How to get started?

[Legendary Spud]

I have recently become interested in the Commander X16 from the 8 Bit Guy's latest video right now where he finished the arcade, and I want to know, where do i get started? I don't have the product itself, but I would like to learn about how to write programs in the online emulator from a beginner level (i know python, but nothing about basic or the architecture of these types of computers.) So, how do I start? Also i have never used a forum before, quite an interesting experience.

[TomXP411]

I would not use the online emulator for anything other than brief demos. It's a bit out of date, and it's far from efficient. Grab the emulator from https://github.com/X16Community/x16-emu ... es/tag/r48

The emulator also comes with the "Programmer's Reference Manual", which is still a work in progress.

As to learning BASIC, I actually learned by reading the VIC-20 User's Guide, way back in the dark ages, when we had to use a TV set to display our computers' output. Assembly language is probably best learned from Jim Butterfield's book.

Beyond that, look for Commodore resources. The system ROM is actually descended from the Commodore 64 ROM, so the general principles in books about programming on the Commodore 64 also apply to the Commander. The hardware is different, so graphics sound, and things like reading the joysticks use different mechanisms, but those things are actually more straightforward on the Commander (and found in the Programmer's Reference.)

[ahenry3068]

I have recently become interested in the Commander X16 from the 8 Bit Guy's latest video right now where he finished the arcade, and I want to know, where do i get started? I don't have the product itself, but I would like to learn about how to write programs in the online emulator from a beginner level (i know python, but nothing about basic or the architecture of these types of computers.) So, how do I start? Also i have never used a forum before, quite an interesting experience.

There's also a lot of example code here on the forum. I for one upload source code with almost everything I post. I advise joining the X16 Discord server as well. Very often you can get more rapid responses to questions there. Don't take that as me discouraging forum use, I for one strongly recommend the use of both platforms.

[jaydg]

I much prefer the forums. I really dislike that lack of organization of Discord. When I get on Discord and read a post, there's no context of what is being discussed and I have to scroll up and try to find the topic. But then it's usually mixed with posts about other topics so it's just a jumbled mess. Forums are tidy and neat.

[ahenry3068]

I really do get where your coming from on that. But I'm pragmatic. I like the forum for organization and (semi) permanence. But your likely to get an Answer from an expert more quickly on the Discord

[DragWx]

Asking on Discord can yield faster responses, but if those questions and answers don't make their way back here, then nobody else will benefit from the knowledge.

It's kinda like if I ask a question and someone replies with "I sent a PM", and then that's the end of the discussion. It helped me, but nobody else.

[ahenry3068]

Asking on Discord can yield faster responses, but if those questions and answers don't make their way back here, then nobody else will benefit from the knowledge.

It's kinda like if I ask a question and someone replies with "I sent a PM", and then that's the end of the discussion. It helped me, but nobody else.

I've been beating the same drum. I actually relay questions I find here to Discord if I can't answer them. And I do my best to encourage at least posting programs back here on the Forum. But I'm one guy. It has to be a group effort.

[voidstar]

Depending on which SD-card you have, on the original you can try starting with these folders:

\EXPLORE\BASIC\TUTORIAL\INTROSAMPLES
\BASIC-GAMES\VELOCITY

An archive of the earlier SD-card content is here:

https://github.com/voidstar78/X16_MANUA ... SD_CONTENT

But this does depend on a good amount of "self exploration" and experimentation, which some people might not have the patience for or some just may need a little more initial orientation (where little things can trip people up when getting started - like tokenized-BASIC vs ASCII, or how in CBM KERNAL you can "drive the cursor across the screen" to edit code, which wasn't the case on some other BASIC systems). The above was "practice-content" to chew on, once you get over the very-initial-learning curve of working with CMDR-DOS or the X16 System KERNAL style of the system.