Home Learn Download Community Book About GitHub
← All news Releases

BASIC-256 v2.1.0 released

The first stable release of the 2.1 series: Qt 6, a browser build, Apple Silicon and Intel Macs, a module library and a new look.

BASIC-256 v2.1.0 is out — the first stable release of the 2.1 series, and the point the beta line has been heading towards since June. It continues the original BASIC256, which last released as 2.0.0.11 in 2020.

Builds are available for Windows, macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Linux and the Raspberry Pi, and BASIC-256 also runs in a browser tab with nothing to install.

What 2.1 brings

  • Qt 6 and a CMake build, with Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 support and GitHub Actions building every platform.
  • BASIC-256 in the browser. A WebAssembly build runs the full IDE with no installation, and a program can be opened straight from a link with ?run=, with the window layout picked by &mode=.
  • macOS builds for both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs, each needing macOS 15 (Sequoia) or newer.
  • A standard module library. include "math.kbs" pulls in the shared maths helpers, on the desktop and in the browser alike.
  • Modern documentation at doc.basic256.org, opened from Help → Online help or by pressing F1 over a keyword.
  • Dark themes. The Edit and Text Output windows follow View → Theme: Follow System, Light or Dark.
  • A better command line — fullscreen, graphics only, text only and silent running.
  • A new logo and a mascot, BitBot, used for the program icon on every platform, the installer, the About box and the browser loading screen.
  • New and updated example programs, including menu-driven tours of the SPRITE, SOUND and IMAGE statements.

Also in this release

  • A new MAXIMIZE statement lets a program maximise or restore the IDE window itself.
  • Maximising the IDE no longer hands all the extra width to the Edit window, and re-docking a floated Graphics window no longer drags its floating size in with it.
  • Checkable menu items now show a check box, or a radio button where only one of a group can apply, drawn clear of the item text at the size the platform intends.
  • Whole numbers are the full 64 bits on every platform.
  • The Windows installer no longer leaves a second copy of the Examples and TestSuite behind.

The ChangeLog has the full list, and the release notes summarise every version so far.

Pick your platform and download it, or try it in your browser first.