How-To Install WRP on DreamPi - Dreamcast web browsers on the modern web.

[deluxux]

https://github.com/tenox7/wrp/

A browser-in-browser "proxy" server that allows to use historical / vintage web browsers on the modern web. It works by rendering a web page in to a GIF or PNG image with clickable imagemap.
I suggest setting up SSH so you can copy/paste this right in save yourself lots of time.
https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentati ... ccess/ssh/

First thing to do is "Expand The Filesystem" So we can have the full space of our SD card.

Code: Select all

sudo raspi-config

Pick Option 7 - Advanced Options
Pick Option 1 - Expand File System
Tab over to the Finish button and Reboot.

Next thing to do is update our Pi to the latest softwares.

Code: Select all

sudo apt update

Code: Select all

sudo apt upgrade

Now we are going to install the parts needed for a Graphical Desktop and the Chromium Web Browser

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get install xinit xserver-xorg raspberrypi-ui-mods chromium-browser

Now to download the WRP software

Code: Select all

wget https://github.com/tenox7/wrp/releases/download/4.5.1/wrp-arm-linux

Change it to be allowed to run as a program

Code: Select all

chmod +x wrp-arm-linux

Next edit the /etc/rc.local file with nano so this runs on boot of the Pi

Code: Select all

sudo nano /etc/rc.local

Add this line in under the other stuff but before the "exit 0"

Code: Select all

/home/pi/wrp-arm-linux -t png -g 640x480x32 &

Just have an empty line before and after the added line, my file looks like this

Code: Select all

# Print the IP address
_IP=$(hostname -I) || true
if [ "$_IP" ]; then
  printf "My IP address is %s\n" "$_IP"
fi

/home/pi/wrp-arm-linux -t png -g 640x480x32 &

exit 0

Press CTRL+X to exit, Press Y to save changes.

Reboot the Pi

Code: Select all

sudo reboot -n

Now learn what the IP of the Pi is write it down,

Code: Select all

hostname -I

For me its 192.168.1.226
So in my WebBrowser I go to http://192.168.1.226:8080

Thanks to mrneo240 for Telling me about this!
Not only do you have a nice new way to websurf on the Dreamcast the DreamPi is now ready for desktop use as well. (type in startx to launch the desktop)

[Anthony817]

A whole new world of possibilities is open to us from our Dreamcast! This does everything I ever hoped HTML-5 would be able to open up and allow on the Dreamcast many years ago! Nice to see the modern web can now be viewed on the Dreamcast! Obviously no YouTube streaming with it, but damn! Nice work to all involved!

[mrneo240]

Great guide!

[louis012345678]

I saw this on reddit earlier and tried it out with netscape navigator on pc. It works really well although I'm not sure how I'll get it working on a Dreamcast since I'm using the Virutalbox PC-DC method rather than a Raspberry Pi and it uses a really old version of Ubuntu...

[deluxux]

Doesn't have to be on the Pi.. What IP/URL did you type in Netscape Navigator? As long as its the same network as the Dreamcast it should work.

[WedgeStratos]

This is fantastic! I actually was using a similar project already, Browservice, but determined the Dreamcast was still not quite able to run it. I presume it's because Browservice actually uses some Javascript that's out of range for the Dreamcast browsers. I guess I have another one to try. I bet my brother's PowerMac 7700 will be able to connect online.

[MrBlueSky]

Thank you deluxux for this great guide and mrneo240 for the crazy discovery. Can't wait to try this out !

[louis012345678]

Doesn't have to be on the Pi.. What IP/URL did you type in Netscape Navigator? As long as its the same network as the Dreamcast it should work.

Nope. For some reason it only works on my PC. If I type the same ip into my phone or even virtualbox it just times out. I'm wondering if it's because my PC is connected to ethernet as there is a chance it runs on a separate network to the WiFi (I'm using university Internet so this is a possibility). If that's the case I'm screwed then since my PC doesn't have WiFi...

[mrneo240]

Could be some firewall things or something of the sort

[Rolly]

.