GoKawiilNew nibnib image format targets ultra-fast decoding on microcontrollers
A developer has released nibnib, an image compression format designed for extremely fast decompression on low-power hardware such as the RP2350 microcontroller. The format uses a palette of color deltas rather than absolute colors, decoding two pixels per byte for 4 bits-per-pixel compression, and was built after experiments with DVI output on the RP2350.
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Lightweight microcontrollers often have strict per-pixel cycle budgets for video output, so a format that improves image quality over traditional palette images while fitting within those constraints could expand what's visually possible on constrained embedded hardware. Because the encoder involves a search process while decoding stays simple and deterministic, the format may suit scenarios where images are compressed once but decoded repeatedly on cheap devices.
- Nibnib decodes two pixels per byte using delta-based palette lookups for 4bpp compression
- It was developed for RP2350 microcontroller DVI output with tight per-pixel cycle budgets
- An implementation is available in the vic-2350 repository's image demo
Raspberry Pi Pico 2 (RP2350) — This is the exact microcontroller the nibnib format was designed around, making it perfect for experimenting with DVI output and pixel-level decoding tricks yourself. It's an affordable way to get hands-on with the tight cycle budgets and low-level graphics hacking described in the article.
See Raspberry Pi Pico 2 (RP2350) on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: github.com, 2026-10-30
Published there as: “Nibnib: Image compression with extreme decompression speed”
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