GBDK
In one sentence
GBDK is a C toolkit that compiles a program into a Game Boy ROM. Retroable's games are C, and GBDK is what turns that C into the .gb file.
The detail
You do not install GBDK or write the C yourself. The build writes the source, compiles it, and keeps the ROM if the build finishes. If the build stops before the game is ready, it does not count as one of your games.
GBDK-2020 is the current line of that toolkit. It knows the original Game Boy's layout: where the ROM sits, how a bank is switched, and how to call the picture hardware. A game that is only a text description has not been through GBDK yet.
Other tools, such as writing assembly by hand or using GB Studio, can also produce a .gb file. Retroable's path is generated C compiled with GBDK. The sentence-to-ROM note is the short version.
Worth keeping
- Retroable games are compiled C, not a handmade binary
- GBDK is the compiler that emits the .gb file
- A build that stops early does not count as a finished game
Questions
Do I need to learn C?
No. You describe the game. The build writes and compiles the C.
Can I download the source as well as the ROM?
The project keeps the source that was compiled. The file you play is the ROM.
Is GBDK the same as GB Studio?
No. GB Studio is a visual editor. GBDK is the C compiler Retroable uses.
Related
Game Boy is a trademark of Nintendo. Retroable is independent and is not affiliated with Nintendo.