Vision BASIC is a commercial development environment for the Commodore 64 released in 2022, created by American programmer Dennis Osborn. His goal was to create a BASIC language that is not only easy to learn, but can also be compiled into machine code, thus maximizing the performance of the C64.
C-64 BASIC might be your GO TO language of choice, but we all know how POKEy it can be, so if you’re tired of starting out with a dream of an idea and ending up with a sluggish nightmare when all is said and done, then look no further – Vision BASIC is here to the rescue to turn your dreams into a reality!
Vision BASIC is not simply an extension of BASIC, it is a compiled language that translates BASIC lines into machine code, allowing programs to run much faster than traditional interpreted BASIC. It also allows machine code instructions to be inserted seamlessly between BASIC lines.
Features
- More than 100 new commands: graphics, sprites, sound, file management, interrupts
- Machine code integration: assembly instructions can be embedded in BASIC lines
- Modern editor: colored text, labels, macros, custom commands
- RAM management: built-in memory manager, REU and GeoRAM support
- Compatibility: VICE, THEC64, Ultimate64, Turbo Chameleon
- Compiled programs: finished programs also run on standard C64s
The programming environment includes features such as a memory manager, an improved program editor, simplified disk commands, user-created commands, and complete compatibility with emulators such as VICE and THEC64.
At least 256K of extra RAM (e.g., REU or GeoRAM) is recommended for developing in Vision BASIC, but compiled programs will run on any C64 if they do not require extra memory. The development environment supports labels, macros, and allows for machine code monitoring.
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