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Picotron Roadmap

Picotron 0.0: "Playground" (2022 Q4)

// Open-access web build for testing (became unavailable at 0.1)

Architecture // File system, system events, memory mapping, wm

GFX Pipeline // Colour tables, draw state

API // Based on Lua 5.4, compatible w/ PICO-8 where possible

CPU // Find costs that roughly match slowest hosts

Audio // Synthesizer runtime & test carts

** offline for now, but will come back later in some form

Picotron 0.1 (~~2023~~ 2024-03-14)

Binary Builds // Windows, Mac, Linux

Editors // Code, Pixels, Maps, Synth Designer, Tracker

Desktop // Run window-based programs, file management gui

Customisation // Theme editor, wallpapers, screensavers

File Formats // Plain-text .p64, Binary .p64.rom, Shareable .p64.png

HTTP GET // From local apps and exports only; not BBS carts

BBS Integration // Submit carts to a sub-forum, load # directly from bbs

Sandboxing // Safe to run untrusted carts without exposing Picotron drive

HTML Exporter // .wasm runtime + bundled cartridge, licensed similar to P8

Picotron 0.2 (~~2024~~ 2025-03-14)

Binary Exporters // Windows, Mac, Linux -- includes desktop export

bbs:// // [in 0.1.1e] Cross-platform bbs access; handles caching / offline access

Tooltray // [in 0.1.1e] Install widgets into the tooltray that can run sandboxed

Picotron 0.2.0* (2025-Q2/Q3)

Raspi 64-bit // Requires raspi 3 or later

UDP / TCP sockets // For binaries / exports

GFX API // rrect, P8SCII outline / underline

Headless Programs // interactive terminal apps, background processes

Spritesheet Importer // load from png / p8

Picotron 0.2.1 (2025-10)

Anywhen // Fetch files and directory listings from any point in time

File System // sandboxing, mounting, robustness improvements

Unsaved Changes // monitor at the cart / file level and confirm overwrites etc

Events // non-blocking fetch(), blocking send_message(), custom mainloops

Picotron 0.2.2 (2025-11)

Splore

Picotron 0.2.3 (2025-12)

Logins // User can log in with bbs account, apps can read username

podnet:// // User-wise public storage that can be used by sandboxed apps

flp.io // Bucket naming service; allows publishing podnet websites

Cart switching // BBS carts can load & run other BBS carts

Picotron 0.2.4 (2026-01)

Video Modes // Support for extra fullscreen video modes

Native Windows // Export carts that run directly in a native host window

Export Headless // Export commandline programs

Picotron 0.3 [beta] (2026-03-14)

BBS highscores // Submit scores + extra data while logged in

Websockets // For exports [and bbs carts] on all platforms

Picotron 0.?

// ongoing projects / no ETA

Log Navigation // Browse logs by category: notifications, errors, system crash etc

Gui Builder // Gui card editor and data format integrated with create_gui

Libraries // Standard fonts, instruments, fill patterns, palettes

Stickers // A general tagging and bookmarking scheme (experimental)

Tool Improvements // Miscelaneous features for bundled tools & accessories

PFX6416 Features // pcm instrument type, sfx instruments, channel-fx envelope control

Picotron 1.0

Runtime / API Freeze

Extra Bundled Software

Runtime source exporting (export foo.src)

// Exported runtime licensing is TBD, but the focus will be on allowing cart authors to

// implement additional platform support or custom features for their own projects.