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A comment on Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusively on the Game Boy.

Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by recursivedoubts on Sunday July 26, 2026 @11:34AM (#49059192)
hello all, we are releasing htmx 4.0 on the Game Boy and Gameboy Color (thank you rcy for submitting)

it is a real, honest-to-goodness mario-bros inspired GameBoy game with four levels over three biomes ending in a slop factory where you battle final boss warren buffering (an online character I beef with, we are friends)

if you beat him it unlocks the source code for htmx 4.0

game was written by Stephen Mitchell (aka scum) by hand, using GBStudio w/heavy customizations, hoping to get an essay by him up soon talking about the creation of the game

carts were produced w/the expertise of Jarason Banes who also did the cover design. Cover art is by Ash (https://www.fiverr.com/ae1996/) who also did the soft-cover art for https://hypermedia.systems

Hope you find it enjoyable if you get a copy and at least find it funny if you don't :)

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by iamwil on Sunday July 26, 2026 @11:59AM (#49059444)
Is it a real physical cartridge? How do you get the source code off the cartridge at the end? Or does it give you a passcode to a git repo or…like an NFT with access to the source?
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by sroerick on Sunday July 26, 2026 @12:07PM (#49059524)
It's a real cartridge

There's a source code reader at the end of the game, tbd if there are transfer abilities, I haven't beat it yet

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by recursivedoubts on Sunday July 26, 2026 @12:09PM (#49059543)
yep, you'd need to transcribe it
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Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by asploder on Sunday July 26, 2026 @12:08PM (#49059534)
This is too funny, how could I not?
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Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by Klonoar on Sunday July 26, 2026 @11:56AM (#49059419)
How much did this cost to make/produce?
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Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by sroerick on Sunday July 26, 2026 @12:10PM (#49059551)
Whatever it cost, he also gave out free copies at BSDC, what an unbelievably cool and nice thing to do
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by zogrodea on Sunday July 26, 2026 @02:20PM (#49060816)
"Big Sky Dev Con", not "Better Software Conference" for those who were (like me) initially confused. :)

Someone commented in the past few days that the most impressive demo they saw in a conference was LibreOffice running on Fil-C, and I agreed.

However, this took the #1 spot from it (leaving that previous demo in #2) in my opinion. Very impressive, and nostalgic too.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by sroerick on Sunday July 26, 2026 @03:59PM (#49061863)
I'll also say - scum gave a presentation which was actually very touching. "Love what you do, care deeply about your projects, be with your family". Combined with everything you already said - pretty awesome stuff
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Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by SahAssar on Monday July 27, 2026 @04:05AM (#49066480)
The Fil-C one was at https://softwareshould.work/, not https://bettersoftwareconference.com/.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by scumdude on Sunday July 26, 2026 @12:02PM (#49059474)
Wait - you guys got paid?
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Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by Klonoar on Sunday July 26, 2026 @02:55PM (#49061185)
Reddit is that way ->
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by sroerick on Sunday July 26, 2026 @09:36PM (#49064223)
lol you're talking to the guy who coded it
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by Klonoar on Monday July 27, 2026 @02:35AM (#49065864)
Then I retract my knee-jerk reaction and label myself a moron. :)

Thanks for pointing it out, lol

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by superdisk on Sunday July 26, 2026 @12:58PM (#49060000)
Did you use the built in GB studio sound engine? If so that's my code :) Always enjoyable when it pops up in places like this. Looks like a fun project.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by scumdude on Sunday July 26, 2026 @02:12PM (#49060744)
Yes, we did. It was a blast using that to make the sounds and music.

Got really good at using it by the end of the project. You can listen to the trailer music here. Let me know what you think.

https://www.youtube.com/live/9ubSJGyB21Q?si=sz-8pxPs6zxVYMfY...

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by superdisk on Sunday July 26, 2026 @02:20PM (#49060820)
Haha, awesome. And I like all the wacky Mario Land 2 references :)
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Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by mitjam on Sunday July 26, 2026 @01:01PM (#49060035)
Amazing, can’t wait to see the first unboxing / let’s play / review videos.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by mvdwoord on Sunday July 26, 2026 @01:17PM (#49060173)
Ordered... along with some other swag.

Love HTMX, can't wait for my https://brickboy.xyz/ to arrive so I can get to work!

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by chrismaltby on Sunday July 26, 2026 @01:26PM (#49060263)
Oh hey, I made GB Studio, really cool to see it being used for this :) I've got some nice features in progress for the next version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8UKwV1gJAI
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by scumdude on Sunday July 26, 2026 @01:46PM (#49060452)
Sweet - thanks for your work on GB Studio, Chris. The music, sprite and palette tools were invaluable during development.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by WD-42 on Sunday July 26, 2026 @01:26PM (#49060268)
Wait but where do we get a gameboy?
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Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by recursivedoubts on Sunday July 26, 2026 @01:29PM (#49060296)
modretro has new ones

https://modretro.com/products/chromatic-tetris-bundle

you can find cheaper ones on amazon/temu too

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by scumdude on Sunday July 26, 2026 @01:50PM (#49060505)
The Chromatic is an awesome experience to play. The HTMX 4 game has an auto-loader which immediately drops you into the game at your last checkpoint. Since the Chromatic has no boot screen, you're back in play within a second of powering on the system.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by WD-42 on Sunday July 26, 2026 @10:24PM (#49064534)
Do they license from Nintendo or something? I thought this kind of stuff was lawyer bait.
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Re:Htmx 4.0, the first JavaScript library to release exclusi... by mossTechnician on Monday July 27, 2026 @11:38AM (#49071167)
My hat's off to you for finding and shouting out an artist to complete the look!
[ Parent | on HN ]