicom
+
+## Extras Cores (34 systems)
+
+These cores are available as optional downloads:
+
+1. **Atari 2600 (A2600)** - Atari 2600
+2. **Atari 5200 (A5200)** - Atari 5200
+3. **Atari 7800 (A7800)** - Atari 7800
+4. **Atari Lynx (LYNX)** - Atari Lynx handheld
+5. **ColecoVision (COLECO)** - ColecoVision
+6. **Commodore 128 (C128)** - Commodore 128
+7. **Commodore 64 (C64)** - Commodore 64
+8. **Commodore PET (PET)** - Commodore PET
+9. **Commodore Plus 4 (PLUS4)** - Commodore Plus/4
+10. **Commodore VIC-20 (VIC)** - Commodore VIC-20
+11. **Dreamcast (DC)** - Sega Dreamcast
+12. **Famicom Disk System (FDS)** - Famicom Disk System
+13. **Game Boy Advance (MGBA)** - mGBA core (alternative GBA emulator)
+14. **MSX (MSX)** - MSX computer
+15. **Neo Geo Pocket (NGP)** - SNK Neo Geo Pocket
+16. **Neo Geo Pocket Color (NGPC)** - SNK Neo Geo Pocket Color
+17. **Nintendo 64 (N64)** - Nintendo 64
+18. **Nintendo DS (NDS)** - Nintendo DS
+19. **PC Engine SuperGrafx (SGX)** - NEC SuperGrafx
+20. **Pico-8 (P8)** - PICO-8 fantasy console
+21. **Pokémon mini (PKM)** - Pokémon mini
+22. **PSP (PSP)** - PlayStation Portable
+23. **ScummVM (SCUMM)** - SCUMM adventure game engine
+24. **Sega 32X (32X)** - Sega 32X
+25. **Sega CD (SEGACD)** - Sega CD/Mega CD
+26. **Sega Game Gear (GG)** - Sega Game Gear
+27. **Sega Master System (SMS)** - Sega Master System
+28. **Sega SG-1000 (SG1000)** - Sega SG-1000
+29. **Super Game Boy (SGB)** - Super Game Boy
+30. **Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SUPA)** - Snes9x 2005 Plus core
+31. **TurboGrafx-16 (PCE)** - NEC TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine
+32. **Vectrex (VEC)** - Vectrex
+33. **Virtual Boy (VB)** - Nintendo Virtual Boy
+34. **ZX Spectrum (ZXS)** - Sinclair ZX Spectrum
+
+## Total: 47 Systems
+
+- **Base:** 13 systems (including PAK native launcher)
+- **Extras:** 34 systems
+- **Total:** 47 supported systems
+
+## Notes
+
+- ROM folder names are shown with their display names and internal codes (e.g., "Game Boy (GB)")
+- The internal code in parentheses corresponds to the pak file names in the system
+- Some systems have multiple cores available (e.g., GBA has both standard and MGBA cores)
+- PAK is not a traditional emulator core but a native application launcher for LessUI

docs/ARCHITECTURE.md

@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ See [PAKS.md](PAKS.md) for complete pak development guide.
 
 LessUI supports devices from 320x240 to 1280x720 using a scale factor:
 
-- **1x**: 320x240 devices (trimuismart, gkdpixel)
+- **1x**: 320x240 devices (trimuismart)
 - **2x**: 640x480 devices (most platforms)
 - **3x**: 960x720 devices (tg5040 brick)
 - **4x**: 1280x960+ devices (future)

docs/DEVELOPMENT.md

@@ -24,7 +24,9 @@ Build for one platform:
 make PLATFORM=miyoomini
 ```
 
-Available platforms: `miyoomini`, `my282`, `my355`, `trimuismart`, `rg35xx`, `rg35xxplus`, `rgb30`, `tg5040`, `m17`, `gkdpixel`, `magicmini`, `zero28`
+Available platforms: `miyoomini`, `my282`, `my355`, `trimuismart`, `rg35xx`, `rg35xxplus`, `rgb30`, `tg5040`, `m17`, `magicmini`, `zero28`
+
+Deprecated platforms: `gkdpixel` (no longer supported)
 
 ### macOS Native Development (Fastest Workflow)