Picotron

Last updated
Picotron
Developer(s) Lexaloffle Games
Initial release31 December 2022;22 months ago (2022-12-31) (WIP)
14 March 2024;8 months ago (2024-03-14) (Alpha)
Stable release
0.1 / 14 March 2024;8 months ago (2024-03-14)
Operating system Web, Windows, Mac OS, Linux
Platform PC, Raspberry Pi, HTML5
Available in English, Japanese
Type Virtual machine, game engine
License Proprietary
Website www.lexaloffle.com/picotron.php

Picotron is a virtual machine and desktop environment created by Lexaloffle Games. It is a fantasy workstation that is aimed at making retro style video games and mimics the specifications of 16-bit computers of the late 1980s. [1] It is said to be a successor to PICO-8 and Voxatron. [2] [3] The Alpha release of Picotron became available on March 14 (Pi Day), 2024. [4]

Contents

It has a virtual toy operating system and built in tools that allow software development, game development and customization of the system itself. It runs on top of Windows, Mac OS, and Linux, with support for Raspberry Pi and export to stand-alone binaries or Web apps planned. Similarly to PICO-8, programs made with Picotron can be shared directly with other Picotron users in a special 256k png cartridge format. [5]

Capabilities

Picotron's WIP default palette (32 colours) Picotron pal wip v5.png
Picotron's WIP default palette (32 colours)

Picotron has an embedded Lua editor compatible with both PICO-8 and Lua 5.4 syntax. It supports 480x270 or 240x135 screen modes with default 32 system colors and 64 definable colors in total. For audio, it has 64-node synth and a 8-channel tracker. [6]

All of the software for Picotron are written in Lua and can be edited from within the machine itself. System tools including the file browser, code editor and the terminal are implemented in userland, compiled just-in-time therefore changes in source code get into effect immediately. Custom tools can be created from scratch that run in fullscreen workspaces alongside the bundled editors. These additions and the subsequent shift in focus of the machine give Picotron the title of 'Workstation' rather than 'Console'. [7] [8]

Development

Development of Picotron started as early as 2017 when Joseph White, who is better known with his nickname Zep and his company Lexaloffle, developed an SFX editor for Voxatron, his second console along with PICO-8. [9] Around that time he was asked if he considers developing a PICO-16, to which he replied that he would not consider working on a third console. [10] In 2018 he mentioned that in his free time he "designed a PICO-16 just to remind himself to not make that" and that "PICO-16 does not work at all". [11] PICO-8 community expressed great interest in the possibility of a 16-bit fantasy console, [12] which convinced Zep to develop a third console that he dubbed Machine 3. [13] [14] He announced Machine 3 to be Picotron next day on June 16, 2021. [15]

Zep started to work openly on Picotron after its announcement, occasionally sharing updates via his Twitter account and Lexaloffle BBS blog where he got suggestions and feedbacks from the community. On 31 December 2022, Zep announced Picotron Playground, an early web based version of Picotron's runtime and API for users to test the base features. [16] On March 14, 2024, he released the first alpha version of Picotron available for purchase.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plug-in (computing)</span> Software component that adds a specific feature to an existing software application

In computing, a plug-in is a software component that adds a specific feature to an existing computer program. When a program supports plug-ins, it enables customization.

mpg123 Open source audio player

mpg123 is a free and open-source audio player. It supports MPEG audio formats, including MP3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damn Small Linux</span> Lightweight, desktop-oriented Linux distribution

Damn Small Linux (DSL) is a computer operating system for the x86 family of personal computers. It is free and open-source software under the terms of the GNU GPL and other free and open-source licenses. It was designed to run graphical user interface applications on older PC hardware, for example, machines with 486 and early Pentium microprocessors and very little random-access memory (RAM). DSL is a live CD with a size of 50 megabytes (MB). What originally began as an experiment to see how much software could fit in 50 MB eventually became a full Linux distribution. It can be installed on storage media with small capacities, like bootable business cards, USB flash drives, various memory cards, and Zip drives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renoise</span> Digital audio workstation

Renoise is a digital audio workstation (DAW) based upon the heritage and development of tracker software. Its primary use is the composition of music using sound samples, soft synths, and effects plug-ins. It is also able to interface with MIDI and OSC equipment. The main difference between Renoise and other music software is the characteristic vertical timeline sequencer used by tracking software.

The landscape for instant messaging involves cross-platform instant messaging clients that can handle one or multiple protocols. Clients that use the same protocol can typically federate and talk to one another. The following table compares general and technical information for cross-platform instant messaging clients in active development, each of which have their own article that provide further information.

This article provides basic comparisons for notable text editors. More feature details for text editors are available from the Category of text editor features and from the individual products' articles. This article may not be up-to-date or necessarily all-inclusive.

Raster graphics editors can be compared by many variables, including availability.

The following tables compare general and technical information for a number of HTML editors.

wm2 Window manager

wm2 is a minimalist reparenting window manager for the X Window System written by Chris Cannam.

This is a comparison of word processor programs.

A desktop environment is a collection of software designed to give functionality and a certain look and feel to an operating system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VMware ESXi</span> Enterprise-class, type-1 hypervisor for deploying and serving virtual computers

VMware ESXi is an enterprise-class, type-1 hypervisor developed by VMware, a subsidiary of Broadcom, for deploying and serving virtual computers. As a type-1 hypervisor, ESXi is not a software application that is installed on an operating system (OS); instead, it includes and integrates vital OS components, such as a kernel.

This article compares variety of different X window managers. For an introduction to the topic, see X Window System.

The Application Programming Interface for Windows (APIW) Standard is a specification of the Microsoft Windows 3.1 API drafted by Willows Software. It is the successor to previously proposed Public Windows Interface standard. It was created in an attempt to establish a vendor-neutral, platform-independent, open standard of the 16-bit Windows API not controlled by Microsoft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Godot (game engine)</span> Cross-platform, open-source game engine

Godot is a cross-platform, free and open-source game engine released under the permissive MIT license. It was initially developed in Buenos Aires by Argentine software developers Juan Linietsky and Ariel Manzur for several companies in Latin America prior to its public release in 2014. The development environment runs on many platforms, and can export to several more. It is designed to create both 2D and 3D games targeting PC, mobile, and web platforms and can also be used to develop non-game software, including editors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OpenFL</span> Software framework for video games

OpenFL is a free and open-source software framework and platform for the creation of multi-platform applications and video games. OpenFL applications can be written in Haxe, JavaScript, or TypeScript, and may be published as standalone applications for several targets including iOS, Android, HTML5, Windows, macOS, Linux, WebAssembly, Flash, AIR, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Wii U, TiVo, Raspberry Pi, and Node.js.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PICO-8</span> Virtual machine emulating a "fantasy video game console"

PICO-8 is a virtual machine and game engine created by Lexaloffle Games. It is a fantasy video game console that mimics the limited graphical and sound capabilities of the old 8-bit systems of the 1980s to encourage creativity and ingenuity in producing games without being overwhelmed with the many possibilities of modern tools and machines. Such limitations also give PICO-8 games a particular look and feel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Playdate (console)</span> Video game console

Playdate is a handheld video game console developed by Panic. The device features a mechanical crank and a black-and-white screen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fantasy video game console</span> Emulator for a fictitious video game console

A fantasy video game console is an emulator for a fictitious video game console. In short, it aims to create the experience of retrogaming without the need to emulate a real console, allowing the developer to freely decide what specifications their fictional hardware will have.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TIC-80</span> Free and open source fantasy video game console

TIC-80 is a free and open-source fantasy video game console for making, playing, and sharing games on a limited platform that mimics the 8-bit systems of the 1980s. It has built-in code, sprite, map, music, and sound effect editors, as well as a command line interface that allow users to develop and edit games within the fantasy console.

References

  1. ↑ "Picotron by Lexaloffle". www.lexaloffle.com.
  2. ↑ Beschizza, Rob (Mar 22, 2024). "Picotron, a fantasy pixel-art gamedev demoscene workstation". Boing Boing .
  3. ↑ "Picotron: a fantasy workstation for making pixelart games, animations, music, demos and other curiosities – OSnews" . Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  4. ↑ "Picotron Roadmap". www.lexaloffle.com. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  5. ↑ "Picotron FAQ". www.lexaloffle.com.
  6. ↑ "Picotron by Lexaloffle". www.lexaloffle.com. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  7. ↑ JP (2024-04-09). "Exploring Picotron". moddedbear.com. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  8. ↑ "Picotron (et Tic-80) - LinuxFr.org". linuxfr.org. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  9. ↑ "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  10. ↑ Twitter https://x.com/lexaloffle/status/935339886025912321.{{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ↑ NYU Game Center (2018-08-07). PRACTICE 2018: Joseph White . Retrieved 2024-11-12– via YouTube.
  12. ↑ "PICO-16 - My wish for a bigger PICO-8". www.lexaloffle.com. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  13. ↑ Twitter https://x.com/lexaloffle/status/1397545624724119554.{{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ↑ Twitter https://x.com/lexaloffle/status/1404920423439949826.{{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ↑ "So that I don't have to keep calling it "Machine 3"". Twitter.{{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  16. ↑ "Picotron Playground". www.lexaloffle.com. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.