You can use the SANDBOX to try the ugBASIC compiler, without download anything. This tool has been designed to quickly test whether the code you are writing compiles correctly and determines the desired results.

Since the source is compiled thanks to dedicated servers, separate from the browser you are using, some commands are not available: for example, you cannot load external files or resources by using the LOAD command.

If you need to develop a program with a complete tool, we recommend installing the command line executables (see below) or UGBASIC-IDE.

To write the source code you can use a simply text editor. You can save the program in a text file and then to call the compiler, in order to convert it into an form that your MSX will be able to execute.

Otherwise you can download and use command line compilers. Here are the direct links to the compilers for the various operating systems. Select the most suitable one for your configuration:

• Linux (32 bit)
• Linux (64 bit)
• Windows (32 bit)
• Windows (64 bit)
• Microsoft Windows IDE (32 and 64 bit)

In addition to compiling with the IDE, if you are using Linux or the command line version for Microsoft Windows, you can compile the BASIC source "source.bas" into an executable file using the following command:

ugbc.msx1 -o executable.rom -O rom source.bas
ugbc.msx1 -o executable.dsk -O dsk source.bas

It is therefore possible to run everything with an emulator, such as BlueMSX , or to create a phisical storage, as well.

A good starting point to learn ugBASIC for the msx1 platform is the examples page. The examples provide insight into the syntax and usage of many of the commands and statements available for the language.

Since ugBASIC is an isomorphic language, which does not provide abstractions, it is possible that not all examples work on all targets: those labeled msx1 can be compiled to generate executable files.

If you need help and support, the best place is the official forum, where you can find answers to your questions and receive help.

ACCESSING MEMORY

• READING A BYTE
• READING A WORD
• READING A DOUBLE WORD

ARRAY MANAGEMENT

ASSEMBLY INTEGRATION

• INLINE (1 LINE)
• INLINE (MORE LINES)

BIT DATATYPE

• USING DATATYPE
• BIT MANIPULATION
• BIT COMPARISON
• ARRAY OF BITS

BUFFERS MANAGEMENT

DEFINE PRAGMAS

EMBEDDED DATA

• USING DATA AND READ INSTRUCTION
• USING DATA AND READ INSTRUCTION WITH LABELS
• USING RESTORE INSTRUCTION
• USING READ END FUNCTION
• USING DATA LOAD
• USING DATA LOAD
• USING DATA AND READ INSTRUCTION WITH EXPLICIT TYPE
• USING DATA AND READ INSTRUCTION WITH LABELS
• USING RESTORE INSTRUCTION
• USING READ END FUNCTION
• USING DATA LOAD
• USING DATA LOAD
• USING DYNAMIC RESTORE

EXPANSION MANAGEMENT

EXTERNAL INTEGRATION

FLOATING POINT

FLOW CONTROL

FONT SUPPORT

• REPLACE A CHAR
• REPLACE A CHAR

GRAPHICS PRIMITIVES

I/O CONTROL

IMAGE BLITTING

MATHEMATIC ROUTINES

• LIMITS OF NUMERIC TYPES
• CHECKING SIGN / UNSIGN CONVERSION

MULTI TASKING

OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS

• FOR...NEXT BEST PRACTICE
• FOR...NEXT BEST PRACTICE
• DRAWING SPOCK
• DRAWING SPOCK USING DATA
• TEST CARD

SCREEN MANIPULATION

SPRITE MANAGEMENT

STATIC IMAGES

STRING MANIPULATION

TEXTS OUTPUT

TILESET SUPPORT

USER-DEFINED PROCEDURES

VIDEOGAME ISPIRED

• BLADE RUNNER OPENING

The ugBASIC compiler supports both the MSX PAL (working frequency: 50 Hz) and NTSC (working frequency: 60 Hz) versions, and automatically detects the working frequency to calibrate the delays. In particular, it defines two constants with the same name, and initializes the constant TICKS PER SECOND.

This is the value of the various constants in the various versions:

The ugBASIC language supports up to 2 joysticks, using the JOY(n) statement, and the keyboard. The left joystick is in port 0, while right joystick in port 1.