Question 1

How do I install picotool on Windows?

Accepted Answer

Install Python 3.4 or later, download the zip or clone the repo, then run 'pip install .' from the directory. This adds p8tool to your path for command-line use.

Question 2

Picotool vs PICO-8's #include: which should I use?

Accepted Answer

Use PICO-8's #include for basic modular code in simple projects, as it's built-in and easier. Picotool's require() is better for complex workflows with reusable libraries or asset assembly from multiple sources.

Question 3

How to minify Lua code with picotool?

Accepted Answer

Run 'p8tool luamin' on a cartridge file; it renames variables and removes whitespace to save characters. However, this is only useful if you hit the character limit before tokens, which is rare.

Question 4

Can picotool convert .p8.png to .p8 files?

Accepted Answer

Yes, use 'p8tool writep8' to extract data to a text-based .p8 file, useful for editing or analyzing carts outside PICO-8's environment.

Question 5

How does picotool's require() differ from Lua's?

Accepted Answer

It works at build time, inserting package code into the cart with a table-based system, and strips game loop functions by default. It's not runtime-loading like standard Lua.

Question 6

Is picotool's token count reliable for PICO-8?

Accepted Answer

No, the README admits discrepancies with PICO-8's counts, though usually small. Use it as a guide, but verify with PICO-8's editor for precise optimization.

picotool

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