RetroGameCoders IDE is a web-based development platform designed for retro programming, allowing you to create 8-bit games directly in your browser.
Exciting News About Our Online Retro Development Environment!
- BBC Micro enthusiasts can now program in C with an online CC65 compiler!
- Vic 20 fans can also code in C directly from their browser using CC65!
- Edit and execute C64 C and BASIC in a modern editor, complete with a browser-based Vice64 emulator!
I’m thrilled to announce that my online IDE for retro programming is now ready for you to explore!
A Glimpse Into Online Retro IDE Development
If you haven’t been following my journey creating this web IDE, there’s quite a bit to unpack. I’ve been working on a custom version of 8bitworkshop, a tool for C and Assembly programmers that integrates emulators into the web interface.
My goal is to create games or demos for every retro system in my collection, leading me to develop my own “fork” of the tool:
- Integrating the Vic 20, my first computer.
- Adding support for BBC Micro, a cornerstone of the UK microcomputer scene.
- Building in a BASIC tokenizer for my ongoing C64 BASIC series, with added features like label support instead of line numbers.
It’s an ambitious project, but it has come with its own challenges.
Supported Platforms & Emulators So Far
- Commodore 64 (C64)
- Commodore VIC-20
- Atari 8-bit Computers and Consoles
- Apple II
- BBC Micro
- ZX Spectrum
- Amstrad CPC
- NES
- Sega Master System
- ColecoVision
- Z-Machine (Interactive Fiction Engine)
(And more to come!)
How It Works
This online development environment uses CodeMirror for syntax highlighting, which is a widely-used open-source text editor. Plans to enhance the editing UI will follow once all target platforms are functioning effectively.
Emulators for vintage computers and consoles utilize open-source JavaScript projects like Vice, “Chips”, and JSBeeb. My C64 emulation employs the Vice Kernal for improved accuracy in some demos.
Additionally, the programming tools operate within your browser, compiled from C to WebAssembly via Emscripten. This method maintains your privacy by processing everything on your computer rather than relying on server resources.
Your Source Code
Access tutorial code and demos seamlessly through the menu, and your own code is also conveniently situated at the bottom. Instead of storing files on a server, the IDE creates a virtual file system in your browser storage, ensuring complete privacy.
However, please be aware that local storage may be cleared by browsers, so it’s important to keep backups of your work through download options or by copying and pasting!
While 8bitworkshop offers GitHub integration, I found many users prefer not to use external services for privacy reasons, so this feature has been omitted.
Though I contemplated adding optional cloud storage, feedback suggested it could deter users, so I’m open to your thoughts on this.
Future Plans
I hope to see as many of my enhancements integrated back into the original 8bitworkshop, acknowledging that the creator, Steven Hugg, excels in this domain.
That said, my project may diverge, leading to features serving more as suggestions rather than components he can easily back-port.
Here are the features I aspire to add:
- Commodore PET – A nostalgic addition, with a browser-based emulator already in development.
- Tandy CoCo and Dragon 32 – Supported by the Coco, a leap towards Dragon compatibility.
- CP/M – An operating system target that intersects with several existing platforms, featuring interesting possibilities.
- 16-bit Systems – As browser capabilities advance, systems like Amiga and Atari ST could become viable targets.
- Atom and Electron – While BBC Micro support is established, adding these siblings would enhance project completeness.
- Online TRSE Compiler? – Imagine coding and compiling TRSE online!
- Editor UI Enhancements – Striving to create an enjoyable coding environment rather than just a tutorial-following space.
- More Tools – Plans for disk managers, sprite editors, character editors, and other utilities.
FAQs
- Will existing emulators like BBC, PET, and C64 be discontinued? No, these emulators remain available for those using tutorials and forums comfortably.
- Where should bugs or feature requests be reported? With various dependencies in play, please reach out directly to me to determine responsibility.
- How can we support your work? Spreading the word is immensely helpful! Moreover, I welcome any suggestions you may have.
What’s Next?
I’m eager to see how users engage with the current IDE, with plans for additional tutorials, features, and more platforms on the horizon!
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Original article by retrogamecoders.com
