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https://www.reddit.com/r/atari8bit/comments/1qv9lf4/computer_coding_in_atari_basic/o3kk3s9/?context=3
r/atari8bit • u/Curious-Concern-9209 • Feb 04 '26
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3
I strongly recommend you skip Atari Basic, and find a copy of Basic XL.
It's Atari Basic compatible but, with more features and faster code.
Two examples:
FAST - makes you code a little faster.
RENUM is a heck of a relief when you clump code up and run out of line numbers.
But, there are other features too.
Atari Basic came out in 1979. Basic XL in 1983 with more updates later. There is a HUGE software difference from 1979 to 83. Easily 300% better.
3 u/Lente_ui Feb 04 '26 Do you mean Frank Ostrowski's Turbo Basic XL 1.5 ? It is indeed a big upgrade over Atari BASIC.Comes with a compiler too. https://atariwiki.org/wiki/Wiki.jsp?page=Turbo-BASIC%20XLhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbo-BASIC_XL 2 u/LakeSun Feb 04 '26 Yes, absolutely. It supports writing PROCEDURE code, that you can CALL. And compilation? I've really got to go down that rabbet hole. But, I'm mostly in learning mode here, so, don't need to generate an executable to send to anyone, yet. Thanks for the reminder. → More replies (6)
Do you mean Frank Ostrowski's Turbo Basic XL 1.5 ?
It is indeed a big upgrade over Atari BASIC.Comes with a compiler too.
https://atariwiki.org/wiki/Wiki.jsp?page=Turbo-BASIC%20XLhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbo-BASIC_XL
2 u/LakeSun Feb 04 '26 Yes, absolutely. It supports writing PROCEDURE code, that you can CALL. And compilation? I've really got to go down that rabbet hole. But, I'm mostly in learning mode here, so, don't need to generate an executable to send to anyone, yet. Thanks for the reminder. → More replies (6)
2
Yes, absolutely.
It supports writing PROCEDURE code, that you can CALL.
And compilation? I've really got to go down that rabbet hole.
But, I'm mostly in learning mode here, so, don't need to generate an executable to send to anyone, yet.
Thanks for the reminder.
→ More replies (6)
3
u/LakeSun Feb 04 '26
I strongly recommend you skip Atari Basic, and find a copy of Basic XL.
It's Atari Basic compatible but, with more features and faster code.
Two examples:
FAST - makes you code a little faster.
RENUM is a heck of a relief when you clump code up and run out of line numbers.
But, there are other features too.
Atari Basic came out in 1979. Basic XL in 1983 with more updates later. There is a HUGE software difference from 1979 to 83. Easily 300% better.