Microsoft BASIC Confrontation with Ben Eater
Revamped Article:
Dive headfirst into Ben Eater's three-part video odyssey, as he masterfully takes on the challenge of porting a 1977 version of MS BASIC onto his crafty 6502-based computer. While this machine may be familiar territory to [Ben Eater], our initial response to [Mark]'s query regarding MS BASIC running on it was a disappointing "no". That's all about to change, homies!
In the debut video, Ben meticulously shifts gears to get the BASIC up and running, revealing a wealth of insight into how the inner workings of MS BASIC morph to accommodate different architectures. Buckle up, because Ben's laying the foundation for his very own adaptation!
With a taste of victory, Ben moves onto the next two videos, focusing on making BASIC compatible not only with the serial terminal but also the LCD display peripheral attached to the breadboard. Fans of BASIC will appreciate the reliance on everyone's favorite tactic: POKE. But, you guessed it, POKE ain't cutting it in this game, so Ben crafts his own assembly command, taking things to a whole new level.
Once he can spit out a character to the LCD, he's got his eyes set on passing a string, which requires parsing a string, a feat that leads him down a rabbit hole, exploring the depths of how MS BASIC processes strings, handles evaluations, and more. If you've been curious about the ins and outs of MS BASIC, this is your ride! This video puts Excel VBA to shame with the masterful use of Forth, making it the perfect tool for this low-level revelry.
All of this high-level mayhem is executed in [Ben]'s signature style: articulate, accessible, and brutally honest. Get ready to indulge in some next-level nerditude. The videos, conveniently embedded below for your viewing pleasure, are just a jump away!
Though this MS BASIC port may lack the compelling allure of the Altair BASIC that recently graced our feeds, its lineage is obvious, and delving into the Altair version undoubtedly sparked [Mark Stevens]'s curiosity, leading him to share this tantalizing tip. Thanks a million, dude!
Brief Insight:
The process of porting a 1977 version of MS BASIC involves significant modifications to the BASIC interpreter, including optimizations using assembly code. Essential steps include translating MS BASIC's codebase to 6502 assembly, parsing strings, handling evaluations, and optimizing critical sections with assembly commands. Familiarize yourself with the 6502 microprocessor's architecture to get a better grasp of this captivating endeavor.
- Ben Eater's adaptation of the 1977 MS BASIC interpreter, although not primarily focused on, could potentially involve some aspects of hacking technology, as he modifies the codebase to accommodate the 6502-based computer architecture.
- The intricate process of optimizing the MS BASIC interpreter for the 6502-based computer necessitates an understanding of technology beyond simple programming, requiring the use of assembly code and delving into the inner workings of the MS BASIC interpreter and the 6502 microprocessor.
