PICO-8 to PIGO8 Comparison

Key Differences

Aspect	PICO-8	PIGO8
Language	Lua	Go
Array indexing	Starts at 1	Starts at 0
Code limits	8192 tokens	None
Memory limits	32KB	None
Resolution	Fixed 128×128	Configurable
Platform	Fantasy console	Native + WebAssembly
License	Commercial ($15)	MIT (free)

Function Mapping

Graphics

PICO-8	PIGO8	Notes
`cls(c)`	`p8.Cls(c)`	Same
`pset(x,y,c)`	`p8.Pset(x,y,c)`	Same
`pget(x,y)`	`p8.Pget(x,y)`	Same
`line(x1,y1,x2,y2,c)`	`p8.Line(x1,y1,x2,y2,c)`	Same
`rect(x1,y1,x2,y2,c)`	`p8.Rect(x1,y1,x2,y2,c)`	Same
`rectfill(...)`	`p8.Rectfill(...)`	Same
`circ(x,y,r,c)`	`p8.Circ(x,y,r,c)`	Same
`circfill(...)`	`p8.Circfill(...)`	Same
`print(s,x,y,c)`	`p8.Print(s,x,y,c)`	Same
`color(c)`	`p8.Color(c)`	Same
`cursor(x,y,c)`	`p8.Cursor(x,y,c)`	Same

Sprites

PICO-8	PIGO8	Notes
`spr(n,x,y,w,h,fx,fy)`	`p8.Spr(n,x,y,w,h,fx,fy)`	Same
`sspr(...)`	`p8.Sspr(...)`	Same
`sget(x,y)`	`p8.Sget(x,y)`	Same
`sset(x,y,c)`	`p8.Sset(x,y,c)`	Same
`fget(n,f)`	`p8.Fget(n,f)`	Returns (bitfield, isSet)
`fset(n,f,v)`	`p8.Fset(n,f,v)`	Same

Maps

PICO-8	PIGO8	Notes
`map(mx,my,sx,sy,w,h,l)`	`p8.Map(mx,my,sx,sy,w,h,l)`	Same
`mget(x,y)`	`p8.Mget(x,y)`	Same
`mset(x,y,s)`	`p8.Mset(x,y,s)`	Same

Input

PICO-8	PIGO8	Notes
`btn(b)`	`p8.Btn(p8.LEFT)`	Use constants
`btnp(b)`	`p8.Btnp(p8.X)`	Use constants

Palette

PICO-8	PIGO8	Notes
`pal(c0,c1)`	`p8.Pal(c0,c1)`	Same
`pal()`	`p8.Pal()`	Reset
`palt(c,t)`	`p8.Palt(c,t)`	Same

Math

PICO-8	PIGO8	Notes
`flr(x)`	`p8.Flr(x)`	Same
`rnd(x)`	`p8.Rnd(x)`	Returns int, not float
`sqrt(x)`	`p8.Sqrt(x)`	Same
`sin(x)`	`math.Sin(x)`	Use Go's math package
`cos(x)`	`math.Cos(x)`	Use Go's math package
`abs(x)`	`math.Abs(x)`	Use Go's math package
`min(a,b)`	`math.Min(a,b)`	Use Go's math package
`max(a,b)`	`math.Max(a,b)`	Use Go's math package

Audio

PICO-8	PIGO8	Notes
`sfx(n)`	`p8.Music(n)`	Plays WAV files
`music(n)`	`p8.Music(n)`	Same function

Time

PICO-8	PIGO8	Notes
`t()`	`p8.T()` or `p8.Time()`	Same
`time()`	`p8.Time()`	Same

Camera

PICO-8	PIGO8	Notes
`camera(x,y)`	`p8.Camera(x,y)`	Same
`camera()`	`p8.Camera()`	Reset to (0,0)

PIGO8 Extras

These functions are unique to PIGO8:

Function	Description
`p8.ColorCollision(x,y,c)`	Pixel-based collision
`p8.MapCollision(x,y,f,w,h)`	Tile-based collision
`p8.GetScreenWidth()`	Get screen dimensions
`p8.GetScreenHeight()`	Get screen dimensions
`p8.SetPalette(colors)`	Custom palettes
`p8.SetPaletteColor(i,c)`	Change single color
`p8.ClsRGBA(c)`	Clear with any color

Code Example Comparison

PICO-8 (Lua)

function _init()
  x = 64
  y = 64
end

function _update()
  if btn(0) then x -= 1 end
  if btn(1) then x += 1 end
  if btn(2) then y -= 1 end
  if btn(3) then y += 1 end
end

function _draw()
  cls(0)
  spr(1, x, y)
end

PIGO8 (Go)

type game struct {
    x, y float64
}

func (g *game) Init() {
    g.x = 64
    g.y = 64
}

func (g *game) Update() {
    if p8.Btn(p8.LEFT)  { g.x-- }
    if p8.Btn(p8.RIGHT) { g.x++ }
    if p8.Btn(p8.UP)    { g.y-- }
    if p8.Btn(p8.DOWN)  { g.y++ }
}

func (g *game) Draw() {
    p8.Cls(0)
    p8.Spr(1, g.x, g.y)
}

func main() {
    p8.InsertGame(&game{})
    p8.Play()
}

Migration Tips

Arrays: Change arr[1] to arr[0]
Variables: Declare with var or :=
Functions: Use func keyword
Methods: Attach to structs with receivers
Math: Import math package for sin/cos/etc.
Strings: Use fmt.Sprintf for formatting
Tables: Use structs or maps
Local: All Go variables are local by default

PIGO8 Documentation