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Overview

The basic talon command runs a Wren script file using the Talon runtime environment with Raylib bindings. This is the primary way to execute your Talon game or application.

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Syntax

talon <file.wren>
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file.wren
string
required
Path to the Wren script file to execute. Can be a relative or absolute path.

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Behavior

When you run a Talon script:
  1. File Loading: The runtime opens and reads the specified .wren file
  2. VM Initialization: Creates a Wren virtual machine with Raylib bindings configured
  3. Module Resolution: Automatically resolves and loads imported modules (like raylib)
  4. Script Execution: Interprets and executes the Wren code
  5. Error Reporting: Reports compilation or runtime errors to the console

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Exit Codes

The command returns different exit codes based on execution result:
  • Success: Script executed without errors
  • Compile Error: Syntax or compilation errors in the Wren code
  • Runtime Error: Errors during script execution
  • File Error: Unable to open or read the specified file

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Examples

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Basic Usage

Run a simple Wren script: 
talon index.wren

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Running Examples

Execute one of the example games: 
talon examples/breakout/main.wren

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Typical Output

$ talon index.wren
Success!
If there’s an error: 
$ talon broken.wren
Compile Error!
[line 5] Error at 'foo': Undefined variable.

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Common Use Cases

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Development Workflow

During development, you’ll frequently run your main script: 
talon main.wren
For faster iteration with automatic reloading, consider using the --hot flag instead.

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Testing Scripts

Quickly test a standalone Wren file: 
talon test.wren

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Running Different Entry Points

Switch between different entry points for your game: 
talon game.wren      # Main game
talon menu.wren      # Menu system
talon editor.wren    # Level editor

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File Requirements

The specified file must:
  • Have a .wren extension
  • Exist in the file system
  • Contain valid Wren syntax
  • Be readable by the current user

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Module Imports

Your script can import Talon’s built-in modules: 
import "raylib" for Color, Raylib, Vector2
import "math" for Math
Relative imports are resolved from the script’s directory: 
import "./game" for Game
import "../utils" for Utils

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Troubleshooting

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”We require a wren script to run”

You didn’t specify a file to run. Provide a .wren file as an argument: 
talon main.wren

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“Failed to open file”

The specified file doesn’t exist or isn’t readable. Check:
  • The file path is correct
  • The file exists in the specified location
  • You have read permissions

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”Undefined variable” Errors

Ensure you’re importing required modules: 
import "raylib" for Raylib, Color

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