inconsole-runtime

inconsole-runtime is a lightweight launcher and runtime shell for InConsole devices. It runs as a kiosk interface on tty0, renders UI via SDL, and provides core scenes such as launcher, first-run setup, settings, diagnostics, system info, file manager, and power-off.

Key Features

• Kiosk UI on tty0 with scene management and transition effects.
• Built-in settings for brightness, volume, language, theme, and animations.
• Diagnostics with battery status reporting.
• File manager and system information views.
• Application discovery in /userdata/apps using app.json manifests.
• Optional input bridge inconsole-input-bridge for mapping controller input to keyboard events (e.g., DOOM).

Repository Layout

• src/ – C++ runtime sources and the input bridge.
• assets/ – system assets (e.g., runtime icons).
• userdata/ – default user data, apps, and language packs.
• inconsole-runtime.mk, Config.in – Buildroot package integration.

Buildroot Integration

This project is provided as a local Buildroot package.

Dependencies:

• sdl
• freetype
• libpng
• dejavu

Enable the package:

• BR2_PACKAGE_INCONSOLE_RUNTIME

Buildroot produces two binaries:

• inconsole-runtime
• inconsole-input-bridge

and installs data into:

• /usr/share/inconsole/system-icons
• /usr/share/inconsole/default-apps
• /userdata (copied from userdata/ in the repository)

Data Root and Configuration

The default data root is /userdata and can be overridden via INCONSOLE_DATA_ROOT.

Key files:

• /userdata/system/settings.json – user settings (language, brightness, etc.).
• /userdata/system/profile.json – profile and PIN configuration.
• /userdata/system/languages/*.json – UI translations.
• /userdata/system/logs/runtime-core.log – critical runtime logs.
• /userdata/system/postscript.sh and undo_postscript.sh – scripts used during first-run and reset flows.
• /userdata/system/reset-remove.list – paths removed during factory reset.

Applications (/userdata/apps)

Each application has its own directory with an app.json manifest. Example: userdata/apps/doom/.

Common fields:

• id, name, description – UI metadata (supports PL|EN variants).
• icon – app-local icon path.
• exec, args – launch command and arguments.
• category, order – launcher categorization and ordering.
• exclusive_runtime – runs the app in exclusive mode to free launcher memory.

Environment Variables

• INCONSOLE_DATA_ROOT – data root (/userdata).
• INCONSOLE_FORCE_FIRST_LOGIN – forces first-run scene.
• INCONSOLE_TARGET_FPS – target FPS for the render loop.
• INCONSOLE_SCENE_FADE_MS – scene fade duration (60–600 ms).
• INCONSOLE_SCENE_FADE_ALPHA – scene fade intensity (40–220).
• INCONSOLE_LAYOUT_GUARD – enables additional layout validation.
• INCONSOLE_SYSTEM_ICONS – system icons directory (default /usr/share/inconsole/system-icons).
• INCONSOLE_FULLSCREEN – forces SDL fullscreen.
• INCONSOLE_FORCE_SOFTWARE_RENDERER / INCONSOLE_LOW_MEM – low-memory rendering mode.
• INCONSOLE_CACHE_TEXT_MB, INCONSOLE_CACHE_ICON_MB, INCONSOLE_CACHE_ICON_SCALED_MB, INCONSOLE_CACHE_STYLE_MB – cache budgets.
• INCONSOLE_CACHE_WIDTH_ITEMS, INCONSOLE_CACHE_DEBUG – text width cache tuning.

Diagnostics and Recovery

On fatal errors, the runtime writes a log to: /userdata/system/logs/runtime-core.log

and switches to recovery mode with a message on tty0.

inconsole-input-bridge

Creates a virtual keyboard via uinput and maps evdev controller input (D-Pad/axes/buttons) to keyboard keys. Useful for applications that require keyboard input.

If the bridge is launched with INCONSOLE_EXIT_PID, holding START + SELECT sends SIGTERM to that process so games and emulators can return to the launcher without relying on in-game menus.