OpenBST

OpenBST is a program that allows you to run and, to a certain level, create interactive fiction and stories. It is built using the Java programming language.

You can download it right now in the Downloads tab! OpenBST is compatible with Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and everywhere else where Java, Swing and JavaFX are supported.

BST

BST is a language used to create stories from simple text files. While you can use the editor built into OpenBST, using the raw BST syntax gives you much more flexibility and unlocks the full potential of OpenBST, with scripting, backgrounds, sounds and much more!

1:This is a node. Its ID is 1

It contains text that will be shown on the screen.

:This is an option, that leads to the next node with the ID 2|2
:Another option that leads to the third node|3

2:Hello there!

3:See? It's not that hard!

Want to start creating stuff using the BST Language? Download the tutorial right now!

Syntax highlighter for Atom

An official Syntax highlighter is available for the Atom text editor. Simply follow the instructions inside the tutorial to install it.

FAQ

Is OpenBST free?

Yes! OpenBST is entirely free. It is also open source, and released under the Mozilla Public License 2.0

I found a bug! How do I report it?

Simply file an issue on GitHub giving as much information as you can. Please include debug information, which you can get by going to OpenBST > Advanced tools > Show debug information.

How can I mark my story as NSFW?

Add the following line at the beginning of the file :

nsfw=true

A warning will appear every time your story is opened.

My save state doesn't work!

Save states are quite buggy at the moment. Please report it as an issue on GitHub.

Can I format my story in Markdown or HTML?

Yes, just add one of the following at the beginning of the file :

markup=markdown
-- OR --
markup=html

I have another question!

Please either file an issue on GitHub or tell us about it on Discord.

Licenses

OpenBST is licensed under the MPL-v2 License. The BST tutorial and all its examples (including but not limited to the files contained in the examples.zip file) are licensed under the CC-BY-NC-SA v4 International license.

Here, you can find all the downloads for OpenBST and the BST Tutorial

Running OpenBST

Simply install Java from java.com, and you're ready to go! Click on one of the OpenBST buttons below to download the version you wish to use, and double click the downloaded .jar file : OpenBST is now running! No installation is required, simply double click the .jar whenever you want to launch OpenBST.

LINUX USERS : You need to use the Oracle JDK, as OpenJDK does not work properly with JavaFX sounds, even when using OpenJFX. For Ubuntu/Linux Mint and derivates (ElementaryOS, Ubuntu MATE, Ubuntu Budgie, ...), use package oracle-java8-installer from PPA ppa:webupd8team/java (instructions available here).

Downloads list

Versions that have a slightly red background are not suitable for production use (they are beta versions). While they allow you to use the latest shiny features, they are also unstable and may crash.

RECOMMENDED DOWNLOADS : If you are a beginner, you should download the latest availale OpenBST, BST Tutorial and Reference