(Editor's note: sorry for the long delay since the last update... it was a very busy summer! We'll try to get back to a weekly or near-weekly cadence.)
Development Updates
MiniScript 2 is nearing the finish line: Joe shared Preview 9 this week, with a long list of small but important fixes and improvements. He also said the remaining checklist before an official release is basically empty, while still encouraging everyone to keep testing for those sneaky unknown bugs: MiniScript 2.0 preview 9.
The work behind the scenes has been busy too, especially around performance and correctness. Recent fixes include GC tuning, better handling of lists and maps, cleaner error reporting, and a number of compiler/parser edge cases that were uncovered by real-world projects.
Mini Micro 2 and raylib-miniscript also got meaningful updates. The raylib layer now has a Matrix class, a physics engine, and demos like Connect-4 inference, Game of Life, and the new Angry Balls demo. Meanwhile, both Soda and Mini Micro 2 have been rewritten on top of raylib-miniscript and are now in early testing. Here's a screen shot of a game running in Mini Micro 2, using the new Matrix class to run a deep neural network AI:
In a major milestone for MiniScript maturity, GitHub's Linguist library (used to identify the programming language used by each source file) now recognizes MiniScript. Their servers are slowly reclassifying older projects now.
Community Projects
A big shout-out to community members shipping useful tools and experiments! DSlower shared work on The Slow Shell and a buffer file finder, and shellrider posted a small UUIDv4 generator: ms-uuid.
minerobber also helped push the ecosystem forward with language tooling and portability work, including a self-hosting Clojette compiler, a MiniScript classification fix for GitHub Linguist, and other helpful contributions. They also have a handy tip for forcing correct identification of your MiniScript files on GitHub: in .gitattributes, add *.ms linguist-language=MiniScript.
There were also some fun Mini Micro-adjacent demos and projects worth highlighting. Trey Tomes shared micro-bfxr for sound effects generation: micro-bfxr, and machiaworx posted the Steam release of Cry Pic, noting that most of the game is controlled by MiniScript: Cry Pic on Steam.
Discussion Highlights
A lot of the summer’s conversation centered on making MiniScript and Mini Micro more welcoming and more fun to use. Joe floated a Top 10 Mini Micro Most Wanted list, asking what classic game genres the platform still needs; suggestions ranged from text RPGs and music sequencers to networked play and a Mini Micro BBS.
There was also a great thread for beginners who want to understand how programming “thinks.” Joe walked through tokenizing, parsing, and ASTs with a new learner, encouraging them to start small and build confidence one step at a time — a very MiniScript-friendly way to learn.
On the Mini Micro 2 side, testing continues to uncover useful edge cases. Community feedback helped surface memory and GC issues, import behavior, and a few platform-specific quirks, and Joe responded quickly with fixes and follow-up explanations.
Links Worth Checking Out
- Mini Micro “10 Most Wanted” Games
- MiniScript is a recognized language on GitHub!
- MiniScript 2 Preview 9
- Cry Pic on Steam
- micro-bfxr
- ms-uuid
Thanks for reading, and keep making cool things — we love seeing what you build!
Upcoming Game Jams
These upcoming jams look like a great fit for Mini Micro:
- Garbage jam #7 (starts 2026-09-21 12:00:00) — A super low-stress jam built around experimentation, bad art, and having fun makes it a perfect excuse to try a quirky pixel, tile, or text-based idea without worrying about polish.
- Untitled Game Jam #133 (starts 2026-09-18 00:00:00) — A flexible, beginner-friendly jam with an open theme vote, any engine allowed, and no heavy technical constraints—great for a quick retro-style prototype or polished 2D game.
- GRC GAME JAM (starts 2026-09-17 22:43:48) — A strong retro-leaning jam focused on fun, creativity, and polished gameplay, with the exciting possibility of seeing your game preserved as a ROM and played on a real arcade cabinet.
- Beginners' Jam_Autumn 2026 (starts 2026-09-20 12:00:00) — A very beginner-friendly jam with flexible, open-ended themes and no technical demands beyond making a fun free-to-play game, making it an easy fit for Mini Micro projects.
- Creature Collector Game Jam (starts 2026-09-21 06:00:00) — A very strong fit for a retro, 2D-friendly jam centered on collecting, raising, and studying creatures, with plenty of room for charming pixel art, simple systems, and creative monster design.
- Goose Jam 3 (starts 2026-09-19 21:00:00) — A very approachable low-scope jam with broad freedom to make anything from a tiny video game to a card or roleplaying game, plus flexible interpretation and no engine restrictions.
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