Simons' BASIC

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Simons' BASIC
Start screen of Simons' BASIC.
Developer David Simons
Company D.S. Software
Publisher Commodore, Conrad Electronic (Germany)
Release 1983
Licence Full version
Platform C64
Genre BASIC Expansion
Operation Keyboard Paddles Joystick
Media Cartridge, Diskette
Language(s) Language:english, Manuals also in Language German, Language:Italian
Information

Simons' BASIC is a BASIC Expansion, which was developed by 16-year old pupil David Simons for the C64. It adds 114 new useful commands to the BASIC V2. In 1983 it was published by the company D.S. Software in England.

The new commands[edit | edit source]

Commodore version

The new BASIC commands are used for:

  • Function keys F1  to F16 
  • Programming: Helps as RENUMBER, source code display, error fixing, protect options
  • Better input control and manipulation of strings
  • Enhanced and extra numerical functions
  • Extra floppy disk commands
  • More commands for easier handling of graphics
  • Commands for easier manipulation of the screen
  • Easier developing and handling of chars and sprites (also multicolor)
  • Extra commands for structured programming
  • Easier debugging of BASIC programs
  • Easier developing and handling of music and sound
  • Easier handling with input devices: Light pen, paddles and joystick
German user guide (front)
German user guide (back)

A short overview of the new commands of Simons' BASIC:

% $ ANGL ARC AT AUTO
BCKGNDS BFLASH BFLASH 0 BLOCK CALL CENTRE
CGOTO CHAR CHECK CIRCLE CMOB COLD
COLOUR COPY CSET DELAY DESIGN DETECT
DIR DISAPA DISK DISABLE DISPLAY DIV
DOWN (B/W) DRAW DUMP DUP ELSE END LOOP
END PROC ENVELOPE ERRLN ERRN EXEC EXIT
EXOR FCHR FCOL FETCH FILL FIND
FLASH FRAC GLOBAL GRAPHICS HI COL HIRES
HRDCPY INKEY INSERT INST INV JOY
KEY LEFT (B/W) LIN LINE LOCAL LOOP
LOW COL MEM MERGE MMOB MOB OFF MOB SET
MOD MOVE MULTI MUSIC NO ERROR NRM
OFF OLD ON ERROR ON KEY OPTION OUT
PAGE PAINT PAUSE PENX PENY PLACE
PLAY PLOT POT PROC RCOMP REC
RENUMBER REPEAT RESET RESUME RETRACE RIGHT (B/W)
RLOCMOB ROT SCRLD SCRSV SECURE SOUND
TEST TEXT TRACE UP (B/W) UNTIL USE
VOL WAVE @      


Memory Map of Simons' BASIC[edit | edit source]

Cartridge version German manual (DE)
Manual of Conrad Electronic Edition

Memory Map[edit | edit source]

Memory Addresses Contents
$0000-$03FF Similar BASIC V2
$0400-$07FF Video RAM by using no hires graphics
$0800-$7FFF Memory for programs, variables and strings
$8000-$BFFF Simons' BASIC
$C000-$C3FF Video RAM by using hires (1. and 2. colors)
$C400-$C4FF free
$C500-$CBFF Help pages for Simons' BASIC
$CC00-$CFFF Video RAM after MEM
$D000-$DFFF I/O and color RAM
$E000-$FF3F Graphic memory and char generator after MEM
$FF40-$FFF9 (free RAM)
$FFFA-$FFFB NMI vector (points to $8118)
$FFFC-$FFFF (free RAM)

After cold start Simons' BASIC deletes the memory area $C300-$CBFF, TSB only the memory areas $C400-$C5FF and $CB00-$CBFF.

Changed vectors[edit | edit source]

Addresses Contents Disk/TSB Cartridge
$0300-$0301 BASIC warmstart $9E9C $8FAE
$0302-$0303 process/read a line $825C $8289
$0304-$0305 Change to interpreter code $8234 $8261
$0306-$0307 Convert into SB source code (LIST) $8240 $826D
$0308-$0309 Get a BASIC command address $917A $8609
$030A-$030B BASIC token evaluation $8C8D $9646
$0314-$0315 IRQ vector $9694 $9CDC
$0316-$0317 BRK vector $8314 $8353
$0318-$0319 NMI vector $82FA $8330

Expansion (de-)activation[edit | edit source]

It is possible to change between Simons' Basic and BASIC V2. This works with the disk version, TSB and cartridge version:

  • SYS 64760 ($FCF8) deactivates Simons' Basic - normal BASIC V2 is presented
But with Simons' Basic still in memory only 30719 bytes remain free for BASIC and it can be restarted with the key combination RUN/STOP +RESTORE .
A few disk versions - but not TSB - crashes if using SYS 64760 or the key combination.
  • SYS 64738 ($FCE2) reactivates Simons' Basic (Reset)


See also[edit | edit source]


Links[edit | edit source]

WP-W11.png Wikipedia: Simons'_BASIC

Download[edit | edit source]

Documentation[edit | edit source]

  • SIMONS' BASIC USER GUIDE User manual for cartridge version (PDF in DLHs Commodore Archiv 6.2 MByte), disk version (D64), cartridge version (CRT), starter guide (TXT)

Reviews[edit | edit source]

Creative Computing

Simons BASIC Programs[edit | edit source]

64'er
  • Sternenhimmel - issue 5/85 S.52/S.57 ff.
  • Fractal Berge - special issue SH07 S.124
  • Testbild 64 - issue 1/87 S.62-63
  • Tarnwirkung - special issue SH34 S.72
  • Blattlaus - special issue SH34 S.78