R. T. RUSSELL

Running BBC BASIC in Windows

• BBC BASIC for SDL 2.0 (Windows edition)

  ✓ Totally free and unrestricted (up to 256 Mbytes heap memory).
  ✓ Cross-platform (Windows, MacOS, Linux, PiOS, Android, iOS & in-browser).
  ✓ Open Source.
  ✓ Uses hardware (GPU) accelerated graphics.
  ✓ Creates self-contained Windows executables (.exe).
  ✖ Limited support for the Windows API.
  

• BBC BASIC Console Mode edition for Windows

  ✓ Totally free and unrestricted (up to 256 Mbytes heap memory, except Pico).
  ✓ Cross-platform (Windows, MacOS, Linux, PiOS, Raspberry Pi Pico).
  ✓ Open Source.
  ✓ Lightweight, ideal for scripting.
  ✖ Console-mode only (assumes VT-100 compatible terminal).
  ✖ No support for sound or graphics (Pico edition has sound).
  

• BBC BASIC for Windows

  ✓ Up to 512 Mbytes heap memory (full version).
  ✓ Excellent support for the Windows API.
  ✓ Will run in all versions of Windows since Windows 95.
  ✓ Creates compact self-contained Windows executables.
  ✖ Paid-for (full version).
  ✖ Closed source, limited long-term support.