.---------------------------.      ____                 _        ____    _    ____ ___ ____
        /---------------------------/|     / ___|_ __ _   _  ___| |_ _   | __ )  / \  / ___|_ _/ ___|
       /| _________________________ ||    | |   | '__| | | |/ __| __| | ||  _ \ / _ \ \___ \| | |
      | | |                       | ||    | |___| |  | |_| |\__ \ |_| |_|| |_) / ___ \ ___) | | |___
      | | | 10 PRINT "CRUSTYBASIC"| ||     \____|_|   \__,_||___/\__|\__,|____/_/   \_\____/___|____|
      | | | 20 GOTO 10            | ||                                |___/
      | | | RUN                   | ||
      | | | _                     | ||
      | | |_______________________| ||
      | |  _           _        _   ||    .----------.
      | | |_|_________|_|______|_|__|/    | [======] |
      /_____________________________/     |    __    |
      |_____________________________|     |   |  |   |
        [_][_][_][_][_][_][_][_][_]       |___|__|___|
        [_][_][_][=======][_][_][_]

            \ )             ( /
             \ \__~^~^~^~__/ /
      _______-<   \ o   o /  >-_______
     ----------|    \___/   |----------
               \___________/

crustyBASIC

CrustyBASIC is a Rust-based BASIC cross-compiler for vintage computers and video game consoles as well as modern systems. It compiles BASIC source into native machine code to run faster. It is available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

Currently supported targets:

• Apple
  • ][+, //c, //e
• Atari
  • 400/800/XL/XE
  • 5200
  • 2600
  • 7800
• Commodore
  • 64, 64 Ultimate
  • 128
  • Plus/4
  • VIC-20
• Tandy/Radio Shack
  • Coco 1, 2, 3
  • TRS-80 Model I, II, III, 4
• PC
  • MS-DOS 16-bit
  • Windows 64 bit GDI and console (win64, Win XP...Win 11)
  • Linux x64 console (linux64)
• Nintendo
  • NES
  • Super Nintendo
• Sinclair
  • ZX81
  • Timex Sinclair 1000

Downloading the Compiler

To download the latest compiled binaries, visit the Releases Section.

Quick Start

Build for one target

Save this as hello.cbs. @OPTION TARGET c64 selects the C64:

@OPTION TARGET c64

CLS
POSITION 0, 0
PRINT "HELLO, C64!"

Build the runnable program:

crustybasic hello.cbs

For the C64, this writes hello.prg by default. Use -o only to choose a different name. You can also write the command explicitly:

crustybasic build hello.cbs

To stop after generating assembly instead, use compile:

crustybasic compile hello.cbs -o hello.s

Build for several targets

To build the same program for several targets when the source is portable, leave out @OPTION TARGET c64:

CLS
POSITION 0, 0
PRINT "HELLO, {target}!"

crustybasic build hello.cbs --set target=c64
crustybasic build hello.cbs --set target=atari800
crustybasic build hello.cbs --set target=zx81

Each command creates the usual runnable file for that target, and {target} is replaced with its target name. Building requires the target's assembler; see USAGE.md#assemblers.

Screenshots

Screenshots and emulator pics are in screenshots.

Community

• Discord - join the discussions
• itch.io - visit the CrustyBASIC page

Submitting Bugs

Please submit bug reports through the GitHub Issues tab above or on Discord. Include the CrustyBASIC version, your operating system, the target or system you are building for, the command you ran, and any compiler or assembler output.

Small self-contained .cbs files are the easiest reports for me to reproduce.

Learn more

• Usage guide - commands, targets, dialects, assemblers, and examples.
• Language reference - core language syntax.
• API reference - portable runtime calls, graphics, sound, input, and target capabilities.
• Target documentation - machine-specific notes for supported targets.