High School Developer Creates Interactive PDF Game Using JavaScript and Emscripten

In a remarkable feat of programming, a young developer has managed to bring interactivity to the static world of PDFs. By leveraging JavaScript support within PDF viewers and using older versions of Emscripten, this innovative project showcases how classic games can be embedded into documents. The project, named DoomPDF, demonstrates the potential of constrained environments like PDF readers, offering a unique gaming experience through a monochrome display. This development highlights the creativity and technical prowess of the next generation of programmers.

Unveiling DoomPDF: A Revolutionary Approach to Interactive PDFs

In an era where technology continues to push boundaries, a high school student named Ading2210 has made waves with an extraordinary project that blends gaming and document viewing. During a period of experimentation, Ading2210 discovered that modern browsers such as Chromium and Firefox support JavaScript execution within PDF files. Inspired by this capability, they embarked on a journey to create something truly unique.

The project began by utilizing an older version of Emscripten, which enabled the compilation of C code into asm.js—a format compatible with the limited JavaScript environment provided by PDF engines. Ading2210 chose the doomgeneric fork of the original DOOM source code for its streamlined input/output handling. After implementing a framebuffer and keyboard inputs, the game was ready to run within the constraints of a PDF viewer.

To achieve visual output, each pixel row on the screen is represented by a text field containing ASCII characters. This method results in a 6-color monochrome display that refreshes at a rate of 80 milliseconds per frame. Unlike previous interactive PDF demonstrations, DoomPDF offers a more sophisticated approach to rendering graphics within this confined space.

From a journalistic perspective, this project serves as a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of young developers. It challenges our perception of what is possible within seemingly limited platforms and opens up new avenues for creative expression. As we witness the rise of the next generation of coders, projects like DoomPDF remind us that innovation often comes from unexpected places.