Twine is an open source visual tool for creating interactive, non-linear stories for the Web, based on the Twee story engine. Although Twine 2.0 works in a browser, the program is still local to the computer. Twine is a tool for creating hypertext. As Twine publishes directly to HTML, authors can post their work nearly anywhere.
Twine is written primarily in Python and JavaScript, with UI widgets provided by wxPython.
If you prefer the command line, twee2 may be a better choice. It compile Twee-style (.tw, .twine) interactive fiction source files to Twine 2-style output.
Key Features
- Streamlined look and feel.
- Web based editor.
- Publishes directly to HTML.
- 3 story formats (other formats are available):
- Harlowe – the default Twine 2 story format. It’s focused on making it easy to add basic interaction to your stories in a readable, concise way.
- Snowman – a minimal Twine 2 story format designed for people who already know JavaScript and CSS. It’s designed to implement basic functionality for playing Twine stories and then get out of your way. Snowman uses a sub-set of markdown to support style formatting.
- SugarCube – can save a player’s progress into separate slots, similar to a console video game, customization of the story sidebar and more.
- Paperthin – the default proofing format. It creates a version of stories tailored for editing and proofreading.
- No programming is required. But you can extend your stories with variables, conditional logic, images, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Incorporate variables, which encompass the traditional trappings of games such as hit points and score.
- Capability to do conditional logic, so you can build games.
- Dark theme for late-night hypertexting.
- Visual previews of stories in the list.
- Tooltips.
- Internationalization support.
Website: twinery.org
Support: Twine Cookbook, GitHub Code Repository, Forum, twine-utils
Developer: Chris Klimas, Leon Arnott, Daithi O Crualaoich, Ingrid Cheung, Thomas Michael Edwards, Micah Fitch, Juhana Leinonen, Michael Savich, and Ross Smith
License: GNU General Public License v3.0
Twine is written in JavaScript. Learn JavaScript with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Writing Tools | |
|---|---|
| FocusWriter | Simple, distraction-free word processor |
| Ren'Py | Used to create over a thousand visual novels, games, and other works |
| novelWriter | Plain text editor designed for writing novels |
| CherryTree | Hierarchical note taking application packed with features |
| Zettlr | Markdown editor for the 21st Century |
| oStorybook | Offers authors a complete and well integrated tool |
| Twine | Visual tool for creating interactive stories |
| Manuskript | Snowflake method can help you grow your idea into a book |
| Quoll Writer | Java tool to help you focus on writing and your words |
| Joplin | Note taking and to-do application with synchronisation capabilities |
| Hammer | Simple tool for building stories |
| Bibisco | Write your story, in a simple way |
| WareWoolf | Minimalist novel-writing system built specifically for fiction writing |
| Scriptorium | Write short stories and novels |
| Skribisto | Born from the ashes of Plume Creator |
| novelibre | Novel organizer for writers who use LibreOffice or OpenOffice |
| Plume Creator | Project manager and rich text editor for writers |
| NovProg | Graphs your progress when writing a novel |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
| Write Interactive Fiction | |
|---|---|
| Ren'Py | Create over a thousand visual novels, games, and other works |
| Twine | Visual tool for creating interactive stories |
| ALAN | ALAN Adventure Language |
| Quest | A good system to make interactive story games |
| Squiffy | Useful tool for creating interactive stories |
| FrobTADS | Authoring System to Create Your Own Interactive Fiction |
| Inform | Popular design system for interactive fiction based on natural language |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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