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JoeStrout
JoeStrout

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MiniScript Weekly News — Apr 1, 2026

Development Updates

Work on MiniScript 2 continues to pick up speed, and the team shared that a working REPL is now in place in both C# and C++. The latest dev log also mentions a refactor to better preserve globals across REPL entries, plus a fix for multi-function REPL handling and Ctrl-D to exit.

GitHub: miniscript2

On the raylib-miniscript side, there were a few useful updates landed this week: resourceCounts now reports loaded resources, FileHandle was added, and the text mutation intrinsics were refreshed with new ...Alloc variants. These changes should help with debugging leaks and keeping the bindings in step with newer raylib APIs.

An important change this week: raylib-miniscript now requires scripts to call rl.InitWindow themselves instead of the engine doing it behind the scenes. Joe also added a direct MiniScript translation of the raylib high-DPI demo, which should make window setup clearer for developers who want to support high-res displays like the Apple Retina or MacBook display.
GitHub: raylib-miniscript

Community Projects

Joe shared a fresh tutorial on Dev.to: Create a Maze Game in Mini Micro. It walks through turning the built-in maze demo into a custom game, and it’s a great example of how approachable Mini Micro development can be for new creators.

Also in the Mini Micro ecosystem, Dat_One_Dev highlighted the possibility of listing Mini Micro, Soda, and the upcoming Raylib project on a game-distribution site so community-made games can be more discoverable. That came up in the context of showcasing user projects like SPACE EVADERS by community member DSlower — always exciting to see MiniScript games getting attention.

Discussion Highlights

There was a lively MiniScript 2 design discussion about language minimalism, type hints, and the role of @ in function references. Joe reaffirmed the project’s “mini” philosophy while also noting that assertions can already help catch errors today, and might even inform future optimizations. But he also outlined a proposal for a more extensive error-handling system based on a new "error" data type, with strict rules about how it interacts with other types.

The community also brainstormed about broader tooling and extensibility, including ideas for terminal color customization, configurable prompts, and even an eventual FFI-style integration for things like Ollama or other external libraries. Joe’s response was encouraging: it’s a neat direction for “eventually,” though beyond the language core for now.

Mini Micro & Raylib Chatter

A few Raylib-related debugging threads were especially productive this week. The team tracked down an HDPI issue to window initialization order, and Joe wrapped up the fix by moving the config flag setup earlier and clarifying that scripts should initialize the window themselves.

There was also some good old-fashioned collaborative troubleshooting on the breakout demo and audio init behavior, with fixes landing for Windows build issues and asset handling along the way. It’s great to see community members jumping in with bug reports, PRs, and real-world testing.

Until next week, happy scripting!

Upcoming Game Jams

These upcoming jams look like a great fit for Mini Micro:

  • Pixel Forge JAM 2026 [PRIZES] (starts 2026-04-18 07:30:00) — A strong fit for retro, pixel-art, or tile-based ideas, with a 7-day format that encourages fast, creative experimentation and accessible gameplay.
  • Micro Jam 057: Symmetry ($400 Prizes) (starts 2026-04-18 01:00:00) — A strong fit for 2D pixel, tile, or text-driven ideas, with the symmetry theme inviting clever puzzle, action, or visual-design twists and a forgiving jam format that’s easy to jump into.
  • Games Transformed 2026 - 'Smash The Fash' Game Jam — A politically charged jam inviting all kinds of antifascist games, from activist tactics and mutual aid to surreal puzzles and hopeful visions of solidarity, with room for serious, playful, or experimental takes.
  • Reagent Game Jam 2026 (starts 2026-04-10 07:00:00) — An accessible beginner-friendly jam with lots of freedom in tools and style, making it a great chance to build a creative 2D game in a low-pressure setting.
  • GamingleJam (starts 2026-04-10 17:14:37) — A low-pressure, any-engine jam that encourages collaboration and welcomes solo creators too, making it a great excuse to build a stylish 2D game and maybe team up with artists, musicians, or writers along the way.
  • AvantBeetle's Protest Games Jam (starts 2026-04-04 04:00:00) — An open-ended protest-themed jam that welcomes experimental, symbolic, and small-scale games, making it a great chance to turn a strong message into a creative playable statement.

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