Editing BASIC 8 (section)

==Background==
{{tone|section|date=April 2017}}

===The problem===
Unlike its competitors, such as the [[Apple II]] and [[Atari 8-bit computers]], Commodore’s [[BASIC 2.0]] programming language built into the [[Commodore 64]] (C-64) lacks commands for generating sound and high-resolution, [[raster graphics|bit-mapped]] graphics, and responding to [[joystick#Electronic games|joystick]]s and [[game paddle]]s.  Instead, awkward and slow BASIC [[PEEK and POKE]] sequences, or custom-written [[assembly language]] routines, are required to accomplish these tasks.  The lack of suitable BASIC commands led to the development of many third-party language extensions, such as [[Simons' BASIC]], greatly reducing the complication of writing games in BASIC.

Upon its introduction in 1985, the [[Commodore 128]] (C-128) had BASIC 7.0—a substantially more-powerful version of BASIC 2.0—that includes commands for sound and graphics generation, as well as joystick and paddle detection.  In addition to its more-powerful BASIC, the C-128 is equipped with dual video displays: an [[MOS Technology 8563|8563 video display controller]] (VDC) for generating an 80-column text display, and an enhanced [[VIC-II]] video interface controller for generating a 40-column text display like that of the C-64.

When operated in its high-resolution, bit-mapped display mode, the VDC is capable of 640 × 200 [[pixel]] resolution, twice that of the VIC-II’s 320 × 200 pixel resolution.  However, the BASIC 7.0 commands that manipulate bit-mapped graphics are only effective on the VIC-II display.  If a programmer wishes to generate bit-mapped graphics on the VDC display, s/he must resort to assembly language (there are intractable difficulties in PEEKing and POKEing VDC registers) and deal with the convoluted means by which the VDC is controlled.{{ref|vdc-vs-vic-ii}}

===A solution===
BASIC 8.0, available via [[floppy disk]] or [[read-only memory|ROM]], provided many graphics commands that were competitive with the C128's competitors in the high-end 8-bit microcomputer market. BASIC 8.0 was fully compatible with the various first-party [[random-access memory|RAM]] and video RAM expansion chips and [[ROM cartridge|cartridge]]s, as well as [[computer mouse|mice]] and [[joystick]]s. It also provided basic [[3D computer graphics|3D graphics]] commands.<ref name="RetroC-WB8"/> Along with a 188-page manual, the software package included an example of a [[graphical user interface|GUI]], and a high-res [[bitmap graphics editor|paint program]], '''Basic Paint,''' both developed using BASIC 8.0.