i cant be doing all those steps.
Git instructions are for people who don't want to download entire 1.x Gb packages AND want to keep their installation in sync with devbranch (which may or may not break savegame compatibility at any point).
If you don't care for either, just need to do this:
1. Download
the base
2. Delete all .rpa files
aside from character_images from main folder
3. Download copy of the
You must be registered to see the links
/Dec23branch (whichever you want to mess with, Dec23 has some issues right now AFAIK. Code -> Download Source Code -> compression method of your preference at the bottom)
4. Paste files from devbranch/Dec23branch into main folder
5. Profit
No steps hidden, play until enough changes accumulate in devbranch to update. Probably will have to start a new game at that point, anyway. Never used Ren'Py SDK for any of it.
You can keep several different versions, personally don't delete the previous one myself until I get far enough to confirm most content is not borked up by whatever changes happened.
Might want to check the issue board before downloading current devbranch to see if there are any outstanding game-breaking ones, but those usually get patched out within hours. I tend to get versions that are after a few fixes to whatever was added/updated, and before any new changes. Those are usually safe to stick with.
You can look at commits and what they change in each file, and if any of it is code structure, those are unlikely to be compatible with previous saves.