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Commodore 64 Basic for PostgreSQL
22 days ago
- PL/CBMBASIC allows PostgreSQL to run functions written in Commodore 64 BASIC V2, using the actual 1982 interpreter compiled into C.
- It features line numbers starting at 10, mandatory for code, with function arguments injected as BASIC variables in lines 0-9.
- Includes a validator that enforces C64 BASIC naming rules, preventing variables with embedded keywords (e.g., 'TOTAL' contains 'TO').
- OUT parameters are handled by reading BASIC's variable table from emulated RAM after program execution.
- Device 8 is mapped to the database, allowing use of OPEN, INPUT#, PRINT#, etc., to execute SQL statements and read results.
- Errors are trapped through the interpreter's ERROR vector, providing PostgreSQL errors with original BASIC error codes.
- Performance benchmarks show it's slower than PL/Python but faster than the original hardware, with a 15-microsecond reset per call.
- Limitations include uppercase-only strings, 255-character string limits, no NULL support, and superuser-only untrusted language status.
Pong Wars on the Commodore 64
9 days ago
- The post details the author's project to recreate Pong Wars, a mesmerizing animation of two balls battling to flip colors on a 20x20 grid, on a Commodore 64 using 6502 assembly language.
- Key implementation steps include setting up the screen and color RAM, using sprites for the balls, managing movement with fixed-point math and sine lookup tables, implementing edge and block collision detection with randomized bounce angles, and rendering the blockfield and scores.
- The game loop utilizes raster interrupts to run within the vertical blanking period, though performance is limited by copying the blockfield to color RAM each frame; potential optimizations are suggested, such as direct color RAM access and incremental score updates.
I Owe My Life to the Commodore 64
8 days ago
- The Commodore 64 was affordable compared to other personal computers in the 1980s, costing under $600 and eventually dropping to $199.
- Purchasing the Commodore 64 was justified as an educational tool, but the author primarily used it for playing pirated video games, which taught problem-solving skills.
- Playing sports simulation games on the Commodore 64 helped the author learn about American sports and fostered camaraderie with others.
- The computer connected the author internationally, such as with an Austrian relative, and locally through Bulletin Board Systems (BBS), leading to friendships and job opportunities.
- The author wrote a novel using the Commodore 64's word processor, filling two floppy disks, which sparked a lifelong passion for writing.
- The Commodore 64 foundationaly contributed to the author's career as a Lead Application Developer by fostering early computing skills and perseverance.
- Decades later, the author purchased a replica Commodore 64 Ultimate, evoking nostalgic emotions and memories of early computing experiences.

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#commodore 64

Commodore 64 Basic for PostgreSQL

Pong Wars on the Commodore 64

I Owe My Life to the Commodore 64