Distribution Tool for SmallBASIC

Package your SmallBASIC program with all the files needed and share the package with your friends. The packages for Windows contain an exe-file for starting your program. The Linux AppImage can be directly executed. Android apk can be uploaded to the Google play store or transfered via USB to an android device.

The following packages can be created:

Distribution Tool for Windows:
- Package as a directory for Win64
- Self extracting zip file for Win64
Distribution Tool for Linux
- Package as a directory for Win64
- Self extracting zip file for Win64
- AppImage for Linux
Distribution Tool for Android
- Signed Android apk

How to use

Distribution Tool for Windows

Download the newest release of the Distribution Tool for Windows (zip file)
Extract the zip file and start DistributionTool.exe
Source Directory: Directory where your SmallBASIC program and all the assets are located
Destination Directory: Directory where the final packaged program should be saved.
Name of Basic File: The name of your basic file. If you have several basic files, then give the one which should be started.
Name of Program (without .exe): The name of the final executable file. Please don’t add .exe. This will be done automaticlly.
Package Version:
- Windows - Package Directory: All files are copied to a directory. You will find a .exe file for executing your program and a DATA folder with all necessary files. Please don’t rename or delete the DATA folder.
- Windows - Self Extracting Archive: A self extracting archive (using 7z) will be created. After running the archive exe a folder similar to Windows - Package Directory will be created.
SmallBASIC Version:
- SDL2 (sbasicg): choose if your program is written for the SDL version of SmallBASIC
- Console (sbasic): choose if your program is written for the console version (i.e. when using plugins like raylib or nuklear)
Click the button Package my Program

Distribution Tool for Linux

Download the newest release of the Distribution Tool for Linux (AppImage file)
Start the AppImage file (it might be necessary to make it executable: _chmod a+x DistributionTool*.AppImage_ )
Source Directory: Directory where your SmallBASIC program and all the assets are located
Destination Directory: Directory where the final packaged program should be saved
Name of Basic File: The name of your basic file. If you have several basic files, then give the one which should be started.
Name of Program (without .exe): The name of the final executable file. Please don’t add .exe. This will be done automaticlly.
Category (for Linux): Choose a category for your program. When creating an AppImage the category will be used.
Package Version:
- Windows - Package Directory: All files are copied to a directory. You will find a .exe file for executing your program and a DATA folder with all necessary files. Please don’t rename or delete the DATA folder.
- Windows - Self Extracting Archive: A self extracting archive (using 7z) will be created. After running the archive exe a folder similar to Windows - Package Directory will be created.
- Linux - AppImage: An executable AppImage will be created.
SmallBASIC Version:
- SDL2 (sbasicg): choose if your program is written for the SDL version of SmallBASIC
- Console (sbasic): choose if your program is written for the console version (i.e. when using plugins like raylib or nuklear)
Click the button Package my Program

Distribution Tool for Android

The Distribution-Tool for Android is so far only available for Linux and tested with Ubuntu 22.04 and Manjaro.

Download the newest release of the Distribution Tool for Android
Create a Distribution-Tool folder and copy the AppImage file to that folder
Install Java (and zip)
- Ubuntu: sudo apt install default-jdk
- Manjaro: sudo pacman -S jdk-openjdk zip
Since google does not allow to package a fully configured Android SDK with the distribution tool, you have to download the command-line tools for Linux and unzip the file to the Distribution-Tool folder. Beside the AppImage you should have a folder called cmdline-tools now.
Start the AppImage file (it might be necessary to make it executable: chmod a+x DistributionTool*.AppImage ). It will download and setup all necessary Android SDK components.
Create a key to sign your Android app. The key needs to be created only ones and can be used for all your apps. keytool -genkey -v -keystore my-release-key.jks -keyalg RSA -keysize 2048 -validity 10000 -alias my-alias will create a keystore called my-release-key.jks with a key called my-alias. Feel free to change the names.
Create app icons. An easy way is to use an online icon creator, like icon.kitchen. Download the created icon set and unzip the file.
If you want to transfer your newly created app to your android device, you have to enable USB debugging.

GUI-Interface

Application Name: Name of the application on the Android device
Basic file: Name of your basic file. If you have several basic files, then give the one which should be started
Source: Directory where your SmallBASIC program and all the assets are located
Destination: Directory where the final packaged program should be saved
Icon res: Directory where the icons are located (needs to be a valid icon res-directory)
Keystore file: Your keystore file
Keystore password: Password for the keystore file
Key alias: Alias of the key to be used for signing
Key password: Password of the key
Transfer to device with adb after packaging: When checked, the app will be installed on your Android device. The device must be connected to the computer using USB and adb debugging must be enabled on the device. (might not work when in a virtual machine).

Assets

If your program needs assets like images or sounds, then please place all the assets in the same folder as your basic file or in a subfolder. Don’t use absolute paths to load the assets. Instead of C:\MyProgram\assets\image.png please use relative paths like assets\image.png or ./assets/image.png.

Plugins

The official plugins (i.e. raylib, nuklear) are include in the package. If you have your own plugin please copy it to the same folder as your basic file.