Data & API - RetroBIOS¶
RetroBIOS publishes the same metadata used by its verifier, pack builder and website as versioned static files. No account or API key is required.
Stable JSON endpoints¶
| Dataset | Endpoint | Schema | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Content database | api/v1/database.json |
JSON Schema | 23.7 MB |
| Platform contracts | api/v1/platforms.json |
JSON Schema | 2.5 MB |
| Emulator profiles | api/v1/emulators.json |
JSON Schema | 5.1 MB |
| Verification and coverage gaps | api/v1/gaps.json |
JSON Schema | 1.6 MB |
| Project statistics | api/v1/stats.json |
JSON Schema | 572 B |
Every JSON document carries schema_version. Breaking changes use a new URL prefix (/api/v2/); fields may only be added compatibly within v1.
Bulk downloads¶
| Export | Format | Size | SHA256 |
|---|---|---|---|
| File hashes CSV | text/csv |
4.2 MB | 1e7c85aaff06f3f9161e8d143f9a00577cfc15f3013695e913c9318c9dd6b511 |
| Platform declarations CSV | text/csv |
711.2 KB | 8f339aa987679867090e2f08c5fa8e57eaf553ff4678b924fba6d6ce4c517111 |
| Cross-reference CSV | text/csv |
1.8 MB | 9ac48f9b53670c9b92a4b963495b583472ae317be3c2d3a7619a5848fb6451f0 |
| Verification and coverage gaps CSV | text/csv |
795.7 KB | 0135f4f58985348faf5b990abae22c8778ecd03abc29dc7cb8928ddab068d53b |
| SQLite snapshot | application/vnd.sqlite3 |
16.7 MB | c4135d41dd2c57f88695f1ea2e9621c9d0fdfa74992a0573a96b4dc91d38d428 |
The SQLite file contains indexed tables for content hashes, provenance catalog matches, platform declarations, emulator profiles and current gaps. It contains metadata only, never BIOS or firmware bytes.
The gaps dataset carries both layers behind one layer column: platform rows are anomalies against a platform's own BIOS list, emulator rows are files a profiled core loads that no platform declares. The two answer different questions and are not comparable totals.
Semantics and limits¶
Treat four questions separately: content identity (hashes), presence in the collection, acceptance by a specific emulator, and catalog provenance. One does not imply the others. In particular, presence, a matching dump catalog, or emulator compatibility is not a statement about copyright, ownership, or redistribution rights.
The data can be newer than the latest published pack; pack publication is manual and only occurs after all release gates pass.
See the data model, verification modes, and methodology before interpreting aggregate counts.