Install¶
chilichip needs Python 3.10 or newer. Install it with pipx, which keeps it in its own environment and puts the chilichip and 32blit commands on your PATH. The commands below install v0.8.0, the latest release.
sudo apt install pipx git
pipx ensurepath
pipx install https://github.com/chili-chip/chilichip-cli/releases/download/v0.8.0/chilichip-0.8.0-py3-none-any.whl
brew install pipx git
pipx ensurepath
pipx install https://github.com/chili-chip/chilichip-cli/releases/download/v0.8.0/chilichip-0.8.0-py3-none-any.whl
Install Python, then in PowerShell:
py -m pip install --user pipx
py -m pipx ensurepath
pipx install https://github.com/chili-chip/chilichip-cli/releases/download/v0.8.0/chilichip-0.8.0-py3-none-any.whl
Firmware updates and game installs work on Windows. To build games for the console, use WSL as the SDK docs describe.
Open a new terminal, then check it works:
$ chilichip --version
chilichip, version 0.8.0
To update it later, run the pipx install command again with the newer release's file and --force. The releases page lists every version.
Already using the 32blit tools?
chilichip includes the 32blit command. Uninstall the old one first (pip uninstall 32blit, or delete the virtual environment you made for it), so only one 32blit is on your PATH.
USB access on Linux¶
The console shows up as a serial port, for example /dev/ttyACM0. On most Linux systems only the dialout group can open serial ports. Add yourself once, then log out and back in:
sudo usermod -aG dialout $USER
Without this, commands that talk to the console fail with Cannot open /dev/ttyACM0: Permission denied.
Check your setup¶
Run chilichip doctor. It lists every tool and SDK the build needs and says how to install what is missing:
$ chilichip doctor
ok CMake /usr/bin/cmake
ok Git /usr/bin/git
ok C++ compiler /usr/bin/g++
ok SDL2 /usr/bin/sdl2-config
no Arm toolchain sudo apt install gcc-arm-none-eabi libnewlib-arm-none-eabi libstdc++-arm-none-eabi-newlib, or brew install --cask gcc-arm-embedded
ok 32blit tool /home/ada/.local/bin/32blit
ok 32blit-sdk /home/ada/projects/32blit-sdk
no pico-sdk git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/chili-chip/pico-sdk /home/ada/projects/pico-sdk
no pico-extras git clone https://github.com/chili-chip/pico-extras /home/ada/projects/pico-extras
ok Console /dev/ttyACM0
You only need the console tools (Arm toolchain, pico-sdk, pico-extras) to build games for the console. Updating the firmware and installing games need nothing but chilichip and a USB cable.
Folder layout¶
Game projects expect the SDKs next to them, as in the SDK's Install the tools page. chilichip new offers to download whatever is missing:
projects/
├── 32blit-sdk/ # ChiliChip Game SDK
├── pico-sdk/ # console builds only
├── pico-extras/ # console builds only
└── space-cat/ # your game, made with chilichip new