Editing Vircon32 (section)

== Programming ==
Unlike many other FCs that use scripting environments as their main programming interface, Vircon32 defines an actual architecture with a custom [[instruction set architecture]], detailing components and communication at low level. ROM files contain compiled program binaries that the CPU executes as instructions.

The design of Vircon32 CPU is loosely based on the x86 processor, but unlike mainstream processors Vircon32 is a pure 32-bit machine: it cannot access individual bytes, or handle 8-bit/16-bit data formats.<ref name="procspec">''Vircon32 Spec part 3 - The processor (CPU)'', https://github.com/vircon32/Vircon32Documents/blob/main/Specification/English/PDF%20documents/Spec%20part%203%20-%20The%20processor%20(CPU).pdf</ref>

Vircon32 games are meant to be developed using an external toolchain. To that end, a set of cross-platform development utilities are provided to compile and assemble assets and code into Vircon32 ROMs. Games can currently be written in the C programming language or directly in assembly language<ref name="devtools">"Development tools", https://www.vircon32.com/devtools.html</ref>. Game assets are  .wav file for sound, and PNG images for textures. Each ROM is packed into a single file and includes binaries and assets.