What are MAME source codes?

[NorseChief]

I am looking at this site, http://mamedev.org/ and I see there are binaries, source codes and updates.

How do I use these source codes and updates? How do I use the updates to update MAME 0.133. This is all very confusing to me :/

Also, I am looking for the best way to maximise my gaming experience with MAME. What is the best emulator to run MAME roms and make them look as authentic as possible on windows xp?

I was looking at AdvanceMame but it seems I can only set it up with Linex. The reason I was interested in it was because it said that it makes the arcade games look like the real thing by tweaking the video, etc.

[FatTrucker]

Mame's source code is mame in its uncompiled form (for developers) you don't need that.

mame updates are the 'u' releases that are made between builds i.e. mame 0.132, 0.132u1, 0.132u2 > 0.133 and so on. The update builds are WIP builds between releases and often have bugs and broken stuff so best to stick with the full release builds for maximising the gaming thing.

If you're using a PC CRT or LCD display you won't get 'authentic' images. Advancemane and builds like it are designed for use with Arcade monitors that support all the original resolutions and refresh rates. On a High Res screen it looks Jaggy and pixellated = nasty.
For best results in the Mame video options enable Bilinear Filtering. You can also go to the Mame Artwork site and download all the screen 'masks' these go in the Mame/Artwork folder and enable you to select different screen effects (like Scanlines) in the Mame video options.

Hope that helps.

[NorseChief]

Thanks for the info. I will try that out.