ugBASIC v1.14: A New Era for Commodore 64 Programming

06/25/2023

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The Commodore 64 is one of the most popular home computers of all time, and it is still enjoyed by many people today. However, the original BASIC interpreter that came with the C64 was not very powerful or versatile. This is where ugBASIC comes in.

ugBASIC is a BASIC interpreter for the C64 that is designed to be more powerful and versatile than the original. It includes a number of new features and improvements, such as:

Enhanced line numbers: Line numbers can now be up to 6 digits long, making it easier to work with large programs.
Extended keywords: A number of new keywords have been added to ugBASIC, including RANDOMIZE, SLEEP, and DEF FN.
Improved error handling: ugBASIC v1.14 now provides more detailed error messages, making it easier to debug programs.
Support for modern features: ugBASIC v1.14 supports a number of modern features, such as file I/O, graphics, and sound.

In addition to these new features, ugBASIC v1.14 also includes a number of bug fixes. The interpreter is now more stable and reliable than ever before.

ugBASIC v1.14 is a major step forward for Commodore 64 programming. It is a powerful and versatile BASIC interpreter that can be used to create a wide variety of programs. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced programmer, ugBASIC v1.14 is a great way to get started with programming on the C64.

Here are some additional details about the new features in ugBASIC v1.14:

Enhanced line numbers: The maximum length of a line number has been increased from 4 to 6 digits. This makes it possible to work with much larger programs without running out of line numbers.
Extended keywords: A number of new keywords have been added to ugBASIC, including RANDOMIZE, SLEEP, and DEF FN. These keywords provide new functionality that can be used to create more powerful and sophisticated programs.
Improved error handling: ugBASIC v1.14 now provides more detailed error messages, making it easier to debug programs. This includes information about the line number where the error occurred, as well as the type of error that occurred.
Support for modern features: ugBASIC v1.14 supports a number of modern features, such as file I/O, graphics, and sound. This makes it possible to create programs that are more complex and visually appealing.

Who should use ugBASIC v1.14?

ugBASIC v1.14 is a great choice for anyone who wants to program on the Commodore 64. It is especially well-suited for programmers who want to create large or complex programs, or who want to use modern features such as file I/O, graphics, and sound.

How to get started with ugBASIC v1.14:

ugBASIC v1.14 is available for free from the ugBASIC website. To install it, simply download the file and unzip it to a directory on your C64. Then, you can run ugBASIC by typing ugbasic at the command prompt.

Conclusion

I hope this article has given you a brief overview of ugBASIC v1.14. If you are interested in learning more, I encourage you to visit the ugBASIC website.