What is Vectrex Studio?

Vectrex Studio is a modern IDE for Vectrex game development. It provides a Python-like language called VPy, a 9-phase Rust compiler, a cycle-accurate emulator, and professional tools for vector art, music, and debugging.

VPy is a Python-like programming language designed specifically for Vectrex development. It provides readable syntax while compiling to MC6809 assembly, eliminating the need to write low-level code by hand.

Is Vectrex development easy with Vectrex Studio?

Yes. Vectrex Studio makes development accessible to programmers from any background. VPy syntax is familiar to Python developers, and the built-in emulator and debugger eliminate the need for physical hardware.

Can I develop Vectrex games without assembly?

Yes. VPy handles all the low-level details. You can focus on game logic. If needed, you can use inline assembly for optimization.

Is Vectrex Studio free?

Yes. Vectrex Studio is completely free and open-source. Download and use it forever at no cost.

What is the difference between VPy and assembly?

VPy is a high-level language with Python-inspired syntax, while assembly is low-level machine code. VPy code is more readable and maintainable, while being compiled to identical machine code as hand-written assembly.

Input & Shortcuts · Vectrex Studio

Joystick & Gamepad Configuration

The Vectrex has a single analog joystick and four buttons per controller. Vectrex Studio maps your physical gamepad or keyboard to those inputs in the emulator.

Open Tools → Joystick Config to configure each player's controller.

Joystick Config dialog — axis selectors, deadzone slider, D-pad and button mapping grid

Axes

Setting	Description
X Axis index	Which gamepad axis maps to horizontal movement. Click Detect and push the stick left/right to auto-detect.
Y Axis index	Which gamepad axis maps to vertical movement. Click Detect and push the stick up/down.
Invert X / Invert Y	Flip the axis direction if the joystick feels backwards.
Deadzone	Fraction of the axis range (0.0–1.0) to ignore around the centre. Increase if you see unwanted drift.

A live axis visualiser shows the current raw values and the deadzone boundary while you adjust.

Axis visualiser — two axis bars with deadzone markers and current position dots

D-pad

For gamepads that have a D-pad as discrete buttons (rather than a hat axis), map each direction individually. Click the direction button in the dialog, then press the corresponding physical button — the mapping is recorded automatically.

Vectrex Buttons

The Vectrex has four buttons (1–4). Each maps to a physical gamepad button. Click the Vectrex button slot in the dialog, then press the physical button to assign it.

Common default mappings (Xbox-style gamepad):

Vectrex Button	Physical Button
Button 1	A (South)
Button 2	B (East)
Button 3	X (West)
Button 4	Y (North)

Keyboard Fallback

If no gamepad is connected, the emulator falls back to keyboard controls:

Key	Vectrex Input
Arrow keys	Joystick
Z / X / C / V	Buttons 1–4

Two-Player Setup

Open the config dialog a second time with Player 2 selected in the top dropdown to configure a second controller independently.

Keyboard Shortcut Reference

File

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl+N	New VPy file
Ctrl+O	Open file
Ctrl+Shift+O	Open project
Ctrl+S	Save
Ctrl+Shift+S	Save As
Ctrl+W	Close current tab

Build

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl+F7 / Cmd+F7	Build
F5	Build and Run

Debug

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl+D / Ctrl+F5	Start debugging
Shift+F5	Stop debugging
F9	Toggle breakpoint on current line
F10	Step Over
F11	Step Into
Shift+F11	Step Out
F5 (during debug)	Continue to next breakpoint

Git

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl+K	Stage current file
Ctrl+Shift+C	Commit
Ctrl+J	Push
Ctrl+L	Pull
Ctrl+G	Quick branch switcher
Ctrl+Shift+G	Open Git panel
Ctrl+Shift+F	Search commit history
Alt+D	Diff current file

View

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl+Shift+E	Focus file tree
Ctrl+`	Toggle terminal / build output