SIZECODING

Sizecoding is the art of creatively coding tiny programs in just 256 bytes or less. That's tiny! When these programs are executed, they often create abstract generative art. They might produce random colors and shapes on the screen, moving scenery, or an interactive work of art. Sometimes they even run a super-tiny, playable game!

Using a fantasy console like PICO-8, you can create sizecoding programs with 256 characters of Lua code. Select one of my PICO-8 sizecoding projects below to view the art and code.

Square

-- PICO-8 code by M4TTBIT

::😐::
for x=1,6000 do
pset(rnd(128),rnd(128),0)
end
x=60+cos(t())*45
y=60+sin(t())*0
rectfill(x,y,x+8,y+8,7)
flip()
rectfill(x,y,x+8,y+8,rnd(16))
goto 😐

Light Tunnel

-- PICO-8 code by M4TTBIT

cls()
::_::
x=60
y=60
sx=68
sy=68
for i=1,12 do
c=rnd({6,7,12,13})
rect(x,y,sx,sy,c)
x-=5
y-=5
sx+=5
sy+=5
flip()
end
goto _

Spider

-- PICO-8 code by M4TTBIT

r=rectfill
f=0
c=7
::_::
cls()
x=60+sin(t()/4)*45
y=60+sin(t())*30
q=y+1
if time()-f>0.5then
q-=2
end
if time()-f>1then
f=time()
c=rnd(6)+6
end
r(x,y,x+6,y+5,c)
for i=0,1 do
r(x-2,y,x-1,y,c)
r(x+7,y,x+8,y,c)
r(x-4,q,x-3,q,c)
r(x+9,q,x+10,q,c)
q+=5y+=5
end
flip()
goto _

Centipede

-- PICO-8 code by M4TTBIT

::_::
print('centipede',40,110,7)
c=14
x=cos(t())*15
y=65
r=55
for i=0,1 do
line(60+x*0.3,23,r+x*0.3,18,7)
r+=10
end
for i=0,3 do
circfill(60+x,y,5,c)
x*=0.75
y+=10
c-=1
end
x=cos(t())*15
y=55
c=9
for i=0,3 do
circfill(60+x,y,5,c)
x*=0.75
y-=10
c+=1
end
flip()
cls()
goto _