wtf is tic-80?

TIC-80 is a "fantasy computer", a simulated, retro-style machine that lets you build, play, and share small games. Think of it as a virtual game console from the 1980s, complete with built-in tools for drawing sprites, composing sound effects, and writing code, all in one package. This specific repository contains the build files that let TIC-80 run inside libretro, which is a framework for running classic games and apps through a single interface. At a high level, this project wraps TIC-80 so it behaves like a "core" that the libretro platform can understand. In practical terms, that means if you use a libretro-compatible app (many people use these as emulators for old game systems), you can launch and play TIC-80 games directly within it, rather than running a separate standalone program. The actual source code for TIC-80 itself lives in a separate, upstream repository, this project just contains the configuration needed to make it compatible with the libretro ecosystem. You would use this if you are already a libretro user and want to explore the world of "fantasy console" games without adding another app to your workflow. For example, if you use RetroArch to play old console games, this lets you also browse and run the tiny, creative games people have built for TIC-80, everything from puzzle games to mini-adventures, right from the same menu. One notable tradeoff mentioned in the README: to ensure this version works across every device libretro supports, a few of the programming languages normally available in TIC-80 have been disabled. Specifically, Ruby, Python, Janet, and Scheme are turned off in this build. This means you can still play games written in other supported languages, but if a particular game was coded in one of those four, it won't run through this specific build.