> This being my first experience with MAME, is patching up to 172 a relatively simple > process, or do I have to re-download, re-install and re-configure?
Do you know how to compile MAME from a GIT pull?
After that's done it's just a matter of replacing relevant files, folders, and the binary.
bgfx docs hash hlsl plugins shaders
If you're not familiar with the process just keep 0.171 in it's own folder and put what's compiled from GIT in it's own folder. Execute mame64 -cc to create a fresh mame.ini After setting up a few additional things you'll be up and running.