Getting started

This page will guide you through downloading, installing and using Pikt.

1. Download the Pikt archive and extract its content anywhere.
   The archive contains:

• pikt.jar: the executable;
• colors.properties: the default color scheme;
• colors.png the default color scheme as a palette image;
• kotlin-compiler-[version].zip: the Kotlin compiler needed to compile/interpret sources;
• lib/: external libraries, including the stdlib.

2. Unzip the Kotlin compiler anywhere to extract the kotlinc folder.

3. Create a very small (e.g. 5x5 pixels) white image with any editor you like and save it as a PNG file.
   I personally use Photoshop, but any pixel art editor will be good.
   You may also use the Piskel web app.

4. Test if everything is set: run
   java -Dsource=<your_image.png> -Dcolors=colors -Dtargets=jvm -Djvmcompiler=<path_to_kotlinc>/bin/kotlinc -jar pikt.jar
   This should compile a JAR executable into the out/ folder that will do nothing since your source image is empty.

Note: append .bat to the -Djvmcompiler property if you are on Windows.

-Dcolors points to the .properties color scheme that your program uses, which is the default one in this case.

On-the-fly interpretation is also available:
java -Dsource=<your_image.png> -Dcolors=colors -Djvmcompiler=<path_to_kotlinc>/bin/kotlinc -jar pikt.jar -interpret