Sorry for the OffTopic, but did you compile Retoarch on your own from the examples in Steam Link SDK? What about cores?

Anyhow, you can still be connected to the Local Network, without being online... The only thing I'm not sure about is if they fixed playing with Steam in Offline Mode.

Yeah, I compiled the latest version using the example in the SDK. Tried compiling some of the cores after sourcing setenv.sh in the steamlink SDK using the libretro-super scripts (https://github.com/libretro/libretro-super) but most of them didn't work (snes9x 2002,2005,2010 being the exceptions). Ended up using the cores posted here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam_Link/comments/5sofyh/release_retroarch_for_the_steam_link/dkcq0es/

I think you're right that the steam link wants only you to be connected to a local network and not the internet, but you still need that local network to access installed apps (even if they would work without the network). So you can use it offline, but it isn't portable without bringing a router as well.

Not a huge deal for most people. I guess if I want a truly offline machine I can try modifying the startup scripts to have it boot directly into Retroarch and deal with the consequences.

Yeah, if you lack a Network device it's definatly an issue, more so because as you said, it shouldn't be necessary to be connected to anything to play mame4all/retroarch and similar apps.

Also thanks for explaining about retroarch: I already had downloaded that zip linked in reddit, also because it has the same date as latest patches on SteamLink SDK, so it has to be "current".
Not sure if I'll get to compile - or try to - the cores... I am really interested in Parallel N64 only and I got it set-up on my desktop, meaning I can stream it to my Link.

Maybe slouken can get this suggestion and change the network config to "not mandatory" or skippable... I think it could be a step ahead with Native Apps.

Steam Link beta build 637

Changes for build 637:
Updated Xbox controller driver to the latest Linux kernel release
Fixed issue being unable to use controller after mapping buttons
Made it possible to skip network setup at startup

Can confirm this works with the latest beta, the app screen can be now accessed without any network connection. Thanks slouken for making it happen.