Introducing SDL_Chomik: Graphics with Chomik + SDL2

SDL_Chomik is an extension of the Chomik programming language that integrates the SDL2 graphics library.
It inherits all of Chomik’s features while adding the ability to create windows, display images, and interact with graphics — all in Chomik’s unique style.

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Quickstart: Your First SDL_Chomik Program

<create new image "chomik.png">;
let sdl loop body = value code
{
<show image <the created image index> 0 0>;
};
<sdl loop>;

Run with:

sdl_chomik hello.sdl_chomik

This will:

1. Load the included chomik.png (public domain, found in the Chomik source repo under image/).

2. Open an 800×600 graphics window.

3. Display the hamster image in the top-left corner.

That’s all it takes to get graphics on the screen with SDL_Chomik.

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The Smallest Possible Program

The most minimal valid SDL_Chomik program is:

<sdl loop>;

The sdl loop is a predefined code in SDL_Chomik.
This program opens an 800×600 graphics window and runs the main loop — but displays nothing unless you define what happens in each iteration.

Even a completely blank file will open and close a window instantly, because without a main loop execution, SDL_Chomik quits immediately.

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How the Main Loop Works

<sdl loop> depends on a predefined code variable called sdl loop body.

Although sdl loop body is predefined, you can assign your own code to it.
If you do, <sdl loop> will execute it every iteration of the main loop.

Example:
let sdl loop body = value code
{
<print "Hello world">;
};
<sdl loop>;

If run with sdl_chomik, this will print "Hello world" repeatedly to the terminal — not the graphics window.

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Displaying Images

To show graphics, you first need an image file.
Use the included chomik.png from the Chomik source repository’s image folder.

Load it with:
<create new image "chomik.png">;

create is a built-in family of variables in Chomik. SDL_Chomik extends it with create new image, which loads an image file.
When called, it sets the predefined integer variable the created image index to the ID of the loaded image.

You can store this ID in your own variable, but for now we’ll use it directly.

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Putting It Together

<create new image "chomik.png">;
let sdl loop body = value code
{
<show image <the created image index> 0 0>;
};
<sdl loop>;

Here’s what happens:

1. The image is loaded.

2. We assign a custom sdl loop body that draws the image at (0,0) every frame.

3. <sdl loop> runs forever (until you close the window), calling sdl loop body each frame.

By the way, “chomik” means “hamster” in Polish. 🐹