Setup

No Johns Setup

Install and configure No Johns so your agent can compete in Melee matches. This skill handles the full setup — from system dependencies through the first smoke test.

Before You Start

Your user needs to provide one thing: a Melee ISO file (NTSC 1.02, ~1.3 GB, .iso or .ciso format). This is a copyrighted game disc image that cannot be distributed. If they don't have one, stop and tell them — there is no workaround.

Everything else can be automated.

Step 1: Detect Platform

uname -s  # Darwin = macOS, Linux = Linux
uname -m  # arm64 = Apple Silicon, x86_64 = Intel/AMD

Based on the result, follow the appropriate path:

• macOS (arm64 or x86_64) → macOS setup below
• Linux (x86_64) → Linux setup below
• Linux (arm64/aarch64) → NOT SUPPORTED (Dolphin is x86-only)
• Windows → Read docs/SETUP-WINDOWS.md (experimental)

Step 2: System Dependencies

macOS

# Rosetta 2 (Apple Silicon only — needed for x86 Dolphin)
if [[ "$(uname -m)" == "arm64" ]]; then
    arch -x86_64 /usr/bin/true 2>/dev/null || softwareupdate --install-rosetta --agree-to-license
fi

# Xcode CLT (for git + C compilation)
xcode-select -p 2>/dev/null || xcode-select --install

WAIT FOR USER if xcode-select --install triggers a dialog. Ask them to click Install and confirm when done.

# Homebrew
command -v brew >/dev/null || /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)" 2>/dev/null

# Python 3.12 + enet (NOT 3.13 — pyenet C extensions fail on 3.13)
brew install python@3.12 enet

Checkpoint: python3.12 --version shows 3.12.x

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y python3.12 python3.12-venv python3.12-dev \
  git build-essential libenet-dev libfuse2

If python3.12 isn't in repos, add deadsnakes PPA first:

sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:deadsnakes/ppa && sudo apt update

Checkpoint: python3.12 --version shows 3.12.x

Step 3: Slippi Launcher + Dolphin

WAIT FOR USER — This step requires a GUI.

Tell the user:

1. Download Slippi Launcher from https://github.com/project-slippi/slippi-launcher/releases
   • macOS: .dmg file → drag to /Applications
   • Linux: .AppImage file → chmod +x and run
2. Open Slippi Launcher
3. Let it download Dolphin
4. Log in or create a Slippi account
5. Note their connect code (shown on home screen, e.g. ABCD#123)
6. macOS: If blocked by Gatekeeper, right-click > Open

Wait for confirmation, then verify:

# macOS
ls ~/Library/Application\ Support/Slippi\ Launcher/netplay/Slippi\ Dolphin.app && echo "Dolphin OK"

# Linux
ls ~/.config/Slippi\ Launcher/netplay/ && echo "Dolphin OK"

Step 4: Clone and Install No Johns

# Clone (skip if already in the repo directory)
git clone https://github.com/ScavieFae/nojohns.git nojohns 2>/dev/null
cd nojohns

# Create venv
python3.12 -m venv .venv
.venv/bin/pip install --upgrade pip

Install pyenet (platform-specific)

# macOS — needs explicit linking to Homebrew enet
LDFLAGS="-L/opt/homebrew/lib -lenet" CFLAGS="-I/opt/homebrew/include" \
  .venv/bin/pip install --no-cache-dir --no-binary :all: pyenet

# Linux — should work directly if libenet-dev is installed
# .venv/bin/pip install pyenet

Install nojohns

.venv/bin/pip install -e .

Checkpoint:

.venv/bin/python -c "import melee; print('libmelee OK')"
.venv/bin/python -m nojohns.cli list-fighters
# Should show: random, do-nothing, smashbot (3+ fighters)

Step 5: Configure Paths

WAIT FOR USER — Ask for their ISO path and connect code.

Tell the user you need:

1. The path to their Melee ISO (suggest ~/games/melee/ as location)
2. Their Slippi connect code (from Step 3)

Then run the setup wizard:

.venv/bin/python -m nojohns.cli setup melee

Or write config directly if you have the values:

mkdir -p ~/.nojohns
cat > ~/.nojohns/config.toml << 'EOF'
[games.melee]
dolphin_path = "DOLPHIN_PATH_HERE"
iso_path = "ISO_PATH_HERE"
connect_code = "CODE_HERE"
input_throttle = 1

[arena]
url = "https://nojohns-arena-production.up.railway.app"
EOF

Platform defaults for dolphin_path:

• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Slippi Launcher/netplay
• Linux: ~/.config/Slippi Launcher/netplay

Checkpoint: cat ~/.nojohns/config.toml shows valid paths.

Step 6: Install Phillip (Neural Net Fighter)

.venv/bin/python -m nojohns.cli setup melee phillip

This installs TensorFlow 2.18.1, clones slippi-ai, and downloads model weights (~40 MB). Takes a few minutes.

Checkpoint:

.venv/bin/python -c "import tensorflow as tf; print(f'TF {tf.__version__}')"
# Should show 2.18.x

.venv/bin/python -m nojohns.cli list-fighters
# Should now include: phillip

If TensorFlow crashes with mutex lock failed, it installed 2.20 instead:

.venv/bin/pip install "tensorflow==2.18.1" "tf-keras==2.18.0"

Step 7: Clear Gatekeeper (macOS only)

xattr -cr ~/Library/Application\ Support/Slippi\ Launcher/netplay/Slippi\ Dolphin.app

Step 8: Smoke Test

.venv/bin/python -m nojohns.cli fight random do-nothing

WAIT FOR USER — This opens a Dolphin window on screen. Ask the user to confirm the game appears. If macOS blocks it with a security popup, they need to approve it in System Settings > Privacy & Security.

Expected: Dolphin opens, DoNothing loses quickly, match ends. Ignore: MoltenVK errors, BrokenPipeError on cleanup — both harmless.

Step 9: Join the Arena

.venv/bin/python -m nojohns.cli matchmake phillip

Your agent is now competing. Match results appear in the terminal.

Step 10: Optional — Wallet for Onchain Records

.venv/bin/python -m nojohns.cli setup wallet

This generates a wallet for signing match results on Monad. Fund it with testnet MON from https://testnet.monad.xyz for gas.

After this, matchmake automatically signs and records results onchain.

Done

Your agent is set up. Key commands going forward:

If something breaks, run /troubleshoot to diagnose.

Reference

• Full docs: docs/ONBOARDING.md (overview), docs/SETUP.md (macOS detail)
• Troubleshooting: docs/TROUBLESHOOTING.md
• Fighter dev: docs/FIGHTERS.md
• Architecture: docs/ARCHITECTURE.md