A simple interactive BASIC interpreter written in Python 3. It is based heavily on material in the excellent book Writing Interpreters and Compilers for the Raspberry Pi Using Python by Anthony J. Dos Reis. However, I have had to adapt the Python interpreter presented in the book, both to work with the BASIC programming language and to produce an interactive command line interface. The interpreter therefore adopts the key techniques for interpreter and compiler writing, the use of a lexical analysis stage followed by a recursive descent parser which implements the context free grammar representing the target programming language.
The interpreter is a homage to the home computers of the early 1980s, and when executed, presents an interactive prompt ('>') typical of such a home computer. Commands to run, list, save and load BASIC programs can be entered at the prompt as well as program statements themselves.
The BASIC dialect that has been implemented is slightly simplified, and naturally avoids machine specific instructions, such as those concerned with sound and graphics for example.
This repository collects the original source code of various Commodore Business Machines (CBM) computers converted to a modern encoding (ASCII, LF, indentation).
Using kernalemu and cbm6502asm, almost all source in this repo can be built from the UNIX command line. To build everything, run build.sh from the Unix command line, on a case-insensitive filesystem.
In the repo:
- All of the KIM and AIM machines
- All of the CBM machines
- All of the PET machines
- VIC-20
- C64, 65 and 128
- Ultimax
- C16/C116/+4
- All floppy disk drives
- Printer ROM (seems there was only one)
- Software that came in ROM
- Internal software devkits and tools
- Some games that were only on cartridge
- Firmware for an Amiga serial interface
A lightweight BASIC interpreter written in standard C. It's aimed to be embeddable, extendable and portable. It is a dynamic typed programming language, reserves structured syntax, supports a style of prototype-based programming (OOP), also implements a functional paradigm by lambda abstraction. The core is written in a C source file and an associated header file. It's easy to either use it as a standalone interpreter or embed it with existing projects.
A version of it is embedded in WWIV these days.
An interactive explorer of the disassemblies of the BASIC ROMs and kernels for the various versions of the Commodore 64. Each ROM is disassembled and lined up side by side so you can see what's different between versions and hardware releases.
The classic book BASIC Computer Games, published by Creative Computing, inspired a generation of programmers. The games were written by many people, and compiled by David H. Ahl. The fabulous illustrations accompanying each game were done by George Beker.
I've included all the games here for your tinkering pleasure. I've tested and tweaked each one of them to make sure they'll run with Vintage BASIC, though you may see a few oddities. That's part of the fun of playing with BASIC: it never works quite the same on two machines. The games will play better if you keep CAPS LOCK on, as they were designed to be used with capital-letter input.
"Commodore BASIC" (cbmbasic) is a 100% compatible version of Commodore's version of Microsoft BASIC 6502 as found on the Commodore 64. You can use it in interactive mode or pass a BASIC file as a command line parameter.
This source does not emulate 6502 code; all code is completely native. On a 1 GHz CPU you get about 1000x speed compared to a 1 MHz 6502.
The BASIC Engine is a very low-cost single-board home computer with advanced 2D color graphics and sound capabilities, roughly comparable to late-1980s or early-1990s computers and video game consoles. It can be built at home without special skills or tools and using readily available components for under 10 Euros in parts, or mass-produced for even less.
Might be a fun thing to write a version of.
A concise overview of electronic theory for geeks.