SMWC Downloader & Patcher v4.8

SMWC Downloader & Patcher v4.8

🆕 New Features

• Emulator Integration: Launch ROMs directly from your Collection with one click. Supports RetroArch, Snes9x, bsnes, custom command-line arguments, and works across Windows, macOS (.app bundles), and Linux.
• Live Difficulty Sync + Migration: The app now fetches the latest SMWC difficulty categories on startup and detects when names change. A simple UI lets you apply migrations, updating folders and file paths. Cached for offline use.

If you encounter an error during the update process, it’s usually caused by an antivirus or firewall blocking the application. Allow the app through your security settings and retry the update. You can also manually download the latest release from GitHub and replace your SMWC Downloader.exe file — no other files need to be updated.

As always, if you run into a bug or have a feature request, feel free to reach out in the Discord. Thanks for your continued support!

SMWC Downloader v4.7

SMWC Downloader & Patcher v4.7

Enhancements:

• Enhanced Download Selection: Click anywhere on a search result row to select/deselect hacks for download
• Improved Filter Layout: Responsive filter sections work better when window is maximized
• Clearer Filter Controls: Renamed "Search Criteria" to "Show/Hide Filters" for better clarity

If you encounter an error during the update process, it's usually caused by an antivirus or firewall blocking the application. You can resolve this by allowing the app through your security settings and retrying the update. Alternatively, you can manually download the latest release from GitHub and replace your SMWC Downloader.exe file — no need to update or replace any other files.

As always, if you encounter a bug or have a feature you'd love to see added, feel free to reach out in the Discord. Thanks for your continued support!

SMWC Downloader v4.6

SMWC Downloader & Patcher v4.6

Bug Fixes:

• Time Parsing Accuracy: Fixed bug where time inputs like "27m 22s" were incorrectly parsed as "2h 7m 22s"
• Input Format Reliability: Improved regex pattern matching order to handle all time formats correctly

If you encounter an error during the update process, it's usually caused by an antivirus or firewall blocking the application. You can resolve this by allowing the app through your security settings and retrying the update. Alternatively, you can manually download the latest release from GitHub and replace your SMWC Downloader.exe file — no need to update any other files.

As always, if you encounter a bug or have a feature you'd love to see added, feel free to reach out in the Discord. Thanks for your continued support!

SMWC Downloader v4.5

Release: SMWC Downloader & Patcher v4.5

Features:

• Download page will show previously downloaded hacks in italic with muted colors for easier identification.
• New checkbox filter added to the Download page to hide already downloaded hacks, streamlining discovery.
• Download pages search results now load progressively—view entries as they're retrieved instead of waiting for the full set.
• Download page now includes as "Downloads" column so now you can sort by the # of downloads a hack has.
• History page has been renamed to Collection to better reflect its purpose.
• New Author(s) filter added to Collections page; you can now search by Author(s) throughout your collection.
• The Dashboard and Collection pages now refresh automatically on open to ensure the latest data is shown.

Bugs:

• Many miscellaneous bug fixes and performance improvements.

Downloads Available:

• Windows: SMWC-Downloader-v4.5-Windows-x64.zip
• macOS: SMWC-Downloader-v4.5-macOS-Universal.dmg
• Linux: SMWC-Downloader-v4.5-Linux-x64.tar.gz

As always, if you encounter a bug or have a feature you'd love to see added, feel free to reach out in the Discord. Thanks for your continued support!

SMWC Downloader v4.4

SMWC Downloader & Patcher v4.4

New Features:

• Cross-Platform Support: Full compatibility with Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Download State Management: History tab is now locked during active downloads to prevent data corruption
• Enhanced Dashboard Analytics: Improved accuracy and data tracking for collection metrics

SMWC Downloader v4.3

🚀 What's New in SMWC Downloader v4.3

• Easily hide outdated or obsolete hacks using the new Obsolete Records filter on the History page—keep your collection clean and focused.
• Download page controls have been reorganized for a smoother browsing experience, including repositioned Search, Select All, and Deselect All buttons.
• History page now loads more efficiently when working with large collections and obsolete entries.

SMWC Downloader v4.2

SMWC Downloader v4.2 – More Control, Smoother Experience

You can now manually add, edit, or remove hacks—even ones you've played outside the app. No ROM needed. Your history view has been upgraded to combine everything in one place, making your library easier to manage.

Other improvements:

• Inline editing for smoother updates
• Smart duplicate detection
• Faster performance and better layout polish
• Press Enter to run searches instantly
• General cleanup and quality-of-life fixes

This update is all about control, speed, and simplicity. Your hack collection just got a whole lot smarter.

SMWC Downloader v4.1

🎉 SMWCentral Downloader & Patcher v4.1

What's New?

✨ Automatic Updates

• Never miss an update again! The app now automatically checks for new versions when you start it
• One-click updates - Just click "Update Now" and we'll handle the rest
• Lightning-fast restarts - Updates complete in seconds, not minutes
• 100% safe - Your settings and downloaded hacks are always protected during updates

🔍 Better Search Experience

• Collapsible search filters - Click "Search Criteria" to hide filters and see more results at once
• Smart layout - The results table automatically expands when you collapse the search options
• Perfect for smaller screens - Works great on laptops and smaller displays

🎯 Improved User Interface

• Always-visible download button - No more hunting for the download button on smaller screens
• Cleaner layout - Simplified design that's easier to navigate
• Better space usage - Every pixel counts, especially on compact displays

🔧 Under the Hood

• Faster startup - App launches quicker than ever
• More reliable - Improved stability and error handling
• Smarter organization - Better file management and duplicate detection

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Why Update?
This release focuses on making your experience smoother and more convenient. The automatic update system means you'll always have the latest features and improvements without any hassle. The improved interface gives you more room to browse and select hacks, while the enhanced reliability ensures everything works perfectly.

How to Update:
If you're seeing this message in the app, just click "Update Now" and we'll take care of everything! If you're downloading manually, simply run the new version - all your settings and downloaded hacks will be preserved.

Questions?
Check the Settings page for update options, or visit our GitHub page for more information.

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Supported platforms: Windows 10/11

SMWC Downloader v4.0

🚀 SMWC Downloader & Patcher v4.0.0

A comprehensive desktop application for discovering, downloading, patching, and organizing Super Mario World hacks from SMWCentral.net. This version introduces an all-new Download page with advanced filters, robust data management, and visual insights into your collection—perfect for everyone from casual players to hardcore Kaizo enthusiasts.

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🚀 User Setup Guide

Step 1: Download & Install

1. Download the latest release from the releases page
2. Extract all files to a folder of your choice (e.g., C:\SMWCentral Downloader\)
3. Run SMWC Downloader.exe to start the application

Step 2: First-Time Configuration

1. Navigate to Settings (click the Settings tab at the top)
2. Set Base ROM Path:
   • Click "Browse" next to "Base ROM Path"
   • Select your clean Super Mario World ROM file (.smc or .sfc)
   • ⚠️ Important: Use an unmodified, original SMW ROM
3. Set Output Directory:
   • Click "Browse" next to "Output Directory"
   • Choose where you want your patched hacks to be saved
   • The app will create organized folders automatically

Step 3: Start Using

1. Go to Download page to search and download individual hacks
2. Use Dashboard to view your collection statistics
3. Check History to manage your downloaded hacks
4. Explore Settings for additional customization options

Quick Tips

• 💡 Use filters on the Download page to find hacks by difficulty, type, or features
• 💡 The app automatically organizes hacks into folders by type and difficulty
• 💡 Toggle between light/dark themes using the moon icon in the top navigation
• 💡 Use Ctrl+L to quickly clear the log output

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🌟 New in v4.0.0

🔍 Individual Hack Download Page

• Browse thousands of hacks by difficulty, type, author, completion status, and more
• Detailed previews with screenshots, ratings, and metadata
• Advanced filtering and search capabilities with responsive UI updates

📥 Smarter Download Workflow

• Supports bulk downloads with multi-threading and cancel/resume controls
• Automatically avoids duplicate downloads
• Detects obsolete patches and ensures version consistency

🧩 Multi-Type & Difficulty Sorting

• Organizes hacks by both type (Standard, Kaizo, Puzzle, Tool-Assisted, Pit) and difficulty
• Adds a 08-No Difficulty category for hacks with no defined challenge level

🧠 Collection Dashboard

• Track your download count, completion status, type distribution, and personal ratings
• Visual metrics to understand your SMWCentral journey at a glance

📚 History Management

• View and manage your full hack history with inline editing
• Real-time filters, advanced sorting, and bulk metadata updates
• Export collection stats to JSON for backups or analysis

⚙️ Configurable Settings

• Customize base ROM path, output directory, download delay, and concurrency
• Toggle light/dark themes and adjust UI personalization
• Choose per-type download organization structure

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🧪 Technical Overview

Component	Details
OS Support	Windows 10 or newer
Patch Formats	.bps and .ips inside .zip from SMWCentral
Output Formats	Patched .smc/.sfc files ready to play
Base ROM	Requires clean Super Mario World ROM
Database System	JSON-backed metadata via processed.json
Key Config Files	config.json for settings, processed.json for tracking

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🧾 v4.0.0 Changelog

• ✅ Added Individual Download Page with advanced filters
• ✅ Integrated Multi-Type download support with structured folders
• ✅ Introduced Dashboard for analytics and insights
• ✨ Improved History page with inline editing, filtering, and export
• ✨ Refined Settings panel with thread count and download delays
• 🐞 Fixed various stability, UI responsiveness, and patching bugs

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This release represents a full modernization of the SMWC Downloader & Patcher—boosting clarity, reliability, and customization while preserving the simplicity fans love. 🎮

SMWC Downloader v3.1

📦 SMWC Downloader & Patcher – v3.1 Release Notes

🎉 Major New Additions:

• 🏠 A brand-new Dashboard Page that visualizes your hack history with charts, filters, and stats — track completion rates, ratings, streaks, and more!
• ⏱️ You can now record playtime per hack with hour/minute/second precision using the new time_to_beat field

📁 Hack History Upgrades:

• ✍️ Editable fields now include playtime, notes, completion status, date, and star rating
• 📊 Data now includes Exits (mapped from SMWC’s length) and Authors (stored as an array)
• 🔄 Metadata from SMWC API now auto-updates (e.g. Hall of Fame status changes)

🚀 Bulk Downloader Enhancements:

• 🛑 Added a Cancel button to instantly stop the download process — great for avoiding mistakes from filters or selections

🔧 Under-the-Hood Improvements:

• 🧠 Smart data migration from older versions with automatic backups
• 🔐 File paths removed for privacy; improved Unicode filename support
• 🎨 Enhanced layout spacing, validation logic, and theme consistency

💡 Tip: To fully enjoy the Dashboard, don’t forget to enter completion time for your hacks in Hack History!

For full details, screenshots, and instructions, check out the v3.1 README