MultiBASIC change log

0.33

• minor size optimizations.
• if not GR.0, switch to GR.0 before exiting to DOS.
• close all files and release all the malloced memory before calling reset in syscall 0 and syscall 1.
• more internal adjustments for linear addressing past the first 64k.
• fix of a possible stack problem in MALLOC().
• requested amounts of memory passed to MALLOC() are now rounded up to the closest page boundary.

0.32

• relocatable version, max. MEMLO is $3C00.

0.31

• if the CPU is not 65C816 or the OS is not compatible, wait for a keypress after displaying the message and before exiting to DOS. Do this on any DOS except Sparta.
• forgot to switch to emulation mode when calling user program from within USR() function, fixed now.
• added source code for Charles' Marslett fast FP routines to satisfy the license.

0.3

• "GET A" can be now interrupted using the Break key.
• after CLOSE #0 any error/stop message first forces the IOCB #0 to be opened for the "E:" device before being displayed.
• error messages made more detailed.
• added separate error messages for the "R:" handler of the 850 interface.
• the interpreter now runs fully in the native 65C816 mode.
• fixed stack over- and underflows caused by TRAP.
• time related functions now take properly into account the difference between PAL and NTSC.
• the interpreter is now RESET-proof (it seems it is stable enough).
• the zero page and the BASIC direct page are now separated.
• a bug in command line parser is fixed.
• fixed mul/div overflow crash (typo in the error handling routine).
• incorporated Charles' Marslett fast FP routines, with all changes necessary for them to execute in native 65C816 mode and some speed optimizations.
• implemented TBXL-style program line labels, and keyword GO#.
• implemented keywords %GET and %PUT
• implemented keywords PROC/EXEC/ENDPROC/ON ... EXEC
• POKE and DPOKE can't now destroy the DOS, the interpreter or the BASIC program - the area taken by these is "protected" from poking into (Error 34 occurs).
• numerous internal changes to make possible for the BASIC program to run outside the first 64k (not yet complete).
• greatly improved the performance of conversion routines: 24-bit int to FP and FP to 24-bit int. BASIC instructions which use these are much faster now.
• fixed a bug in 24-bit int to hex conversion routine that caused wrong behaviour when the middle byte was zero.
• implemented BXE keywords INVERSE and NORMAL.
• implemented new keywords allowing memory allocations: MATTRIB, MFREE and function MALLOC().
• implemented BXE keywords ERASE, PROTECT, UNPROTECT as aliases to already existing TBXL commands DELETE, LOCK and UNLOCK, resp.
• implemented TBXL command DUMP.
• INPUT can be now given a text to be displayed before reading data (like TBXL and BXE).
• MOVE/-MOVE reworked completely. It is now possible to move blocks bigger than 64k freely around the entire address space.
• implemented keyword MEMSET.
• fixed (I hope) wrong behaviour of nested IF/ENDIF statements.
• 256 variables now allowed (like TBXL).
• WAIT expanded the functionality known from Microsoft BASIC.
• BXE keyword NUM added as an alias to already existing AUTO. Also both made work more like in the originals (BXE and MSB).

0.2

• the syntax error when you wanted to declare two numeric tables in a row in DIM (10 DIM A(5),B(8)) is fixed.
• ENDWHILE bug is fixed (didn't work)
• XIO syntax bug is fixed.
• INKEY$ is reworked, should be much better now.
• LOAD had a bug that could result in memory corruption sometimes, fixed.
• GET and PUT with multiple values are now implemented.
• GET and PUT w/o channel number now works as in Turbo BASIC too.
• DEL command is implemented.
• SYSCALL command is implemented.
• ARGC and ARGV$() functions are now interfacing a BASIC program to the command line.
• command line parser is totally rewritten.
• AUDCTL is implemented.
• FILENAME command is implemented.
• New SET/SYS controls:
  • 9 = 1, generate an error after ENTER command is completed.
  • 24/25, MultiBASIC major/minor version number
  • 26/27, underlying SpartaDOS version number (or 0 if not SpartaDOS).
  • 28, if 1, stereo Pokey is available.
• GOTO/GOSUB/RESTORE etc should work faster now. Also loops are much faster, when they entirely fit in one program line.

0.1

• Initial version.