Hello from Illinois!

[WillumILOPP]

Hey all, I'm new to everything retro computing. Though I've watched quite a bit of 8-bitGuy on youtube, I would like to know where some good resources are for the basics of... well BASIC! Youtube videos are preferred tbh. If y'all could help my 18 year old self out here, that would be great. (Also does anyone use PixelVision8 around here? it is a pretty cool retro styled fantasy console.)

 

[Edmond D]

Welcome!

BASIC predates Youtube by a couple of decades (which seems like a millennium in computer development.)  While videos can be good, they also are really a mixed bag of quality.

I'd suggest a "retro" experience of reading a manual to begin. Commodore did a good job starting people off in the 80's with the Vic-20 and C64 manuals, back when home computers were "new." There are several sources of both online, just Google away.



I'm not saying that there aren't great videos or courses online. We just didn't have them in the 1980's. As a teenager I had more knowledge than the typing teacher in high school (and there was only one programming/computing course.)  Knowledge coupled with my arrogance got me kicked-out of the class and given access to a SuperPET with all the Waterloo languages to play with (Pascal, Fortran, COBOL, 6809 assembly.) All had books which I learnt from by reading and messing around, as it was well beyond the teacher's ability/comprehension. 



After reading, do the doing and go play around with programming. The worst that will happen isa syntax error or two! ?



Once you get going, find a mentor or two online would be my next suggestion. The forums here are a good place to ask on specific issues that you might encounter - there are many friendly helpful people here who grew up in the retro/stone age.

 

 



 

 

[JimmyDansbo]

Hello and welcome.

I have not found a good video resource for BASIC programming on the Commodore 64 and/or Commander X16, but as Edmond suggests, you could start out with the manual for the C64 or check the online documentation for BASIC Version 2.0 - https://www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/BASIC#Overview_of_BASIC_Version_2.0_.28second_release.29_Commands

The Commander X16 should be fully compatible with BASIC Version 2.0 and has it extended as well. Unfortunately the documentation for Commander X16 is still in a bit of a flux, but you can find it here: https://github.com/commanderx16/x16-docs

On https://www.8bitcoding.com/p/commander-x16.html there are some tutorials created by @DusanStrakl

Hopefully, above links can help you get startet.

[loghead]

Hello!

I am TMO (though now "loghead" on the X16 forum because something changed since last time I was here, but...)

I, too, am a relatively new hobbyist, as I didn't get too involved with software/hardware until 2020.

I am from/in St Louis, Missouri, so I am curious - where in Ill. are you from? I forget what is just across the river in Western Illinois, as I am further into South St Louis County (2 miles from the Mississippi). Been to Illinois plenty throughout life.

Hope you learn a lot and enjoy your time here, as I find there is a lot to learn and do!