ref: fe6df133702f992ac2e919ff538e063b4e9510e4
dir: /README.md/
# ORCΛ
<img src='https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hundredrabbits/Orca/master/resources/logo.png' width="600"/>
**Each letter of the alphabet is an operation**, lowercase letters typically operate on bang(`*`), uppercase letters operate on each frame. Bangs can be generated by various operations, such as `E` colliding with a `0`, see the [bang.orca](https://github.com/hundredrabbits/Orca/blob/master/examples/bang.orca) example. Watch a music video of [ORCΛ in action](https://twitter.com/neauoire/status/1069129232708657152).
**C Port** for the [ORCΛ](https://github.com/hundredrabbits/Orca) programming environment, with a commandline interpreter.
## Prerequisites
Core library: A C99 compiler (no VLAs required), plus enough libc for `malloc`, `realloc`, `free`, `memcpy`, `memset`, and `memmove`.
Command-line interpreter: The above, plus POSIX, and enough libc for the common string operations (`strlen`, `strcmp`, etc.)
Interactive terminal UI: The above, plus ncurses (or compatible curses library), and floating point support (for timing.)
Note: the core library for running an orca virtual machine *should* in theory build on anything, but the project is being worked on quickly right now, so it might accidentally include something from POSIX that isn't available on Windows, for example. The header files also need some restructuring. Please open an issue or send a message on twitter if you need help building the core virtual machine for your own use, and I'll try to clean it up for you.
## Build
The build script is in `bash`. It should work with `gcc` (including the `musl-gcc` wrapper) and `clang`, and will automatically detect your compiler.
Currently known to build on macOS (`gcc`, `clang`) and Linux (`gcc`, `musl-gcc`, and `clang`, optionally with `LLD`), and Windows via cygwin or WSL (`gcc` or `clang`).
There is a fire-and-forget `make` wrapper around the build script.
### Make
```sh
make debug # debugging build, binary placed at build/debug/orca
make release # optimized build, binary placed at build/release/orca
make clean # removes build/
```
### Build Script
Run `./tool --help` to see usage info. Examples:
```sh
./tool -c clang-7 build release orca
# build the terminal ui with a compiler named
# clang-7, with optimizations enabled.
# binary placed at build/release/orca
./tool build debug cli
# debug build of the headless CLI interpreter
# binary placed at build/debug/cli
./tool clean
# same as make clean, removes build/
```
## Run
### Interactive terminal UI
```sh
orca [options] [file]
```
Run the interactive terminal UI, useful for debugging or observing behavior. Pass `-h` or `--help` to see command-line argument usage.
#### Controls
- `ctrl+q`: quit
- `arrow keys` or `ctrl+h/j/k/l`: move cursor
- `A`-`Z`, `a`-`z`, `0`-`9`, and other printable characters: write character to grid at cursor
- `spacebar`: play or pause
- `ctrl+f`: step the simulation one tick forward
- `ctrl+z` or `ctrl+u`: undo
- `ctrl+x`: cut
- `ctrl+c`: copy
- `ctrl+v`: paste
- `ctrl+s`: save
- `ctrl+d` or `F1`: open main menu
- `return` or `enter`: change into or out of overwrite/append mode
- `/`: change into or out of key-trigger mode (for the `!` operator)
- `'` (single quote): change into or out of rectangle selection size adjustment mode
- `shift+arrow keys`: adjust rectangle selection size (only in some terminals)
- `escape`: return to normal mode, or deselect (set cursor rectangle selection to 1x1)
- `[` and `]`: adjust cosmetic grid rulers horizontally
- `{` and `}`: adjust cosmetic grid rulers vertically
- `(` and `)`: resize grid horizontally
- `_` and `+`: resize grid vertically
- `<` and `>`: adjust BPM
### CLI interpreter
The CLI (`cli` binary) reads from a file and runs the orca simulation for 1 timestep (default) or a specified number (`-t` option) and writes the resulting state of the grid to stdout.
```sh
cli [-t timesteps] infile
```
You can also make `cli` read from stdin:
```sh
echo -e "...\na34\n..." | cli /dev/stdin
```
## Extras
- Support this project through [Patreon](https://patreon.com/100).
- See the [License](LICENSE.md) file for license rights and limitations (MIT).
- Pull Requests are welcome!