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Thanks! Explaining stuff is so hard! In fact, this entire article is just me trying to explain what this is in the shortest way possible. Maybe the shortest v

Thanks! Explaining stuff is so hard! In fact, this entire article is just me trying to explain what this is in the shortest way possible. Maybe the shortest version is: 90s.dev is an API around a 320x180 web canvas, designed specifically for making games and game maker tools, with sharing capabilities built-in, and an innovative GUI for making game maker tools quickly and easily. No, that's still too vague. I give up.

dflock 1y ago
Show examples of things built with it?
- 90s_dev 1y ago
  So far, only the built-in apps are made with it. You can click them on the desktop-thing when you open the app. So far the only finished app is fontmaker: https://90s.dev/os/#sys/apps/fontmaker.app.js https://90s.dev/os/#sys/apps/fontmaker.app.js Their source code for all built-in apps are in https://90s.dev/os/helloworld.zip https://90s.dev/os/helloworld.zip (found on https://90s.dev/getting-started/download-sdk.html https://90s.dev/getting-started/download-sdk.html)
danielvaughn 1y ago
It really is. It’s almost harder than building the thing. Every time I try explaining my side project, I end up just saying “you know…it’s easier if I just show you”
- 90s_dev 1y ago
  Yep, that's why I decided to make the pages able to have interactive demos. Though only the hello world tour and the refs guide use it so far.
dr_kiszonka 1y ago
I would put your text under "Welcome to 90s.dev." If possible, I would further simplify it. I took a stab at it below but I am no marketer (or a game maker), 90s.dev simplifies making games and tooling for game creators via: - an expressive API around a 320×180 web canvas, - built-in sharing capabilities, - an innovative GUI. Each bullet would link to a relevant part of the documentation. I think you also need a page with examples.
- 90s_dev 1y ago
  Thanks, I'll definitely consider using that in the next launch.
johnisgood 1y ago
Is 320x180 generally enough for anything interesting?
- 90s_dev 1y ago
  Animal Well uses 320 x 180 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Well https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Well (In fact I partly made this app so I could make an Animal Well clone.)
  - johnisgood 1y ago
    I'll check it out. Would it technically be possible, without too much difficulty, to increase 320 x 180? Just wondering!
    - 90s_dev 1y ago
      Technically it is possible right now. If you create usr/config.jsln (sample file is in sys/default/) and set its size, the screen automatically resizes to it. I didn't document this because I'm not sure it's the right decision. Allowing screen resize does make it more flexible, but also leads to decision paralysis for most users, who 320 x 180 is probably perfectly sufficient for. That was one of the genius moves of pico8, which tic80 failed to capture: offering the perfect set of orthogonal parameters for you, so you can just make stuff.
      - johnisgood 1y ago
        Oh, that is interesting. I think it could be worthwhile to document it for "advanced" or "power" users / developers perhaps, it is good to know that there is no such limitation, as I assumed there would be, meaning it is more flexible than I thought it to be!
        inanutshellus 1y ago
        You can't both honor a constraint and give an out for it. Remember OG twitter and someone complained about the 140 character limit. Imagine the reply was "ok fine we'll let you use more than 128 characters, but you have to click an 'advanced' tab." instead of the "be clever" retort we really got from Jack Dorsey. Immediately there'd be no constraint at all, just an annoying step where you had to click an annoying checkbox. Point being - if the design is intended to be constrained, then it's perfectly reasonable to own that.
stevage 1y ago
Keep going, you'll get there. Yeah, explaining is hard. As someone who is not involved in game development I admit I didn't really understand your description about it being an API but not a game engine. But keep going, you're doing a great thing here.

dflock 1y ago

Show examples of things built with it?

90s_dev 1y ago
So far, only the built-in apps are made with it. You can click them on the desktop-thing when you open the app. So far the only finished app is fontmaker: https://90s.dev/os/#sys/apps/fontmaker.app.js https://90s.dev/os/#sys/apps/fontmaker.app.js Their source code for all built-in apps are in https://90s.dev/os/helloworld.zip https://90s.dev/os/helloworld.zip (found on https://90s.dev/getting-started/download-sdk.html https://90s.dev/getting-started/download-sdk.html)

danielvaughn 1y ago

It really is. It’s almost harder than building the thing. Every time I try explaining my side project, I end up just saying “you know…it’s easier if I just show you”

90s_dev 1y ago
Yep, that's why I decided to make the pages able to have interactive demos. Though only the hello world tour and the refs guide use it so far.

dr_kiszonka 1y ago

I would put your text under "Welcome to 90s.dev." If possible, I would further simplify it. I took a stab at it below but I am no marketer (or a game maker), 90s.dev simplifies making games and tooling for game creators via: - an expressive API around a 320×180 web canvas, - built-in sharing capabilities, - an innovative GUI. Each bullet would link to a relevant part of the documentation. I think you also need a page with examples.

90s_dev 1y ago
Thanks, I'll definitely consider using that in the next launch.

johnisgood 1y ago

Is 320x180 generally enough for anything interesting?

90s_dev 1y ago
Animal Well uses 320 x 180 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Well https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Well (In fact I partly made this app so I could make an Animal Well clone.)
- johnisgood 1y ago
  I'll check it out. Would it technically be possible, without too much difficulty, to increase 320 x 180? Just wondering!
  - 90s_dev 1y ago
    Technically it is possible right now. If you create usr/config.jsln (sample file is in sys/default/) and set its size, the screen automatically resizes to it. I didn't document this because I'm not sure it's the right decision. Allowing screen resize does make it more flexible, but also leads to decision paralysis for most users, who 320 x 180 is probably perfectly sufficient for. That was one of the genius moves of pico8, which tic80 failed to capture: offering the perfect set of orthogonal parameters for you, so you can just make stuff.
    - johnisgood 1y ago
      Oh, that is interesting. I think it could be worthwhile to document it for "advanced" or "power" users / developers perhaps, it is good to know that there is no such limitation, as I assumed there would be, meaning it is more flexible than I thought it to be!
      - inanutshellus 1y ago
        You can't both honor a constraint and give an out for it. Remember OG twitter and someone complained about the 140 character limit. Imagine the reply was "ok fine we'll let you use more than 128 characters, but you have to click an 'advanced' tab." instead of the "be clever" retort we really got from Jack Dorsey. Immediately there'd be no constraint at all, just an annoying step where you had to click an annoying checkbox. Point being - if the design is intended to be constrained, then it's perfectly reasonable to own that.

stevage 1y ago

Keep going, you'll get there. Yeah, explaining is hard. As someone who is not involved in game development I admit I didn't really understand your description about it being an API but not a game engine. But keep going, you're doing a great thing here.