MMBASIC ported to Pi Pico

TomXP411 · Post by **TomXP411** » Wed Dec 08, 2021 9:02 pm

This is really work a look-see, as Maximite BASIC is a pretty powerful BASIC interpreter.

https://hackaday.com/2021/11/24/picomite-gives-your-pico-a-basic-with-all-the-features/

Scott Robison · Post by **Scott Robison** » Wed Dec 08, 2021 11:30 pm

Very cool.

desertfish · Post by **desertfish** » Thu Dec 09, 2021 1:30 am

I guess this is cool and all, but why use this if there's already MicroPython? Honest question.

Scott Robison · Post by **Scott Robison** » Thu Dec 09, 2021 5:29 am

On 12/8/2021 at 6:30 PM, desertfish said:

I guess this is cool and all, but why use this if there's already MicroPython? Honest question.

Because you prefer MMBASIC? Why use any language when you can hand assemble code. ?

Cyber · Post by **Cyber** » Thu Dec 09, 2021 5:30 am

I like all products from MMBasic line, and I followed Picomite project from beginning. I use it, and I like how it turned out.

On 12/9/2021 at 3:30 AM, desertfish said:

why use this if there's already MicroPython?

Well, the very first real and honest reason for me is I love BASIC. And with MMBasic I can create really powerful stuff, which can be usefull in the modern world, but at the same time have a nostalgic feel of the 80's.

Also I like how MMBasic products are built. Everything you need is on-board. There is a full screen text editor which is implemented over serial connection using escape codes. You just need a VT-100 like terminal to be able to do anything with the thing.

Even when your MCU is already running in production conrolling things, you can connect to device, make changes in the source code, and run it again. Very self sufficient.

Cyber · Post by **Cyber** » Thu Dec 09, 2021 5:40 am

There is another MMBasic project in the works - VGAMite. It is based on STM32F411 Black Pill and features monochrome VGA 640x480 output, PS/2 keyboard input and SD card for storage. It is still work in progress, but it already works. This MCU with MMBasic is like a complete computer. ) And Black Pill is very cheap.

TomXP411 · Post by **TomXP411** » Thu Dec 09, 2021 7:48 am

On 12/8/2021 at 5:30 PM, desertfish said:

I guess this is cool and all, but why use this if there's already MicroPython? Honest question.

It literally says why in the article.

Besides, MMBASIC is compatible with the Maximite BASIC devices already out there. While it's not hugely popular (mostly because Geoff kept the software closed source), the Maximite is a great tool for casual programming. The Maximite is a stand-alone, BASIC computer. As far as I'm aware, there aren't any stand-alone Python computers, Micro or otherwise.

And honestly, I just don't like Python very much. I've been learning it recently, to use it for a couple of projects, and I keep coming up against stupid limitations that make it impossible to use for production software. So I'm about to dump all my python code in the demagnetizer and go back to c# or move to c++ for my active projects. As for for-fun projects, I'm considering getting a Maximite 2 board, although they're a little hard to come by right now.

SlithyMatt · Post by **SlithyMatt** » Thu Dec 09, 2021 2:40 pm

On 12/9/2021 at 12:40 AM, Cyber said:

There is another MMBasic project in the works - VGAMite.

This is what happens when we allow Australians to name things.

kelli217 · Post by **kelli217** » Thu Dec 09, 2021 8:29 pm

On 12/8/2021 at 11:40 PM, Cyber said:

monochrome VGA 640x480 output

Also known as 'MCGA output' ?

Tatwi · Post by **Tatwi** » Fri Dec 10, 2021 11:31 am

Being as objective, honest, and thoughtful as possible, I am 100% certain that I would actually use a Colour Maximite 2 more than a Commander X16, because being able to do cool stuff with "just BASIC" is all I really want from a retro computer. Along those lines, I think the VGAMite is the perfect system to power a modern PET (or 70s terminal or Fallout) inspired computer, because it would look amazing when paired with a CRT and its BASIC environment is extremely powerful, yet... basic! It's also small enough to mount inside almost anything and inexpensive enough to wreck a few of them in the process lol...