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Picotron Roadmap


Picotron 0.0: "Playground" (2022 Q4)

    // Open-access web build for testing (became unavailble 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 0.2.1 (2025-Q207)

    Raspi 64-bit       // [in 0.2.0e] Requires raspi 3 or later
    UDP / TCP sockets  // [in 0.2.0e] For binaries // update: can connect from bbs carts
    Splore

    // Previously "a set of splore-like features", splore.p64 is centered on a PICO-8 style
    // app for favourites & BBS browsing, but merged with system-wide file/app bookmarking.

Picotron 0.2.2 (2025-09)

    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 0.3 (2025 Q4) [beta]
    
    Websockets          // For exports [and bbs carts] on all platforms
    BBS highscores      // Submit scores + extra data while logged in
    Video Modes         // Support for extra fullscreen video modes
    Native Windows      // Export carts that run directly in a native host window

Picotron 0.?

    // ongoing projects / no ETA

    Log Navigation      // Browse logs by category: notifications, errors, system crash etc
    anywhen://          // Fetch files and directory listings from any point in time
    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.