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== Welcome to SizeCoding.org! ==
 
== Welcome to SizeCoding.org! ==
  
'''SizeCoding.org is a wiki dedicated to the art of creating very tiny programs for the 80x86 family of CPUs.'''  By "very tiny programs", we mean programs that are '''256 bytes or less in size''', typically created by members of the demoscene as a show of programming skill. The size of these tiny programs is measured by their total size in opcode bytes, and are usually presented as executable .COM files to be run in pure DOS, a DOS VM running inside another operating system, or an emulator that can run DOS such as DOSBox. Despite their tiny size, these programs are able to produce amazing graphical displays, playable games, and sometimes music.  There are even some surprisingly effective programs in under 16 bytes, such as a maze generator in 10 bytes, and an "Enter the Matrix" screensaver in only 8 bytes.  
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'''SizeCoding.org''' is a wiki dedicated to teaching programmers the various techniques used to create [https://nanogems.demozoo.org/ tiny demoscene intros]. While these techniques can be used for other applications (boot sectors, ROM, BIOS and firmware code, etc.), the information presented here is firmly oriented towards the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demoscene demoscene]. Practicality and common sense are sometimes thrown out the window just to shave a single byte.
  
The intent of this wiki is to teach x86 assembler programmers the various tricks and techniques used to create tiny demoscene intros. While these techniques can be used for other applications (boot sectors, BIOS and firmware code, etc.), the information presented here is firmly oriented towards the demoscene.
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For those unfamiliar with the demoscene or demoscene effects, here is:
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*'''[https://nanogems.demozoo.org/ A curated collection of the best Tiny Intros from the Demoscene]'''
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*'''[[Design Tips and Demoscene effects with pseudo code]]'''
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*'''[[Information about demoscene parties]]'''
  
This wiki is divided into the following major sections:
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Now with that said, here is the list of active platforms available on this wiki:
  
:[[Getting Started]] - What do you need to know before starting your first tinyprog?
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'''Oldschool 8-bit / 16-bit platforms:'''
:[[Techniques|Tips, Tricks, and Techniques]] - The meat of the wiki.  Lists of small opcodes, default environment settings, size optimization basics, and a ton of random tips.
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*'''[[Motorola 68000]]''' - [[Commodore_Amiga]], [[Atari_ST]], [[Spectrum_QL]], [[X68000]], etc.
:[[Case Studies]] - Analysis of existing award-winning tiny programs, with comments on what choices were made and why.
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*'''[[6502]]''' - Commodore 64, Atari XE/XL, Apple II, Atari Lynx, BBC Micro, etc.
:[[Resources|Additional Resources]] - Discussion threads, competitions, repositories, and other external references that can aid you in your quest.
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*'''[[Z80]]''' - ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, etc.
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*'''[[6809]]''' - Dragon 32/64, Tandy CoCo, Vectrex, etc.
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*'''[[PDP-11]]''' - BK-0010 / BK-0011, etc.
  
This wiki is still under construction, and is not yet open for business.
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'''As well as modern platforms like:'''
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*'''[[Fantasy consoles]]''' - [[TIC-80]], [[PICO-8]], [[MicroW8]]
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*'''[[Windows]]''' - Sizecoding for Windows: 1K and 4K intros.
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*'''[[DOS]]''' - Sizecoding for X86 / DOS.
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*'''[[Javascript]]''' - Sizecoding for Browsers / JavaScript
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*'''[[Processing]]''' - Sizecoding using Processing
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*'''[[Linux]]''' - Sizecoding for Linux.
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*'''[[ARM]]''' - ARM-based platforms (RISC OS, Acorn Archimedes, Gameboy Advance, etc.)
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*'''[[RISC-V]]''' - RISC−V micro-processors.
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*'''[[ReGIS]]''' - VT125, VT230, VT240/241 and more terminal display vector graphics language.
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*'''[[Bytebeat]]''' - Tiny music created from mathematical expressions.
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By "very tiny programs", we usually mean programs that are '''1024 bytes or less in size''', typically created by members of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demoscene demoscene] as a show of programming skill. In other scenes this artform is sometimes also known as generative , codeart , proceduralart , generativeart , codegolfing , codegolf , tweetcart dwitter , twigl and tweetjam.
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The size of these tiny programs is measured by their total size in opcode bytes, and are usually presented as an executable binary. Despite their tiny size, these programs are able to produce amazing graphical displays, playable games, and sometimes music. There are even some surprisingly effective programs in just '''16 bytes'''  [https://demozoo.org/productions/?platform=&production_type=55] or even '''8 bytes''' [https://demozoo.org/productions/?platform=&production_type=54].

Latest revision as of 16:21, 8 June 2025

Welcome to SizeCoding.org!

SizeCoding.org is a wiki dedicated to teaching programmers the various techniques used to create tiny demoscene intros. While these techniques can be used for other applications (boot sectors, ROM, BIOS and firmware code, etc.), the information presented here is firmly oriented towards the demoscene. Practicality and common sense are sometimes thrown out the window just to shave a single byte.

For those unfamiliar with the demoscene or demoscene effects, here is:

Now with that said, here is the list of active platforms available on this wiki:

Oldschool 8-bit / 16-bit platforms:


As well as modern platforms like:

  • Fantasy consoles - TIC-80, PICO-8, MicroW8
  • Windows - Sizecoding for Windows: 1K and 4K intros.
  • DOS - Sizecoding for X86 / DOS.
  • Javascript - Sizecoding for Browsers / JavaScript
  • Processing - Sizecoding using Processing
  • Linux - Sizecoding for Linux.
  • ARM - ARM-based platforms (RISC OS, Acorn Archimedes, Gameboy Advance, etc.)
  • RISC-V - RISC−V micro-processors.
  • ReGIS - VT125, VT230, VT240/241 and more terminal display vector graphics language.
  • Bytebeat - Tiny music created from mathematical expressions.

By "very tiny programs", we usually mean programs that are 1024 bytes or less in size, typically created by members of the demoscene as a show of programming skill. In other scenes this artform is sometimes also known as generative , codeart , proceduralart , generativeart , codegolfing , codegolf , tweetcart dwitter , twigl and tweetjam.

The size of these tiny programs is measured by their total size in opcode bytes, and are usually presented as an executable binary. Despite their tiny size, these programs are able to produce amazing graphical displays, playable games, and sometimes music. There are even some surprisingly effective programs in just 16 bytes [1] or even 8 bytes [2].