OptiScaler GUI 🎮🚀

Feature	Status
📦 Portable Version	✅ v0.3.6
🎮 Steam Auto-Detection	✅ Full
🎮 Epic Games Auto-Detection	✅ Full
� GOG Galaxy Auto-Detection	✅ Full
� Xbox Game Pass Auto-Detection	✅ Full
� Manual Path Selection	✅ All Platforms
🚀 FSR / DLSS / XeSS	✅ All 3
🐍 Python Runtime	✅ Bundled
🌍 Multi-language UI	✅ DA / EN / PL

An easy-to-use installer and manager for OptiScaler - helps you install the graphics enhancement mod with just a few clicks!

🤔 What is this project?

📸 GUI Preview

Coming soon: Animated GIF showing the interface in action

Quick Visual Guide:

1. 🔍 Scan Games → Automatically detects Steam library
2. 🎯 Select Game → Choose from detected games list
3. 📦 Pick Version → Latest OptiScaler recommended
4. ⚡ One Click Install → GUI handles everything!
5. 🎮 Launch & Play → Enhanced graphics ready!

How OptiScaler and OptiScaler-GUI Work Together

These are NOT competing tools - they work together!

🎮 OptiScaler (the main project):

• Graphics enhancement mod that improves game performance
• Provides in-game overlay (Insert key) for runtime settings
• Adjust FSR/DLSS/XeSS settings while playing
• Configure upscaling in real-time

🛠️ OptiScaler-GUI (this installer):

• Makes installing OptiScaler easier for everyone
• Automatically downloads latest OptiScaler releases
• Detects your games and installs OptiScaler for you
• Manages OptiScaler across multiple games

Simple workflow: Use this GUI to install OptiScaler → Then use OptiScaler's in-game overlay to adjust settings

What this GUI does

• Installs OptiScaler into your games (replaces manual file copying)
• Downloads latest OptiScaler releases automatically
• Detects Steam games and suggests installation targets
• Manages OptiScaler versions across multiple games
• Provides user-friendly installation for non-technical users

What this GUI does NOT do

• ❌ Replace OptiScaler's built-in overlay
• ❌ Change in-game upscaling settings
• ❌ Modify OptiScaler's core functionality
• ❌ Work without the official OptiScaler files

Think of it as: A desktop installer/manager, like how Steam manages game installations.

Version: 0.3.6 | Status: Release | 🚀 Release: v0.3.6

🆕 What's New in v0.3.5

📦 Ultra-Compact Portable Version - 66% Smaller!

• 🎯 Download & Run: Get the portable ZIP, extract, and run - no Python installation needed!
• 📋 Complete Package: All dependencies bundled including Python runtime and 7z.exe
• 🔧 Self-Contained: Works on any Windows system without additional software
• 💿 Size: ~48 MB portable package (down from 143 MB - 66% smaller!)

🚀 Download Options

🎯 For End Users (Recommended)

📥 Download Portable Version v0.3.6

Package Type	Size	Checksum	Notes
📦 Portable ZIP	~48 MB	See release page	No installation required - 66% smaller!
🛠️ Future: .EXE Installer	TBD	Coming soon	Auto-install + shortcuts

Features:

• ✅ No Python installation required
• ✅ No dependencies to install
• ✅ Just download, extract, and run!
• ✅ Bundled 7z.exe for archive extraction
• ✅ Includes Python runtime (3.8+)

🛠️ For Developers

• Clone repository and run from source (see Development section below)

✨ What is OptiScaler GUI?

This is an INSTALLATION MANAGER for OptiScaler - not a replacement for its built-in features!

🔧 Technical Architecture

What happens when you use this GUI:

1. Download Process:

   • Fetches latest OptiScaler releases from official GitHub
   • Downloads .7z archives (e.g., OptiScaler_v0.7.7-pre9_Daria.7z)
   • Extracts using system 7z.exe preferred (fastest), falling back to py7zr or Python zipfile

2. Installation Process:

   • Copies OptiScaler.dll to your game directory
   • Renames it to appropriate proxy DLL (dxgi.dll, nvngx.dll, etc.)
   • Copies additional files (OptiScaler.ini, FSR/XeSS libraries)
   • Creates basic configuration for your game

3. Integration:

   • OptiScaler becomes active when you launch the game
   • Use Insert key in-game to access OptiScaler's built-in overlay
   • All runtime configuration happens through OptiScaler's native UI

Technology Stack:

• Language: Python 3.8+ with Tkinter GUI
• Architecture: Desktop application (not web-based)
• Distribution: PyInstaller portable executable
• File Handling: 7z.exe + py7zr + zipfile fallbacks
• Game Detection: Steam registry scanning + manual path selection
• OptiScaler Integration: File-based installation (no API/injection)

🎯 Key Features

• 🔍 Automatic Game Detection: Scans Steam library and detects installed games

🔎 Windows Library Discovery & Scanning Improvements

We recently added a major improvement to how the GUI detects library roots and installed games on Windows:

• PowerShell PoC: When PowerShell (pwsh / powershell) is present and enabled in the GUI settings, the application will run a small PoC pipeline (Get-InstalledPrograms | Get-DetectedLaunchers | Get-ActiveDrives | Find-GameLibraries) to enumerate installed launchers and discover game library folders quickly and safely.
• Pure-Python Fallback: If PowerShell is unavailable or disabled, the GUI falls back to a pure-Python discovery algorithm that probes:
  • the Windows Uninstall registry keys,
  • WinRT Appx package install locations (if winrt available),
  • a drive scan for common library folder names (Steam/Epic/GOG), and
  • Steam's libraryfolders.vdf (parsed via vdf, JSON, or a custom KV fallback parser).
• Path Normalization & De-duplication: Paths returned by multiple sources are normalized and de-duplicated (case-insensitively on Windows) but the original display path is preserved for UI display.
• Caching & TTL: Discovered library roots are cached in cache/library_discovery.json for a configurable TTL. This avoids re-enumeration on each run and improves responsiveness.
• UI Experience Improvements:
  • Rescan button: manually refresh discovered libraries.
  • Clear discovery cache button: forces re-discovery regardless of TTL.
  • Scanning summary label: shows Scanned X libraries with a breakdown and scan duration in the UI.
• Safety: Registry and Appx enumerations are shallow-only (no deep recursive scanning) and there is an Excluded drives config option to avoid scanning specified drives.

These improvements make the auto-detection more robust, safer, and faster for Windows users while still offering reliable behavior on systems where PowerShell is not available.

• 📦 One-Click Installation: Download and install OptiScaler with a single click
• 🔧 Intelligent Configuration: Smart setup for AMD FSR, Intel XeSS, and NVIDIA DLSS
• 🛡️ Robust Architecture: Multi-tier fallback systems for maximum compatibility
• 🌐 Complete Portable Support: Bundled 7z.exe and all dependencies included
• 🎮 Unreal Engine Support: Enhanced detection for UE games (Engine/Binaries/Win64)
• 💾 Backup & Restore: Safe installation with automatic backup of original files
• 📊 Real-Time Progress: Visual feedback during downloads and installations
• 🔄 Update Management: Automatic checking for latest OptiScaler releases
• 🌍 Multi-Language: Support for Danish, English, and Polish

🎮 What is OptiScaler?

OptiScaler is a DirectX proxy DLL that enables:

• AMD FSR 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 - FidelityFX Super Resolution
• Intel XeSS - Xe Super Sampling
• NVIDIA DLSS - Deep Learning Super Sampling

This GUI makes OptiScaler installation accessible to everyone - no more manual file copying or configuration editing!

🔄 Workflow: Before vs After

Manual Installation (Before)

1. Download OptiScaler .7z from GitHub releases
2. Extract archive using 7-Zip
3. Navigate to game installation directory
4. Manually copy OptiScaler.dll
5. Rename it to correct proxy DLL name
6. Copy additional FSR/XeSS libraries
7. Create/edit OptiScaler.ini configuration
8. Test game launch and troubleshoot issues

Time: 10-15 minutes per game + troubleshooting

GUI Installation (After)

1. Launch OptiScaler-GUI.exe
2. Click "Scan for Games"
3. Select game from detected list
4. Click "Install OptiScaler"
5. Launch game and use Insert key for OptiScaler overlay

Time: 30 seconds per game

🚀 Quick Start

🎯 Option 1: Portable Version (Recommended for Users)

1. 📥 Download the Portable Version
2. Extract the ZIP file to your desired location
3. Run OptiScaler-GUI.exe inside the extracted folder
4. Done! No installation or Python setup required

⚠️ Note: This is a stable release (0.3.6) - test thoroughly before using on important games!

🛠️ Option 2: Development Setup

Prerequisites

• Windows 10/11
• Python 3.8+ (Download Python)
• Steam (for automatic game detection)

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/King4s/OptiScaler-GUI.git
   cd OptiScaler-GUI

2. Install dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

3. Check system requirements (optional):

   python check_requirements.py

4. Launch the GUI:

   python src/main.py

🏃‍♂️ Quick Launch Scripts

For convenience, you can also use:

• start_gui.bat - Direct launch of the GUI
• run_progress_tests.bat - Run system tests

🎯 Usage

For Portable Version Users:

1. Launch OptiScaler-GUI.exe from the extracted folder
2. Scan for games - Automatically detects your Steam library
3. Select a game from the detected list
4. Choose OptiScaler version (latest recommended)
5. Click Install - GUI handles everything automatically!
6. Configure settings for optimal performance
7. Launch your game and enjoy enhanced performance!

Additional Features:

• 📁 Manual Path Selection: Browse for games not automatically detected
• 🌍 Multi-Language Support: Danish, English, Polish (auto-detection)
• 🔄 Auto-Updates: OptiScaler version checking and updates
• 📋 Progress Tracking: Real-time installation progress with detailed logs

🏗️ Architecture Highlights

Robust Multi-Tier Systems

• Archive Extraction: System 7z.exe → py7zr → zipfile fallback
• Installation Methods: Direct install → backup & restore → fallback modes
• Error Handling: Comprehensive error detection and user guidance
• Compatibility: Works on all Windows systems regardless of installed tools

Staying Updated with OptiScaler

This project tracks the official OptiScaler releases. To check for updates to the main project:

git fetch upstream
git log --oneline upstream/master --since="1 week ago"

🛠️ Development

Project Structure

OptiScaler-GUI/
├── src/
│   ├── gui/              # User interface components
│   ├── optiscaler/       # OptiScaler management
│   ├── scanner/          # Game detection system
│   ├── utils/            # Utility functions
│   └── translations/     # Multi-language support
├── cache/                # Downloaded files and cache
├── assets/               # GUI assets and icons
└── tests/                # Test suite

Running Tests

# Test core functionality
python test_archive_extractor.py    # Test archive extraction
python test_progress_simple.py      # Test progress systems
python check_requirements.py        # Validate environment

# Run comprehensive tests
./run_progress_tests.bat            # Full test suite

Building Portable Version

# Build executable with PyInstaller
python build.py                     # Creates portable .exe in dist/

📦 Release Information

Current Version: 0.3.6 (Release)

• Portable Version Available: Self-contained executable with all dependencies
• Size: ~48 MB (includes Python runtime and all libraries - 66% size reduction!)
• Compatibility: Windows 10/11, no Python installation required

🔄 OptiScaler Version Compatibility

GUI Version	Compatible OptiScaler Versions	Status
v0.3.6	v0.7.0 - v0.7.9	✅ Current
v0.3.0	v0.7.0 - v0.7.7-pre9	🟡 Legacy
v0.2.0	v0.6.0 - v0.7.0	🟡 Legacy
v0.1.0	v0.5.0 - v0.6.5	❌ Deprecated

🔧 Supported Installation Methods

• Proxy DLL Installation: dxgi.dll, winmm.dll, nvngx.dll
• Direct Installation: OptiScaler.dll placement
• Configuration Management: Automatic OptiScaler.ini generation
• Library Support: FSR, XeSS, and DLSS companion files
• Backup System: Automatic backup before installation

🎮 Tested Game Engines

Engine	Support Level	Notes
Unreal Engine	✅ Full	Enhanced detection for UE4/UE5 games
Unity	✅ Full	Standard proxy DLL installation
Custom Engines	✅ Good	Manual path selection supported
DirectX 11/12	✅ Full	Primary target platform
Vulkan	✅ Good	OptiScaler handles API translation

For full release notes and downloads, visit: GitHub Releases

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How is this different from OptiScaler's built-in overlay?

A: OptiScaler has a built-in overlay (Insert key) for in-game configuration. This GUI is a separate desktop application that helps you install OptiScaler into your games. They serve different purposes:

• OptiScaler overlay: Configure FSR/DLSS settings while playing
• This GUI: Install OptiScaler files into game directories

Q: Is this officially supported by the OptiScaler team?

A: No, this is a community project that makes OptiScaler installation easier. It's not affiliated with or endorsed by the official OptiScaler developers.

Q: Will this interfere with OptiScaler's functionality?

A: No, this GUI only handles installation. Once installed, OptiScaler works exactly as designed - you still use the Insert key for the in-game overlay.

Q: What if I already installed OptiScaler manually?

A: The GUI can detect existing installations and help you update or manage them. It won't break existing setups.

Q: Do I still need to configure OptiScaler settings?

A: Yes! After installation, launch your game and press Insert to access OptiScaler's built-in configuration overlay. This GUI doesn't replace that functionality.

Q: Which OptiScaler versions are supported?

A: Currently supports v0.7.0 through v0.7.7-pre9. The GUI automatically downloads from the official OptiScaler releases.

Q: Can I use this for games not on Steam?

A: Yes! While it auto-detects Steam games, you can manually browse and select any game directory.

🛣️ Project Status & Roadmap

Current Status (v0.3.6)

• ✅ Stable Installation: Reliable OptiScaler installation for most games
• ✅ Ultra-Compact Distribution: 48 MB self-contained executable (66% size reduction)
• ✅ Steam Integration: Automatic game detection from Steam library
• ✅ Multi-Language: Danish, English, and Polish translations
• ✅ Error Recovery: Robust fallback systems for edge cases

Known Limitations

• 🟡 Configuration Limited: Basic INI generation only (use OptiScaler overlay for advanced settings)
• 🟡 Windows Only: No Linux/Mac support (follows OptiScaler platform limitations)
• 🟡 Steam Focused: Epic Games Store and GOG detection not yet implemented
• 🟡 Manual Updates: GUI updates require manual download (no auto-updater)

Planned Features (Future Versions)

• 🔮 Enhanced Game Detection: Epic Games Store, GOG, and custom launcher support
• 🔮 Backup Management: Better backup/restore functionality with versioning
• 🔮 Installation Profiles: Save and reuse installation configurations
• 🔮 OptiScaler INI Editor: Basic configuration editor (complementary to overlay)
• 🔮 Auto-Update System: Automatic GUI updates and OptiScaler tracking

Community Feedback Needed

• 📊 Compatibility Reports: Which games work well vs need fixes?

• 🐛 Bug Reports: Installation failures or edge cases

• 💡 Feature Requests: What would make installation easier?

• 🌍 Language Support: Additional translation requests

• OptiScaler is developed by the talented team at optiscaler/OptiScaler

• This GUI is an independent installation manager created by King4s

• All credit for the actual upscaling technology goes to the OptiScaler team

• For OptiScaler support, issues, or questions, please visit the official repository

Relationship to OptiScaler

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                     OptiScaler Ecosystem                     │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                             │
│  📦 Official OptiScaler                                     │
│  ├── Core upscaling technology (FSR, DLSS, XeSS)           │
│  ├── In-game overlay (Insert key)                          │
│  ├── Runtime configuration                                 │
│  └── DirectX/Vulkan integration                            │
│                                                             │
│  🖥️ This GUI (Community Project)                           │
│  ├── Installation manager                                  │
│  ├── Steam game detection                                  │
│  ├── File download/extraction                              │
│  └── Basic configuration setup                             │
│                                                             │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

🤝 Community & Support

📢 Get Help & Report Issues

• 🐛 Bug Reports - Found a problem? Let us know!
• 💡 Feature Requests - Have an idea? Share it!
• 💬 Discussions - General questions and community chat
• 📖 Documentation - Guides and troubleshooting

🎯 Supported Games & Compatibility

• ✅ Steam Games - Automatic detection
• ✅ Unreal Engine - Enhanced support for UE games
• ✅ DirectX 11/12 - Full compatibility
• ⚠️ Non-Steam Games - Manual path selection required
• ❓ Game not working? - Report compatibility issue

🔒 Security & Trust

• 📝 Open Source - All code is public and auditable
• 🛡️ No Data Collection - GUI works completely offline
• ✅ Official Sources - Downloads OptiScaler from official GitHub only
• 🔍 Checksums - Verify download integrity (coming soon)

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📄 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

🙏 Acknowledgments

• OptiScaler Team - For the incredible upscaling technology
• Python Community - For the amazing libraries that make this possible
• Gaming Community - For feedback and testing

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Made with ❤️ for the gaming community

Bringing cutting-edge upscaling technology to everyone, one click at a time.

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Made with ❤️ for the gaming community

Making OptiScaler installation accessible to everyone, one click at a time.