ClrMamePro vs Skraper

ClrMamePro scans and rebuilds MAME machine sets, checking ROM, sample, and CHD files for missing, unnecessary, or incorrectly named files. Its Rebuilder matches input files against a database using hashes and size, then writes correctly named machine files to an output folder. The package includes a graphical interface and a command-line executable with Scanner, Rebuilder, and Dir2Dat functions. The tools can use a MAME executable's listxml or listsoftware export as a data source. They use 7z.dll for 7z archive support and can produce zip, 7z, or decompressed output. A suitable DatFile allows use with systems beyond MAME. There is no install wizard; users unpack the archive into a folder. Current builds run on Windows 7 and higher, while older documentation describes Linux use under WINE or similar. The software is freeware, and the copyright notice identifies Roman Scherzer as its author; he says he started clrmame(pro) in 1997. Incorrect settings or removal operations can cause data loss, so the author recommends backups.

Skraper is a free, non-commercial, non-profit application that adds metadata and media to retro-gaming software. It uses the community-fed ScreenScraper.fr database for artwork, screenshots, flyers, 3D boxes, and verified text information. The site advertises support for more than 200 systems and hundreds of thousands of media items and records. Skraper can provide EmulationStation metadata through Recalbox and RetroPie and fill LaunchBox game lists and images. Listed capabilities include game maps, manuals, Pad-2-Keyboard, Tips & Tricks, archive side-file filtering, and file renaming. A local cache, optimization, and multithreading reduce bandwidth use and increase speed. XML mixes can combine remote and local resources with positioning, resizing, rotation, color filters, and text or image layers. Windows may require .NET Framework 4.8.1. Linux requires the latest mono-complete package, with WINE kept up to date recommended. There is no native macOS build. ScreenScraper.fr anonymously records ROM or game names and checksums, which may be validated and added to its database.