47 lines
2.1 KiB
Markdown
47 lines
2.1 KiB
Markdown
# GW-BASIC 2026
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A portable C reimplementation of Microsoft GW-BASIC, using the
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[original 8088 assembly source](https://github.com/microsoft/GW-BASIC)
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(released by Microsoft in 2020) as the authoritative reference.
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This is not a transpilation — it reimplements the algorithms in clean C11
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with modern data structures while targeting bug-compatible behavior.
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Unlike the original assembly (43,771 lines across 43 `.ASM` files), this
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version is structured as modular C suitable for new feature development.
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## Highlights
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- **Authentic full-screen editor** — dynamically sized screen buffer (25×80
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default, full terminal with `--full`), free cursor movement, Enter-on-any-line,
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F1-F10 function keys, Insert/Overwrite toggle
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- **Binary and ASCII file formats** — `SAVE` writes tokenized binary by default,
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`LOAD` auto-detects format (just like the real thing)
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- **INKEY$ extended keys** — arrow keys, F-keys, and navigation keys return proper
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`CHR$(0)` + scan code two-byte sequences
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- **Sixel graphics** — `SCREEN 1`/`SCREEN 2` rendering in compatible terminals
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- **Sound** — `SOUND`, `BEEP`, `PLAY` (MML) via PulseAudio, plus continuous tone
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via `OUT` (8253 PIT / PPI speaker emulation)
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- **Hardware I/O** — `OUT`, `INP`, `WAIT` port emulation (PIT, PPI, CGA, COM1,
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game port) for classic programs that drive hardware directly
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- **Full file I/O** — sequential, random-access, SAVE/LOAD/MERGE/CHAIN/COMMON
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- **Printer output** — `LPRINT`/`LLIST` to file or real hardware via `--lpt`
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- **Classic programs** — Hamurabi, Lunar Lander, Gunner, and Diamond from
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David Ahl's *BASIC Computer Games* (1978) run out of the box
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- **Ahead-of-time compiler** — `gwbasic-compile prog.bas -c` produces native
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executables via C codegen + GCC (67/72 tests pass, 93%)
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- **Jupyter kernel** — inline Sixel graphics, INPUT support, Pygments syntax
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highlighting; `pip install -e . && gwbasickernel-install --user`
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- **72 test programs** with golden-file regression testing and DOSBox-X
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compatibility testing against real GWBASIC.EXE
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- **MIT License**
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```{toctree}
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:maxdepth: 2
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getting-started
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language-reference
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architecture
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development
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roadmap
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```
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