MBASIC Compilers

Status: 100% Complete! - MBASIC-2025 now includes TWO production-ready compilers, both 100% complete!

Overview

MBASIC-2025 includes TWO complete compiler backends:

1. Z80/8080 Compiler - Generates native CP/M executables for vintage hardware
2. JavaScript Compiler - Generates modern JavaScript for browsers and Node.js

Unlike the interpreter, compilers generate standalone code that runs without the MBASIC runtime.

What Makes It Special

THREE Complete Implementations in One Project: - Interpreter - Run BASIC programs interactively with modern UIs - Z80/8080 Compiler - Generate native .COM executables for CP/M systems - JavaScript Compiler - Generate portable JS for modern platforms

Features Implemented (100% Microsoft BASCOM Compatible): - All data types (INTEGER %, SINGLE !, DOUBLE #, STRING $) - All control structures (IF/THEN/ELSE, FOR/NEXT, WHILE/WEND, GOTO, GOSUB/RETURN) - All 50+ built-in functions - Complete file I/O (sequential, random access, binary) - Error handling (ON ERROR GOTO, RESUME, ERR, ERL) - Hardware access (PEEK/POKE/INP/OUT/WAIT) - Works in compiled code! - Machine language integration (CALL/USR/VARPTR) - Works in compiled code! - CHAIN - Program chaining using CP/M warm boot - Just implemented!

Choosing a Compiler

Z80/8080 Compiler (CP/M Targets)

Use when: - Targeting vintage hardware (CP/M systems) - Need hardware access (PEEK/POKE/INP/OUT) - Building for embedded 8080/Z80 systems

Output: Native .COM executables for CP/M

JavaScript Compiler (Modern Platforms)

Use when: - Deploying to web browsers - Running on modern operating systems - Need cross-platform compatibility - Want standalone HTML applications

Output: JavaScript files (.js) or HTML+JavaScript bundles

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Getting Started with Z80/8080 Compiler

Requirements

1. z88dk - 8080/Z80 C cross-compiler
2. Installation: sudo snap install z88dk --beta

3. See Compiler Setup Guide

4. tnylpo (optional) - CP/M emulator for testing

5. See CP/M Emulator Setup

Quick Example (Z80/8080)

# Write a BASIC program
cat > hello.bas << 'EOF'
10 PRINT "Hello from compiled BASIC!"
20 END
EOF

# Compile to CP/M executable
cd test_compile
python3 test_compile.py hello.bas

# This generates:
#   hello.c      - C source code
#   HELLO.COM    - CP/M executable

Hardware Access Example (Z80/8080 Only)

These features only work in Z80/8080 compiled code:

10 REM Hardware access - works in Z80/8080 compiled code!
20 A = PEEK(100)         ' Read memory
30 POKE 100, 42          ' Write memory
40 B = INP(255)          ' Read I/O port
50 OUT 255, 1            ' Write I/O port
60 CALL 16384            ' Execute machine code
70 ADDR = VARPTR(A)      ' Get variable address
80 END

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Getting Started with JavaScript Compiler

Requirements

None! The JavaScript compiler is built into MBASIC-2025 with zero dependencies.

• No external compiler needed
• Works on any platform with Python 3.8+
• Generates standalone JavaScript files

Quick Example (JavaScript)

# Write a BASIC program
cat > hello.bas << 'EOF'
10 PRINT "Hello from compiled JavaScript!"
20 END
EOF

# Compile to JavaScript for Node.js
mbasic --compile-js hello.js hello.bas

# Run with Node.js
node hello.js

# Or compile to standalone HTML
mbasic --compile-js hello.js --html hello.bas

# Open hello.html in any browser!

Cross-Platform Output

The JavaScript compiler generates code that works in both environments:

Node.js (Command Line): - Real file I/O using fs module - Console input/output - Full file management (KILL, NAME, FILES) - Random file access with binary operations

Browser (Web Applications): - Virtual file system using localStorage - Prompt-based INPUT - Retro terminal styling in HTML wrapper - Standalone HTML files (no server required)

What Works in JavaScript

All core MBASIC 5.21 features compile successfully:

10 REM All MBASIC features work in JavaScript!
20 DIM A(100), B$(50)
30 INPUT "Name"; N$
40 FOR I = 1 TO 10
50   PRINT I; SQR(I)
60 NEXT I
70 GOSUB 1000
80 ON ERROR GOTO 9000
90 OPEN "DATA.TXT" FOR OUTPUT AS #1
100 PRINT #1, "Hello, file!"
110 CLOSE #1
120 END
1000 PRINT "Subroutine!"
1010 RETURN
9000 PRINT "Error:"; ERR(); "at line"; ERL()
9010 RESUME NEXT

Supported Features: - ✅ All data types and operators - ✅ All control structures (FOR/NEXT, WHILE/WEND, IF/THEN/ELSE, GOTO, GOSUB) - ✅ All 50+ built-in functions - ✅ Sequential file I/O (OPEN, CLOSE, PRINT#, INPUT#, LINE INPUT#) - ✅ Random file access (FIELD, LSET, RSET, GET, PUT) - ✅ File management (KILL, NAME, FILES) - ✅ Error handling (ON ERROR GOTO, RESUME, ERR, ERL) - ✅ User-defined functions (DEF FN) - ✅ String manipulation (MID$ assignment) - ✅ Program chaining (CHAIN) - ✅ Formatted output (PRINT USING)

Not Supported (JavaScript Limitations): - ❌ Hardware access (PEEK/POKE/INP/OUT) - no direct memory access in JavaScript - ❌ Machine code (CALL/USR/VARPTR) - not applicable to JavaScript

Topics

Optimizations

Learn about the optimization techniques used by the compiler to improve performance and reduce code size.

Complete Documentation

• Feature Status - Complete feature list (100%!)
• Setup Guide - z88dk installation
• CP/M Emulator - Testing compiled programs
• Memory Configuration - Runtime library details

Runtime Library

The compiler includes a sophisticated runtime library:

• Custom string system with O(n log n) garbage collection
• Zero malloc design (pool uses direct memory from BSS to stack)
• In-place GC with shell sort (no temporary buffers, no stdlib)
• Optimized for CP/M - fits comfortably in 64K TPA (~56KB string space)

What Works

Nearly Everything! The compiler implements all core computational features of MBASIC 5.21:

✅ All data types and operators ✅ All control flow structures ✅ All 50+ built-in functions ✅ Sequential file I/O ✅ Random access file I/O ✅ Binary file operations (MKI$/CVI, MKS$/CVS, MKD$/CVD) ✅ Error handling (ON ERROR GOTO, RESUME) ✅ Hardware access (PEEK/POKE/INP/OUT/WAIT) ✅ Machine language (CALL/USR/VARPTR) ✅ String manipulation (MID$ assignment) ✅ User-defined functions (DEF FN)

What's Not Supported (Matching Microsoft BASCOM)

MBASIC-2025 compiler now matches Microsoft BASCOM 100%! The following features are correctly NOT supported (because Microsoft BASCOM didn't support them either):

Interpreter-Only Features (Not in Microsoft BASCOM): - COMMON - Variable passing between chained programs (MBASIC 5.21 interpreter-only) - CHAIN MERGE - Merging programs during chain (MBASIC 5.21 interpreter-only) - CHAIN line number - Starting at specific line (MBASIC 5.21 interpreter-only) - CHAIN ALL - Passing all variables (MBASIC 5.21 interpreter-only) - CHAIN DELETE - Deleting line ranges (MBASIC 5.21 interpreter-only) - ERASE - Deallocating arrays (not supported by Microsoft BASCOM) - Interactive commands - LIST, RUN, SAVE, LOAD (not applicable to compiled programs) - CLOAD/CSAVE - Cassette tape operations (obsolete)

What IS Supported: - ✅ CHAIN "filename" - Basic program chaining (just implemented!)

See Also

• BASIC-80 Language Reference - Language syntax and semantics
• Functions - All built-in functions
• Statements - All language statements
• Developer Setup - Complete development environment