Posted By
MMS
on 2021-08-18
12:13:19
 |  Re: optimizing BASIC
Based on the explanation (and the number of available commands) that x16 is closer to C64 that to C16 (or Plus/4).
There are some interesting statementsin the article, that there is no COLOR command (while somewhere else it is written, there is)
https://github.com/commanderx16/x16-docs/blob/master/Commander%20X16%20Programmer's%20Reference%20Guide.md
I this stage the x16 is certainly more advanced than the 264 series (no attribute, PCM and Yamaha 2151 sound, Real time clock, built in SD card and mouse support), but I think on programming level this command set seems to be very limited. The much higher speed and chunky gfx mode, not to mention the bank switching free operation would make this machine optimal to write games, even in BASIC.
For this one the fast block-copy and software sprite routines are really needed. Pushing ppl to still use POKE and PEEK is not XXI.century style 
I think it started well and advanced further. On the other hand I think instead of cloning C64 and extending it few new commands they should approach C128 simulation at a higher speed, because it was the biggest drawback of C128, that it was damn slow in BASIC. But it could program waveforms, play music, define ssprites, and even much more.
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