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Eremey Valetov e7f35c21ff Implement binary SAVE/LOAD, INKEY$ extended keys, golden tests, update to v0.10.0 
Binary SAVE/LOAD: SAVE now writes tokenized binary by default (0xFF header
format), matching original GW-BASIC behavior. SAVE "file",A for ASCII.
LOAD auto-detects binary vs ASCII from the first byte. Command-line file
loading also auto-detects, so binary .BAS files just work.

INKEY$ extended keys: arrow keys, Home/End/PgUp/PgDn, Insert/Delete, and
F1-F10 now return the correct CHR$(0) + scan_code two-byte sequences per
the IBM PC convention. Refactored event trap key parsing to use tui_read_key()
instead of duplicating escape sequence parsing.

Golden-file regression tests: generated .expected output files for 55 of 58
test programs (3 timing-dependent tests excluded). The test runner now
reports compat match status alongside pass/fail.

Classic programs: added Hamurabi, Lunar Lander, Gunner, and Diamond from
David Ahl's BASIC Computer Games (1978) in tests/classic/ for manual
compatibility testing.

Docs updated with compiler roadmap item and hardware I/O simulator plan.
2026-03-01 12:25:47 -05:00

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GW-BASIC 2026

A portable C reimplementation of Microsoft GW-BASIC, using the original 8088 assembly source (released by Microsoft in 2020) as the authoritative reference.

This is not a transpilation — it reimplements the algorithms in clean C11 with modern data structures while targeting bug-compatible behavior. Unlike the original assembly (43,771 lines across 43 .ASM files), this version is structured as modular C suitable for new feature development.

Highlights

  • Authentic full-screen editor — dynamically sized screen buffer (25×80 default, full terminal with --full), free cursor movement, Enter-on-any-line, F1-F10 function keys, Insert/Overwrite toggle
  • Binary and ASCII file formats — SAVE writes tokenized binary by default, LOAD auto-detects format (just like the real thing)
  • INKEY$ extended keys — arrow keys, F-keys, and navigation keys return proper CHR$(0) + scan code two-byte sequences
  • Sixel graphics — SCREEN 1/SCREEN 2 rendering in compatible terminals
  • Sound — SOUND, BEEP, PLAY (MML) via PulseAudio
  • Full file I/O — sequential, random-access, SAVE/LOAD/MERGE/CHAIN/COMMON
  • Printer output — LPRINT/LLIST to file or real hardware via --lpt
  • Classic programs — Hamurabi, Lunar Lander, Gunner, and Diamond from David Ahl's BASIC Computer Games (1978) run out of the box
  • 58 test programs with golden-file regression testing and DOSBox-X compatibility testing against real GWBASIC.EXE
  • MIT License
:maxdepth: 2

getting-started
language-reference
architecture
development
roadmap
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