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README.org
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README.org
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#+OPTIONS: toc:nil
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* Reality Engine
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#+DESCRIPTION: A sustainable, portable virtual machine and programming language for constrained systems and game preservation.
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:PROPERTIES:
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:CUSTOM_ID: zongors-universe-machine
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:END:
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#+ATTR_HTML: :align center
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#+ATTR_ORG: :align center
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[[./docs/logo.svg]]
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* Overview
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- Reality Engine is a lightweight, portable programming language for permacomputing, game preservation, and indie game development inspired by [[https://wiki.xxiivv.com/site/uxn.html][uxn]], [[http://duskos.org/][Dusk OS]], and [[https://doc.cat-v.org/inferno/4th_edition/dis_VM_specification][Dis VM]].
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- Built in **C89** for cross-platform compatibility (desktop, microcontrollers, and web via Emscripten).
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- Designed for simplicity, performance, and creative exploration.
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- Reality Engine Language (ZRL) is a C-like, imperitve, data oriented language inspired by [[https://www.craftinginterpreters.com/the-lox-language.html][Lox]], [[https://lua.org][Lua]], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisp_(programming_language)][Lisp]], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_(programming_language)][C]], [[https://fortran-lang.org/][Fortran]], and [[https://ziglang.org/][Zig]].
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* Key Features
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Reality Engine Language (ZREL) and the Reality Engine Virtual Machine (VM) are designed for:
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** Core Philosophy
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- Simple, portable, lightweight, permacomputing oriented
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- Targets retro hardware, game world preservation, rapid prototyping, and indie games.
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- No macros or object hierarchies—prioritizes clarity and explicit behavior.
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- C/Zig like syntax. Lisp/Lua like development workflow.
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- Constrained systems (e.g., microcontrollers, retro consoles)
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- Portable environments (e.g., Emscripten/Web)
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- Permacomputing principles (e.g., long-term survivability, sustainability, zero dynamic allocation)
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** Engine & Tooling
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- Integrated 2D/3D rendering system:
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- Immediate-mode canvas-based 3D rendering with low-poly 5th-6th gen console aesthetics.
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- 2D canvas styled after ImGui and Raylib.
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- [[https://www.libsdl.org/][SDL2]] backend for input, audio, and cross-platform compatibility.
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- Tree-walk interpreter:
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- Compile bytecode to files for performance.
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- REPL with hot-code reloading for rapid iteration.
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- Emacs major mode included; Vim, VSCode, and Lite XL support planned.
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* Key Design Goals
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** Language Design
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- Strongly typed but with a friendly 'let' syntax.
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- =real= type (f32).
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- =int= for integer numbers (i32).
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- =nat= for unsigned integer numbers (u32).
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- =byte= arrays for interop (u8, i64, etc.).
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- =str= Strings with interpolation, =split=, =replace=, =trim=, etc.
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- Error handling:
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- try-catch
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- Null coalescing (=??=) and null checks (=?.=).
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- Fortran style array operations.
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- Lightweight coroutines with event-loop-driven multitasking.
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- FFI via C-defined "system calls" (examples provided in VM).
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- Written in portable **C89**
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- No dynamic memory: **no malloc/free**
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- Designed for **cross-platform** reproducibility
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- Inspired by **Uxn**, but more accessible than Forth-based stacks
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- Built-in **3D primitive support** for game developers
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** Modularity & Ecosystem
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- Fortran-like arrays.
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- Standard library: math, networking, 3D rendering, minimal GUI.
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- =use= keyword for modular code organization via file-based namespaces.
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* VM Architecture
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* Technical Details
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**CISC-like instruction format:**
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** VM Architecture
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- register based bytecode interpreter written in C89.
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- Portable to new systems, microcontrollers, and web via Emscripten.
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- 1-byte opcode
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- 3-byte operand
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- **Register-based** rather than stack-based
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** Memory Management
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- Frame scoped arena allocators
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**Register Set:**
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** Rendering & I/O
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- SDL2-based abstraction for input, audio, and rendering.
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- Immediate-mode 3D canvas with 2D overlay support.
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- Default: 32 general-purpose registers (may vary depending on L1/L2/L3 cache sizes)
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- Always-initialized: Zero is a valid value; zero-initialized objects are always valid.
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- Concept: *ZII* → Zero Is Initialization
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* Planned Projects
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**Memory Model:**
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1. **Code Editor with Terminal Emulator**
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- Built-in development tooling.
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2. **3D Chat Room**
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- Multiplayer cube avatars navigating a shared low-poly world.
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- Static memory
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- Memory is managed via *frame-based arenas*:
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- function scopes defines a memory *frame*
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- "Heap" allocations push pointers within this frame
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- When a frame exits, the pointer is reset (like stack-based GC)
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- Values passed to functions must be explicitly returned to propagate
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- Heap values are **copy-on-write**
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* Community & Collaboration
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**Error Handling:**
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- Website: [[https://alfrescocavern.com/][https://alfrescocavern.com/]]
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- License: MIT
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- Chat: Not yet
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- Stub values: Blocks of zeroed memory
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- On failure, return a pointer to the zeroed stub
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- Stubs are automatically cleared at the end of the frame
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* Roadmap
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* Language Features (ZREL)
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- [ ] MVP: Core VM, REPL, and SDL2 integration.
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- [ ] 3D rendering pipeline + ImGui-style GUI.
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- [ ] Standard library and FFI examples.
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- [ ] Emacs/Vim tooling + website launch.
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- [ ] Fixed point for numbers for microcontrollers/retro computers without fpu
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- [ ] Custom renderer without SDL for portability
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**Core Types:**
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* Motivation
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- `int` (integer numbers)
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- `nat` (natural numbers, also used for pointers)
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- `real` (Q16.16 fixed-point real numbers)
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- `str` (Fat pointers of 4-byte char packed or slices)
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ZRL bridges retro-inspired creativity with modern portability for:
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- Game jams (rapid prototyping + 3D engine).
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- Indie games (5th/6th-gen aesthetics).
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- Permacomputing (low-resource, sustainable code).
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- Education (simple VM/language design).
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**Array Semantics:**
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- Row-major, Fortran-style; replaces need for vec2/vec3/mat4x4
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- Arrays are first-class values
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- The compiler generates *array multiplication code*
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- Supports array composition and manipulation without needing OOP or polymorphism
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**Boolean/Enum Strategy:**
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- Compile-time transformation of flags into parallel arrays
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- Example: `monster_alive`, `monster_dead` → `MultiArrayList`
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* Graphics & Devices
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**Graphics:**
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- Memory-mapped devices (e.g., SDL surface points into memory)
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- All rendering is done by manipulating the memory directly
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- **Texture system**:
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- RGB8888 format default
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- Tile sizes: 8×8 to 32×32
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- Built-in automatic mipmapping (default for 128px), optional manual override
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**3D Primitives:**
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- Built-in support for simple 3D shapes
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- Aimed at enabling PS1/N64-style rendering with minimal code
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* Development Environment
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**Goals:**
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- Live coding: Compile and inject code while VM is running
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- Hot module reloading
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- Shadowing + symbol versioning (inspired by Forth word tables)
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- REPL-style interactivity (inspired by Lisp environments)
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**Symbol Table & Module System:**
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- Objects embed *load-code* for reconstruction
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- Runtime symbol manipulation and memory inspection
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- Final binaries are snapshots of the memory + symbol table
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* Sustainability & Permacomputing
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The entire system adheres to the ethos of *Permacomputing*:
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- Minimal resource usage
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- Transparent, inspectable code and memory layouts
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- Deterministic execution
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- No garbage collector, no dynamic allocation
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- Emphasis on long-term legibility and preservation
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* Implementation Status & Roadmap
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- [X] Implement frame-based memory management
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- [ ] Add SDL device layer
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- [ ] Write compiler front-end for ZREL
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- [ ] Add array multiplication code generation
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- [ ] Develop 3D primitive library
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- [ ] Design module and hot reload system
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* License
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To be determined. Preferably a permissive license (e.g., MIT, 0BSD) for long-term survivability.
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* Inspirations
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- [[https://wiki.xxiivv.com/site/uxn.html][Uxn VM]]
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- [[https://plan9.io/][Plan 9]]
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- [[https://www.permacomputing.net][Permacomputing wiki]]
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- [[https://handmade.network][Handmade Network]]
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- [[http://duskos.org/][Dusk OS]]
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- [[https://doc.cat-v.org/inferno/4th_edition/dis_VM_specification][Dis VM]]
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- [[https://www.craftinginterpreters.com/the-lox-language.html][Lox]]
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- [[https://lua.org][Lua]]
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- [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisp_(programming_language)][Lisp]]
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- [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_(programming_language)][C]]
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- [[https://fortran-lang.org/][Fortran]]
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- [[https://ziglang.org/][Zig]]
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- Retro systems like:
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- N64
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- PlayStation 1
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- Macintosh Classic (System 7)
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- Windows 95
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