home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Commodore Free 29
/
Commodore_Free_Issue_29_2009_Commodore_Computer_Club.d64
/
dotbasic desc
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
2023-02-26
|
3KB
|
112 lines
************************
* Loadstar's DOTBASIC *
************************
http://8bitcentral.com/dotbasic/
WHAT IS IT
If you are interested in BASIC
programming for the C-64, then you
have probably used a BASIC Extension
at some point. Most of us are
familiar with Commodore's Simon's'
BASIC cartridge. Unfortunately, most
of these extensions aren't very
useful. Simon's' BASIC, for example,
has a pretty lousy set of commands.
Many of them are basically (pun)
useless. It's also a very confusing
set of commands -- there are no
consistent conventions used, making
it necessary to constantly refer to
the manual.
Further, a program written with
Simon's' BASIC can only be run on a
C-64 with a Simon's' BASIC cartridge.
Pretty limiting.
DotBASIC Plus is similar to other
extensions in one way: you get a lot
of new commands (or DotCommands, of
course) -- over 100 so far. But
that's where the similarities end.
THE DOTCOMMANDS
100 new commands, with more being
added all the time. DotCommands all
use a consistent, easy to remember
syntax: .command,parameters
So, the DotCommand that draws a box
on the screen is .BOX, the DotCommand
that creates a scrolling menu is
.SCMENU, and so on. All the new
commands work just like regular BASIC
commands. .
MODERN GUI WITH COMPLETE MOUSE /
JOYSTICK SUPPORT
With DB+ you can create modern
looking programs with just a few
lines of code. Your programs can
have mouse support, complete with a
great looking 'arrow pointer', drop
down menus, file requestors and more.
Go to the DOWNLOAD section of
http://8bitcentral.com/dotbasic/ to
get some DotBASIC games and other
programs to try out. You can "break"
out of most of them by hitting
RUN/STOP and LIST them. You'll be
amazed at how much can be done with
so little code.
TRANSPORTABLE
Your programs will run on any C-64.
Although everyone should own DB+, of
course, you don't need to do anything
special to run a program written in
DotBASIC.
DOTBASIC PLUS IS ALWAYS GROWING
With DotBASIC, you include the
DotCommands you need by creating REM
statements at the top of your
program. If your program will use
the commands .SPRITE, .SID, .MENU,
and .STASH, for example, you would
add a line like this:
11 REM.SPRITE,.SID,.MENU,.STASH
As you are coding, you can include
new DotCommands as you need them by
simply amending your REM statements.
This method has two big advantages.
First, it makes your programs
smaller. Why waste all that RAM for
100 commands if you only need 5?
More importantly, it means that new
DotCommands can easily be added to
your library. When new updates are
released, simply add the new files to
your Library Disk and start using the
new DotCommands.
WHAT DO I GET FOR MY MONEY
DotBASIC Plus is two D81 disk images.
The Library Disk contains all the
DotCommands (so far). The Utility
Disk is full of tools, including a
screen and font design program, a
sprite editor, and more. You also
get an 80 page manual. The manual has
a professional look, with detailed
reference charts, tutorials,
screenshots and a complete index.