jdBasic - A Modern Functional BASIC Interpreter

jdBasic is a modern BASIC interpreter that fuses the simplicity of retro coding with the power of APL-style array processing, functional programming patterns, and immediate-mode GUI creation.

Whether you're building data pipelines, creating dev tools with native UIs, live-coding music, or training neural networks from scratch, jdBasic offers a unique, cross-platform environment.

Try it right now in your browser: jdbasic.org/live

🚀 Key Features

🖥️ Immediate Mode GUI (ImGui)

Create fully functional graphical user interfaces with just a few lines of code. No complex callbacks or event listeners—just logic.

• Windows, inputs, sliders, plots, and tables.
• Integrated Live Coding Sequencer and Sprite Engine.

⚡ Reactive Programming

Bring the power of spreadsheet-style reactivity to your code.

• Reactive Variables: Define variables that automatically update when their dependencies change (e.g., A -> B * 2).
• Graph Propagation: The interpreter handles the dependency graph for you.

🔢 APL-Inspired Array Processing

• N-Dimensional Arrays: First-class support for vectors, matrices, and tensors.

• Vectorized Math: Operations apply to entire arrays automatically (e.g., MyArray * 2). Most built-in functions (SIN, SQR, RIGHT$, etc.) are vectorized and apply to every element automatically.

• Data Analysis & Reduction: Instantly aggregate arrays with SUM, PRODUCT, MIN, MAX, and perform cumulative operations with SCAN.

• Data Pipelines: Chain functions using the Pipe Operator (|>) and Lambdas for elegant data transformation.

  

🔌 Hardware & System I/O

• Serial Communication: Talk to Arduinos and embedded devices with SERIAL commands.
• Joystick/Gamepad: Native support for game controllers via JOY.
• System Integration: Clipboard access, extended Filesystem/Path utilities, and OS execution.

🌐 Cross-Platform & Web Ready

• Runs natively on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
• Runs in the Web Browser via WebAssembly (Emscripten).

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Language Tour

1. The Reactive Paradigm

Forget manually updating variables. With REACT, state management becomes automatic.

DIM BaseValue AS INTEGER = 10
DIM Multiplier AS INTEGER = 5

' Define Result as a reactive variable dependent on BaseValue and Multiplier
DIM Result AS REACT INTEGER
Result -> BaseValue * Multiplier

PRINT Result ' Outputs: 50

' Update the dependency
Multiplier = 10

' Result updates automatically without reassignment
PRINT Result ' Outputs: 100

2. Immediate Mode GUI

Creating tools is incredibly fast using the built-in ImGui wrapper.

SCREEN 800, 600, "My Tool"

DIM BgColor[4] = [0.2, 0.3, 0.3, 1.0]

DO
    CLS
    
    ' Start a window
    IF GUI.BEGIN("Control Panel", 50, 50, 300, 200) THEN
        GUI.TEXT "Welcome to jdBasic GUI"
        GUI.SEPARATOR()
        
        ' A button that does something immediately
        IF GUI.BUTTON("Click Me") THEN
            PRINT "Button was clicked at " + TIME$
        ENDIF
        
        ' Direct variable binding for color picker
        GUI.COLOR("Background", BgColor)
    ENDIF
    GUI.END()
    
    SCREENFLIP
    SLEEP 16
LOOP UNTIL INKEY$() = "q"

3. Functional Pipelines

Combine high-order functions with the pipe operator for clean data processing.

' Generate 10 numbers, filter > 5, multiply by 10, and format
result = IOTA(10) |> FILTER(lambda x -> x > 5, ?) |> SELECT(lambda v -> v * 10, ?)

PRINT result 
' Output: [60 70 80 90 100]

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📦 What's New?

jdBasic is evolving rapidly. Here are the latest additions:

• GUI & Graphics: Full ImGui integration for building complex tools and debuggers.

• Platform Support: Official support for macOS and Web Browsers (WASM).

• Reactive Engine: New REACT keyword and -> operator for automatic state propagation.

• Hardware Control:

• SERIAL: COM port communication for IoT/Embedded projects.

• JOY: Full Joystick and Gamepad input support.

• Expanded Standard Library:

• CODEC: Base64, SHA256, and UUID generation.

• IO: DIR$() (extended file lists), PATH.* helpers, and CLIPBOARD access.

• Audio: A built-in Live Coding Sequencer (SOUND.SEQ) for algorithmic music.

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Getting Started

• Language Reference: View Documentation
• Manual: Read Manual
• Online REPL: Try it Online
• VS Code Extension: Get the Plugin

Building from Source

See build_linux_macos.md for instructions on compiling for Linux and macOS. Windows users can open the solution in Visual Studio 2022.

Contributions and feedback are welcome!