3 ms·

I'm the original author of Basic-256, if you have any suggestions, please let me know. Most people seem to be pleased with it, but I'm starting to wonder if it

by drblast 16y ago

I'm the original author of Basic-256, if you have any suggestions, please let me know. Most people seem to be pleased with it, but I'm starting to wonder if it's the right approach; maybe it's the C64 and not BASIC that's the key. I recently downloaded a C64 emulator and the "Programmer's Reference Guide" that I had as a kid; you almost have to try NOT to understand how a computer works in order to not get something out of a C64 and that guide. Right away they delve into changing bytes in memory to draw on the screen, and I remembered drawing sprites on graph paper and figuring out what the binary representation would be. I was in second and third grade at the time, figuring this out on my own. There is something about the C64. It's at the perfect spot of advanced and simple that makes learning easy.

ars 16y ago
I don't think it's the C64 - I started on a Laser-128 (an apple clone). I didn't start with graphics though, I started with a guess the number game (computer picks, and you guess and it tells you higher or lower). I still remember the day I learned about strings in variables - that simplified my program quite a bit from a mass of hard coded strings combined with gosub. If I have just one suggestion it's to increase your visibility. About a year ago I actually searched quite a bit for program exactly like yours. And didn't find it. I eventually found an online BASIC emulator in a browser.
steveklabnik 16y ago
> maybe it's the C64 and not BASIC that's the key. _why would have kind of agreed. It's not about BAISC, it's that everything was really accessable. http://wiki.github.com/steveklabnik/hacketyhack/the-little-coders-predicament http://wiki.github.com/steveklabnik/hacketyhack/the-little-c... http://wiki.github.com/steveklabnik/hacketyhack/the-hackety-manifesto http://wiki.github.com/steveklabnik/hacketyhack/the-hackety-...
LeBleu 16y ago
I have 2 suggestions: 1) How hard would it to write a JavaScript/HTML port of it? I don't see why anyone in the modern day and age should need to download and install a program to play with BASIC. It should be possible to interpret BASIC directly in JavaScript, all within the browser. I don't believe any server round trips should even be necessary. 2) Have you let David Brin know about your effort? He seems to be doing talks on the subject still as recently as '09, so he might be able to at least mention it to people.
LeBleu 16y ago
Oops, nevermind, silly suggestion. It's already been done, you just have to Google "basic interpreter javascript" to find it. http://www.calormen.com/Applesoft/ http://www.calormen.com/Applesoft/ - Starts right at the interpeter http://www.ngbasic.com/ http://www.ngbasic.com/ - Has more of the classic BASIC feel, opening a window that looks like ye olde BASIC interpreter, but requires two clicks before you can find it. http://www.quitebasic.com/ http://www.quitebasic.com/ - Also starts at the interpreter, but with a more complicated example program.

by drblast 16y ago

ars 16y ago

I don't think it's the C64 - I started on a Laser-128 (an apple clone). I didn't start with graphics though, I started with a guess the number game (computer picks, and you guess and it tells you higher or lower). I still remember the day I learned about strings in variables - that simplified my program quite a bit from a mass of hard coded strings combined with gosub. If I have just one suggestion it's to increase your visibility. About a year ago I actually searched quite a bit for program exactly like yours. And didn't find it. I eventually found an online BASIC emulator in a browser.

steveklabnik 16y ago

> maybe it's the C64 and not BASIC that's the key. _why would have kind of agreed. It's not about BAISC, it's that everything was really accessable. http://wiki.github.com/steveklabnik/hacketyhack/the-little-coders-predicament http://wiki.github.com/steveklabnik/hacketyhack/the-little-c... http://wiki.github.com/steveklabnik/hacketyhack/the-hackety-manifesto http://wiki.github.com/steveklabnik/hacketyhack/the-hackety-...

LeBleu 16y ago

I have 2 suggestions: 1) How hard would it to write a JavaScript/HTML port of it? I don't see why anyone in the modern day and age should need to download and install a program to play with BASIC. It should be possible to interpret BASIC directly in JavaScript, all within the browser. I don't believe any server round trips should even be necessary. 2) Have you let David Brin know about your effort? He seems to be doing talks on the subject still as recently as '09, so he might be able to at least mention it to people.

LeBleu 16y ago

Oops, nevermind, silly suggestion. It's already been done, you just have to Google "basic interpreter javascript" to find it. http://www.calormen.com/Applesoft/ http://www.calormen.com/Applesoft/ - Starts right at the interpeter http://www.ngbasic.com/ http://www.ngbasic.com/ - Has more of the classic BASIC feel, opening a window that looks like ye olde BASIC interpreter, but requires two clicks before you can find it. http://www.quitebasic.com/ http://www.quitebasic.com/ - Also starts at the interpreter, but with a more complicated example program.