Because the Commodore 64 ages, it appears to be taking up a second life. Working example: Imaginative and prescient BASIC is a personalized, particular model of the BASIC programming language with a ton of options to allow Commodore 64 applications to be written extra simply and with all types of optimizations. We’ve examined out each the unique 1.0 model of Imaginative and prescient BASIC, and now with version 1.1 being released there are an entire host of tweaks and updates to make the expertise even higher!
One of many solely limitation of Imaginative and prescient BASIC is the requirement for expanded RAM. It is not going to run on an unexpanded C64 — however the compiled applications will, so you’ll be able to simply distribute software program made utilizing Imaginative and prescient on any C64. A characteristic launched in model 1.1 is assist for GeoRAM, a distinct RAM enlargement cartridge, and fashionable variations of GeoRAM just like the NeoRAM which has battery-backed RAM. This permits nearly instantaneous booting into the Imaginative and prescient BASIC improvement atmosphere.
A few of the standout options embrace a doubling of compilation velocity, which is big for giant applications that take up many REU segments in supply kind. There are new instructions, together with ALLMOBS for establishing all sprites with a single command; POLL to arrange which joystick port is in use; CATCH to attend for a selected scanline; and lots extra! Many present instructions have been improved as properly. As within the authentic model of Imaginative and prescient BASIC, you’ll be able to freely combine 6510 meeting and BASIC wherever you need. You should utilize the built-in instructions for bitmaps, together with panning, collision detection, and so forth., or you’ll be able to deal with it in meeting in order for you! And naturally, it comes with a full handbook — sure, an actual, printed ebook!
One of many good options of Imaginative and prescient BASIC is the customization of the event atmosphere. On the primary run, after agreeing to the software program phrases, you enter your title and it will get saved to the Imaginative and prescient BASIC disk. Then, each time you begin the software program up, it greets you by title! It’s also possible to arrange a customized color scheme, which additionally will get saved. It’s a really nice atmosphere to work in. Relying on how a lot further RAM you’ve gotten, you’ll be able to maintain a number of program segments in numerous RAM banks. For instance, you may have all of your supply code in a single financial institution, all of your bitmaps and sprites in one other, and your SID tunes in one more. The compiler handles all this for you while you go to compile this system to disk, so it’s simple to maintain giant applications organized and straightforward to observe.
In case you’ve at all times wished to write down a recreation or utility for the C64 however simply didn’t know the right way to get began, otherwise you felt daunted at having to study meeting to do sprites and music, Imaginative and prescient BASIC is a good choice. You may be blown away on the variety of instructions out there, and as you grow to be extra skilled you can begin to sprinkle in meeting to optimize sure components of your code if desired.
