I have a similar use case where I have an SMB / CIFS share already with all my games, and that I’d like to have metadata and media stored at as well. Since in my case it’s unlikely that multiple instances of Launch/Bigbox would be running, I thought I would just put the whole installation on the share. This did not work, however, because of the use of sqlite.

So I’m in favor of the concept of making Launchbox LAN-aware, or for there to be something like a client-server model. But, perhaps as a starting point, supporting the use of a database server like postgresql would be a good start. I think it would go a long way for me, at least.

I am very interested in some of this functionality. currently I mount platform folders located on my NAS to computers and devices (i have some description in my last couple of posts here

https://forums.launchbox-app.com/topic/74986-romm-rom-manager-support/#comment-466778)

this allows local installed instances of launchbox to all share a library, however each one has a duplicate of metadata and media. I personally don’t care much about the parental controls (i’m the main user and my only usecase for multi-user is to separate saves, playlists, etc). Currently mounting folders is a very manual process; i’ve taken a look at the “Platforms.xml” and considered how i could automate some of this, but the few times i tried were impacted by the lack of client side caching (archive cache manager handles the roms, but i have not solved for media which can cause hitches on large libraries).

As an aside I have been very happy with launchbox as a client front end but as the number of devices i use have grown (mini-pc, SBC handhelds, Mister, etc) i am spending more and more time reconciling differences between launchbox and RomM. There are several efforts on the RomM side to pull in metadata and media from launchbox libraries (the 4.8 alpha just introduced this), but currently no way to pull that back into launchbox. I would personally benefit from deeper integration with RomM, however i do acknowledge this is beyond the scope of the request. I only mention it here as RomM is opensource and it could provide a possible solution for the “Central Launchbox Instance”.

Edit; looks like there was a recent release of a plugin that offers some of the functionality I am personally looking for;

https://github.com/phscezario/launchbox-romm-plugin

NAT / local LAN Awareness and support

I’m a family 5 soon to be 7 and I have multiple computers around the house in various forms from laptops to desktops and tablets (*Windows and Android)

I’m looking to have / provide launch box as a networked server/data center with instances that then talk back to the server for game information.

I would compare this request to what “Family Share” (Features now migrated to “Family Management”) on steam is like and but in this case provides a Local Network (LAN Only) Family style sharing of games, roms and data.

My PAS (Problem, Assessment, Solution) Analysis of this issue is this.

Problem:

With multiple family computers and attempting to managing various ranges of age appropriate and content appropriate games and data for my family. i”m attempting to manage 5 different libraries on various different computers.
If I’m updating my 6 year olds content that content should also be available my 10 year old. but not to my 3 year old.

if i”m updating my 3 year old’s content that should be avalable to everyone.

if I’m updating Parent only content that should be available to no one but me.

Assessment:

There are various ways to address the problem and currently the simplest way is to Copy data files between computers but only update for the most restrictive. (3 year old) then externally make available requested games for the elder kids.