Introduction

Pixelsrc is a GenAI-native pixel art format. It's text-based JSONL that you (or an AI) generate, then the pxl command converts to PNG, GIF, spritesheets, and more.

Why Pixelsrc?

Traditional pixel art tools produce binary files that are difficult for AI to generate and humans to version control. Pixelsrc takes a different approach:

Pure text - No binary data. Every sprite is human-readable JSONL
Semantic tokens - Use names like {skin} and {hair} instead of hex coordinates
Streaming-friendly - JSONL format means each line is self-contained
Lenient by default - Small mistakes get corrected automatically
AI-first design - Every feature is designed for reliable AI generation

Quick Example

Here's a simple coin sprite in Pixelsrc format:

{"type": "palette", "name": "coin", "colors": {"_": "#0000", "gold": "#FFD700", "shine": "#FFFACD"}}
{"type": "sprite", "name": "coin", "size": [4, 4], "palette": "coin", "regions": {
  "gold": {"union": [{"rect": [1, 0, 2, 1]}, {"rect": [0, 1, 4, 2]}, {"rect": [1, 3, 2, 1]}], "z": 0},
  "shine": {"points": [[1, 1]], "z": 1}
}}

Render it with:

pxl render coin.pxl -o coin.png

What You Can Do

With Pixelsrc, you can:

Create sprites using semantic color tokens
Build animations from frame sequences
Compose scenes by layering sprites
Generate assets with AI assistance
Export to PNG, GIF, spritesheets, and game engine formats
Validate your files for common mistakes
Format for consistent, readable code

Who Is This For?

Pixelsrc is designed for:

AI systems (Claude, GPT, etc.) generating game assets
Indie developers wanting quick prototyping
Pixel artists wanting text-based version control
Roguelike developers needing procedural assets

Getting Started

Head to Installation to set up Pixelsrc, then try the Quick Start guide.

If you prefer learning by example, check out the Persona Guides for workflow examples tailored to your use case.