Foenix F256 SuperBASIC Part 1 - Intro (About this series)
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- Опубликовано: 13 сен 2024
- In this brief video, we introduce the F256 SuperBASIC series by answering the question: What is SuperBASIC?
SuperBASIC is the native BASIC interpreter that ships with Foenix F256 platforms. In the github repository (link below), the developer (Paul Robson) deems it an "improved BASIC".
Why a series? Because there is too much content to cover in a single, two, or even three videos and we do jump around a bit; so instead, we are taking a "QuickTake" approach; Each QuickTake video addresses a particular topic or a set of features important to SuperBASIC and to the Foenix F256 platform. These videos are shot in a single 'take' with a minimum of edits and are based on a short script with an aim to be consumed in 10 minutes or less; so keep your notepad handy. They are slow-paced, but focused tutorials.
The first in the series "Welcome back", "Accessing Storage", and "Memory Use" are being released within 48 hours of this intro publish and combined, provide a good foundation; if you are viewing this after-the-fact and have not subscribed, you'll find the series includes upwards of a dozen videos or about 2 hrs. of total run time, culminating with a capstone project (of sorts) and a tie-in to three or four pieces of work, written by other developers... at least that's the plan. It will take a few months to get there.
Constructive feedback and questions are welcome, and clicking the SUBSCRIBE button is much appreciated. We are just getting started, but have big plans for this channel.
** Links and/or references mentioned:
SuperBASIC github repo:
github.com/pau...
Foenix Retro Discord server invite:
/ discord
Foenix Retro home page:
c256foenix.com
Quick add-on with a few more links (below) related to the BBC Micro and a personal story.
In my youth, I would visit my local library in my New York suburban town and watch a BBC 'program' imported from the UK, distributed on VCS tape. It was called, "The Computer Programme". My friends and I watched these as they were released (picture a series 'streaming' weekly, but in 1982).
If you are a fan of vintage compute, I urge you to take this time machine opportunity back and revel in the splendor of a budding industry as it was just beginning.
• The Computer Programme...
• The Computer Programme...
I am really interested in this machine. Anything that sheds more light on the F256K is a must watch for me. I am slowly saving up money to get one, just going to take me some time. I would love to teach my daughter BASIC through this machine. We've been doing BASIC on my 130XE, but a machine with more functionality will allow for more experience and knowledge growth for them. Keep up the excellent work!
Thank you for the comment. If you haven't done so, you should check out the Discord as there is alot of conversation, including on the SuperBASIC channel. The IDE/emulator is also a good choice as it's zero-cost, mostly compatible, and improving all the time. Final thing to share, which may be obvious, is the power of the FPGA (Vicky) and improved clock speed (6.29) over the original 8-bit era machines (1 or 2 Mhz.) affords the opportunity to write code in BASIC using graphic features and have them be completely usable versus barely tolerable.
awesome that you can show more about the f256, i don't have one yet but considering it if it runs superbasic well.
I had a C256 and was disappointed in it. The BASIC was broken and not finished, the kernel was also not finished. In effect the machine was almost unusable for someone like me who just wants to use BASIC and ASM (with kernel calls etc...). This looks to be more complete of a system with a complete basic and a working kernel.
I think I might go ahead and purchase one .
I own a C256U+ and had a keyboard/interrupt issue with mine that was fixed with newer FPGA code. BASIC816 on that platform certainly had limitations, but it worked well enough for me for the small projects I did, mostly for tutorials and amusement. This (F256 w/SuperBASIC) is a completely different animal in every regard. I'm just getting started myself but am impressed and passing along what I'm learning as I go. Thank you for the comment.
If you have any specific questions about it , please ask (I wrote it)
@@paulscottrobson I've got a couple of questions..
What was the reason to switch from the 65816 to the 65c02 for the F256 & jr?
Presumably, if the 65816 option is fitted, it will still run mostly on 6502 mode?
Did you also write the MegaBasic for the Mega65? - the code looks nice & clean
Is the kernel of the F256 basically the same as the C256 kernel?
and lastly... stm32discovery user name? Is that your day job? ;)
@@samurai1999 it always was a 6502 machine. The 65816 and 6809 options came later. I don’t know what code there is for the 65816. I didn’t write M65 Basic. The kernels are completely different. I have no idea why stm32discovery !
@@paulscottrobson Yes, but the previous Foenix 8-bit computers (C256 etc) were all 65816-based, so it would have been nice to keep the 65816 in the F256 range too...
- but, I guess that's coming later, as you say.. which is good!
Can you do a series on how to program for the F256 using the emulator and C or Assembly language?
I use real hardware exclusively but any method or set of off-host tools should apply to the emulator as well. I know many Foenix devs that do it all on their Windows platform. I do have some video shot on how to setup and use the 64TASS assembler with GNU Make for the F256 platform; hope to get around to publishing it soon. If you want emulator info, hop over to the Foenix Discord server; I'll double check that the link is in the description of this video now.
So, this isn't a port of the QL's SuperBASIC?
Not that I'm aware of. I believe the author (Paul) would have given credit, if that were the case. As you probably know, there have been a few named "Super" Basic's across the years including one by Commodore. Paul cites his early influences of the BBC Micro which he acquired at a very young age (he's from England), and in conversations with him and reading some of his other work, is influenced by modern languages.
QL appears to have much more within, namely SIN and trig functions, more screen utility, the modern turtle graphic directives, and "renumber", the latter of which, Paul is vehemently against : ), but the two share the auto-indent and some procedural directives. Let me know if you find other.
in this video, I learned that I suddenly had a need to print out the pdf and spiral bind it.
In this video, I learned that I suddenly had a need to stop procrastinating and get one of these machines. 😉
what is the purpose of the device to the right of the mouse?
It's a 3 1/2" floppy drive, the FNX1591 (another Foenix Product). It is Commodore 1581 compatible and can be used with any Commodore system that has an IEC bus (C16, C64, C128, VIC 20, etc. or the Foenix F256 systems). It's also due to work with the Commander X16 (which should be released later this year). Here is a brief video that mentions it: ruclips.net/video/SXjVMHv6jE8/видео.html
I'll probably do a deep dive video once I receive my production unit (this is a prototype that I used for demo at the VCF East show). Thank you for the question.