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chilichip CLI

chilichip is one command for everything you do with a ChiliChip console from your computer:

Job Command What it does
Keep the console current chilichip update Installs the latest loader, home screen and Bitsy player. Games and saves stay.
Put games on it chilichip install game.blit Installs .blit games and .bitsy files over USB, no drive copying.
Start a game chilichip new space-cat Makes a new game from the ChiliChip template.
Play it chilichip run Builds the game and starts it on your computer or on the console.

Run chilichip with no command to open the TUI, which does the same jobs with menus:

The TUI's Console tab: the connected console, its installed games, and buttons to install, launch and delete

Quick start

pipx install https://github.com/chili-chip/chilichip-cli/releases/download/v0.8.0/chilichip-0.8.0-py3-none-any.whl
chilichip update                      # bring the console up to date
chilichip new space-cat && cd space-cat
chilichip run                         # play it on your computer
chilichip run --console               # play it on the console

See Install for the details, including the USB permission step on Linux.

How it fits together

flowchart LR
    you([You]) --> cli[chilichip<br/>CLI or TUI]
    cli -- GitHub releases --> gh[(32blit-sdk<br/>citsy-32blit)]
    cli -- cmake --> build[Your game<br/>out/build/...]
    cli -- USB serial --> loader[Console loader]
    cli -- UF2 copy --> bootsel[RP2350 BOOTSEL drive]
    loader --> flash[(Games in flash)]
    loader --> drive[(CHILICHIP drive<br/>saves, .bitsy files)]

The 32blit command

chilichip is a fork of 32blit-tools. Installing it also gives you the 32blit command, which the SDK's CMake files call to pack images, fonts and maps into your game. See The 32blit asset tools.