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QBasic to JavaScript compiler

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# qbjc

**qbjc** is a QBasic to JavaScript compiler. It can compile a QBasic /
QuickBASIC program to:

- A standalone executable Node.js script, with zero external dependencies; or
- An ES6 module that can be imported and executed in both Node.js and browser environments.

Try it out in the browser: [👉 **qbjc.dev** 👈](https://qbjc.dev)

## But why?

QBasic was my first introduction to programming as a kid back in the 90s.
Despite its many limitations, it really inspired my passion for building things
with technology that continues to this day. The balance of simplicity and power
made programming feel both approachable and incredibly fun [1].

I wanted to see if I could recreate a little bit of that magic for the modern
age, something easy to get started with in today's web-centric world. So this
project was born - a QBasic compiler + runtime + basic web IDE that compiles
your QBasic code to JavaScript!

[1] See also: [30 years later, QBasic is still the
best](http://www.nicolasbize.com/blog/30-years-later-qbasic-is-still-the-best/)

## Usage

### qbjc playground

The qbjc playground
([👉 **qbjc.dev** 👈](https://qbjc.dev))
allows you to edit and run QBasic / QuickBASIC programs directly in the browser,
no installation required.

![qbjc playground screenshot](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jichu4n/qbjc/master/docs/assets/playground.jpg)

### Command line usage

```bash
# Install qbjc from NPM
npm install -g qbjc

# Compile hello.bas and write output to hello.bas.js
qbjc hello.bas

# Run the compiled program
./hello.bas.js

# ...or run hello.bas directly:
qbjc --run hello.bas

# See all command line options
qbjc --help
```

![Compiling and running a simple program](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jichu4n/qbjc/master/docs/assets/hello.gif)

### API usage

Compiling a QBasic program:

```TypeScript
import {compile} from 'qbjc';

...
const {
  // Compiled JavaScript code.
  code,
  // Sourcemap for the compiled JavaScript code.
  map,
  // Abstract syntax tree representing the compiled code.
  astModule,
} = await compile({
  // QBasic source code.
  source: 'PRINT "HELLO WORLD"',
  // Optional - Source file name (for debugging information).
  sourceFileName: 'hello.bas',
  // Optional - Whether to bundle with Node.js runtime code in order
  // to produce a standalone script.
  enableBundling: false,
  // Optional - Whether to minify the output.
  enableMinify: false,
});
```

Executing the compiled code:

- In browsers (using [xterm.js](https://xtermjs.org/)):

```TypeScript
  import {Terminal} from 'xterm';
  import {BrowserExecutor} from 'qbjc/browser';

// Set up xterm.js Terminal instance
  const terminal = new Terminal(...);

await new BrowserExecutor(terminal).executeModule(code);
  ```

- In Node.js:

```TypeScript
  import {NodeExecutor} from 'qbjc/node';

await new NodeExecutor().executeModule(code);
  ```

- In Node.js with bundling enabled (i.e. compiled with `enableBundling: true`):
  ```TypeScript
  import {run} from './hello.bas.js';
  await run();
  ```

## Compatibility

### What works:

- Core language features

- Control flow structures - loops, conditionals, `GOTO`, `GOSUB` etc.
  - Data types - primitive types, arrays and user-defined types (a.k.a. records)
  - Expressions - arithmetic, string, comparison, boolean
  - `SUB`s and `FUNCTION`s
  - `DATA` constants
  - Many built-in commands and functions like `VAL`, `STR$`, `INSTR`, `MID$`

- Text mode

- Basic text mode I/O - `PRINT`, `INPUT`, `INKEY$`, `INPUT$` etc.
  - Text mode screen manipulation - `COLOR`, `LOCATE` etc.
  - Note that the current implementation depends on a VT100-compatible terminal emulator.
    - On Windows, this means using WSL or something like PuTTY.
    - In the browser, the implementation uses [xterm.js](https://xtermjs.org/).

- It's just enough to run the original [`NIBBLES.BAS` game](./playground/examples/nibbles.bas) that shipped with QBasic:
  ![Compiling and running NIBBLES.BAS](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jichu4n/qbjc/master/docs/assets/nibbles.gif)

### What doesn't work (yet):

- Graphics and audio
- Events - `ON ERROR`, `ON TIMER` etc.
- OS APIs like file I/O, `CALL INTERRUPT` etc.
- Direct memory access - `PEEK`, `POKE` etc.
- Less common syntax, inputs or options
- ...and more - contributions are welcome!

For detailed compatibility information on individual commands and functions, see
[👉 Implementation Status](https://airtable.com/shrITVmjepv00kwpT).

## About

qbjc is distributed under the Apache License v2.

[npm-url]: https://npmjs.org/package/qbjc
[npm-version-image]: https://badgen.net/npm/v/qbjc
[github-url]: https://github.com/jichu4n/qbjc
[build-status-image]: https://github.com/jichu4n/qbjc/actions/workflows/build.yaml/badge.svg

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