machin-game-demo-snake

name	machin-game-demo-snake
description	Build, run, and modify machin-game-demo-snake — a terminal Snake game written in machin (MFL). Use when working on this repo, or as a worked example of real-time terminal input (raw_mode/read_key), ANSI rendering, and the frame-loop pattern in MFL.

machin-game-demo-snake

The classic Snake, written in machin (MFL) and compiled to one native binary. It is the reference example for interactive terminal programs in machin.

The shared game-dev setup, build-and-verify workflow, and the cross-cutting caveats/gotchas live in the canonical machin-gamedev skill (terminal + GUI + audio). This file is Snake's specifics.

Build & run

./build.sh                 # machin encode snake.src -> snake.mfl, then machin build -> ./machin-game-demo-snake
./machin-game-demo-snake        # play

Requires machin v0.41.0+ (for the raw_mode/read_key builtins). MACHIN=/path/to/machin ./build.sh to use a specific compiler.

Controls: w a s d or h j k l to steer, q to quit.

The two builtins this game is built on

machin's input() is line-buffered — it blocks until Enter. A game can't use that, so machin v0.41.0 added real terminal input:

• raw_mode(on) -> int — raw_mode(1) puts the tty in cbreak + no-echo mode (keys arrive immediately, nothing is echoed); raw_mode(0) restores the saved settings. Always pair them, and restore before exit (this game does it right before printing "game over").