C64 Mini Wiki

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====== Coding ======

Just wanted a page to accumulate links for people wanting to rekindle their c64 programming skills :)

===== Manuals =====

  * https://archive.org/details/Commodore_64_Programmers_Reference_Guide_1983_Commodore
  * https://archive.org/details/commodore_c64_manuals

===== Programming books for kids =====

  * https://usborne.com/browse-books/features/computer-and-coding-books/
    * Search for the heading "**Usborne 1980s computer books**"

As the books may make use of PETSCII characters, you might want to consider adding petscii character stickers onto your USB keyboard:

  * [[keyboard_stickers|]]

===== PETSCII (character graphics) editors =====

  * [[http://petscii.krissz.hu/|PETSCII Editor]] - online PETSCII (character graphics) editor
    * imports bitmap pictures by optical character recognition
    * exports graphic to runnable C64 / Mini .prg, CBM prg Studio .sdd, assembly .asm and many more.
  * [[https://nurpax.github.io/petmate/|Petmate]] - cross-platform C64 PETSCII editor (Windows, Linux, OS X) 
    * exports graphic to executable .prg, PETSCII .c, assembler .asm and many more.
===== Programming books =====

  * http://everythingcommodore.com/download.php?list.121

===== Tips/Walkthroughs =====

  * http://codebase64.org/doku.php?id=base:how_to_calculate_your_own_sid_frequency_table


===== Programming suites for non-programmers =====
(work in progress)
===== Game creation systems (GCS) =====
==== All-purpose kits ====
  * SEUCK (Shoot'Em-Up Construction Kit)
  * AGCK (Arcade Game Construction Kit)
  * 3DCK (3D Construction Kit) aka Virtual Studio
  * Garry Kitchen's GameMaker
  * The Games Creator (Mastertronic)

==== Adventure construction kits ====
  * [[https://www.protovision.games/games/d42.php?language=en|D42 Adventure System]]
  * [[http://8-bit.info/the-gilsoft-adventure-systems/|The Quill & Illustrator]]
  * [[http://8-bit.info/infinite-imaginations-aventuras-ad/|DAAD Adventure Writer]] (contains all the tools to develop adventure games for C64, Spectrum, CPC, MSX, PCW, ST, Amiga and DOS)
  * [[http://www.gamebase64.com/game.php?id=3258|GAC (Graphic adventure Creator)]]
  * [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_Construction_Set|ACS (Adventure Construction Set)]] (tile/board rpg games)

==== Specific kits ====
  * [[WCS|WCS (Wargame Construction Set)]] (strategic simulation)
==== Level editors ====
  * [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racing_Destruction_Set|Racing Destruction Set]]
  * [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_Tracks:_The_Computer_Slot_Car_Construction_Kit|Fast Tracks: The Computer Slot Car Construction Kit]]
  * [[http://www.dessgeega.com/crossroads.html|Crossroads II: Pandemonium level editor]]
  * https://www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/Construction_Kits - list of other notable game level editors

===== Programming suites and Integrated Development Environments (IDE) =====
(work in progress)

==== For C64 - Mini (cross development) ====

  * [[http://www.ajordison.co.uk/|CBM.prg Studio]] (Windows)\\  CBM prg Studio by Arthur Jordison is a Windows IDE which allows you to type a BASIC or machine code program and convert it to a '.prg' file, which you can then run in an emulator or on real hardware. It also includes character, sprite and screen editors and a fully featured 6510/65816 debugger\\
    * [[https://www.retrogamedev.com/|RetroGameDev]] - companion book for CBM.prg Studio\\  "If you're looking for information about how to create games for the C64 please take a look at RetroGameDev by Derek Morris. It's a brand new book which details creating two games, a space shooter and a platform game. The games were created with CBM prg Studio and so it also serves as an excellent tutorial. Please support Derek by buying this book. He's put an incredible amount of effort into it and it really shows." (description by Arthur Jordison)

  * [[http://www.georg-rottensteiner.de/en/c64.html#c64studio|C64 Studio]] (Windows)\\  https://www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/C64_Studio C64 Studio is a useful Commodore development environment for Windows, which has been actively developed by Georg Rottensteiner since 2011. The program is focused on supporting C64 assembler and Basic V2, but also includes a number of other handy tools.

  * [[https://gitlab.com/camelot/kickc|KickC]] (Windows, OS X)\\  KickC is a compiler for a C-like language that creates optimized 6502 assembler. The language is classic C with a few modifications to allow it to optimize better for 6502 assember. (currently in beta)

  * [[http://www.lemonspawn.com/turbo-rascal-syntax-error-expected-but-begin/|Turbo Rascal SE]] (Windows 64-bit, Linux 64-bit, OS X)\\  TRSE is a complete suite (IDE, compiler, programming language, image sprite level resource editor) intended for developing games/demos for the 8-bit 6502 line of computers (C64, C128, VIC-20, NES) with a focus on the Commodore 64. With the benefits of a modern IDE (error messages, code completion, syntax highlightning etc) and a bunch of fast built-in tools, it has never been easier to program for the Commodore 64.

  * [[https://sourceforge.net/projects/baseditnet/|BasEdit.Net]] A CBM BASIC Editor for Windows written by Björg Stojalowski. You can use higher-level structured BASIC syntax while developing in the Windows-based editor, and it will compile-down to the simpler BASIC V2.0 form in order to run on the C64. I.e., lets you use labels, no need for line-numbers, can create named functions/subs and call them by name.

=== Assemblers and IDE suits ===

  * [[http://www.popelganda.de/relaunch64.html|Relaunch64]] - A C64/65xx cross-development IDE (Windows, Linux, OS X)\\  "This editor works together with common cross assemblers. Currently supported assemblers are 64tass, ACME, ca65, DASM, DreamAss, Kick Assembler and TMPx. Other assemblers might work as well, but syntax highlighting may not be 100% correct."
  * [[http://back2theretro.blogspot.com/2013/02/c64-kickass-ide-acaba-de-ser-traducido.html|C64 Kickass IDE]] (Windows) - IDE for Kick Assembler (English, Spanish).
  * [[https://cc65.github.io/|cc65 cross development package]] (Windows, Linux, OS X)\\  "cc65 includes a powerful macro assembler (ca65), a C compiler, linker, librarian and several other tools."

== Assemblers ==
  * [[https://sourceforge.net/projects/tass64/|64tass]] cross assembler (Windows, Linux, OS X)\\  64tass is cross assembler targeting the 65xx series of micro processors. Turbo Assembler compatible syntax.
  * [[https://sourceforge.net/projects/acme-crossass/|ACME]] Cross-Assembler (Windows, Linux)\\  It can produce code for the following processors: 6502, 6510 (including illegal opcodes), 65c02 and 65816.
  * [[https://cc65.github.io/|ca65]] cross assembler (Windows, Linux, OS X) - ca65 is part of cc65 package.
  * [[http://dasm-dillon.sourceforge.net/|DASM]] (Windows, Linux, OS X) - "A versatile macro assembler with support for several 8-bit microprocessors"
  * [[https://github.com/docbacardi/dreamass|DreamAss]] cross-assembler - A cross-assembler targetting the C64. Turbo Assembler compatible syntax.
  * [[http://www.theweb.dk/KickAssembler/|Kick Assembler]] (Windows, Linux, OS X)\\  Kick Assembler is the combination of an assembler for doing 6510 machine code and a high level script language.
  * [[http://turbo.style64.org/|TMPx]] - Turbo Macro Pro cross assembler suite (Windows, Linux, OS X) - Turbo Assembler compatible syntax.
==== At C64 - Mini (native development) ====

  * [[http://dotbasic.cbm8bit.com/|DotBasic Plus]] - "modern gui with complete mouse / joystick support"\\  Ultimate software development package for the C64: DotBASIC Plus. DB+ provides the means to create sophisticated, modern-looking programs and is at the same time perfect for the programming novice.
  * [[https://github.com/jkotlinski/durexforth|DurexForth]] - Modern C64 Forth\\  Includes a vi clone written in Forth, a high-resolution graphics library, plus MML music support.
  * [[https://github.com/bobbimanners/EightBall|EightBall]] - The Eight Bit Algorithmic Language for Apple II, C64 and VIC20\\  "EightBall is an interpreter and bytecode compiler for a novel structured programming language. It runs on a number of 6502-based vintage systems and may also be compiled as a 32 bit Linux executable. The system also includes a simple line editor and the EightBall Virtual Machine, which runs the bytecode generated by the compiler."
  * [[http://style64.org/release/turbo-macro-pro-sep06-style|Turbo Macro Pro]] assembler by Style (C64, C64DTV, +IDE64)\\  "Turbo Macro Pro is a heavily modified and improved descendant of the original Turbo Assembler Macro, which is itself a follow up version to the original Turbo Assembler."

==== Resources, links, references ====
  * [[https://gist.github.com/jblang/a39748b3b0d3ceba05cbb92d0c56b3b2|C64 Resources · GitHub]] by J.B. Langston
  * [[http://codebase64.org/doku.php?id=base:crossdev|Codebase64: Cross development]]
  * [[https://www.facebook.com/groups/2105373096362690/|Commodore 64/128 Programming Facebook group]]