mBASIC
THE LANGUAGE AND ITS TOOLS
mBASIC is a programming language built around readable code, straightforward syntax and the freedom to create your own tools. From scripts to structured applications, it brings together a modern language, a dedicated editor and native extensions.
Terminal interfaces, graphics and data: one language, many uses.
Hello, I’m Mobi.
The mBASIC project mascot.
A first program
mBASIC
var message = "Hello, mBASIC!"
? messageOutput
Hello, mBASIC!
Straightforward syntax from the very first lines.
Syntax designed for the code you write and the code you come back to.
Functions, classes, inheritance and units to organise your programs.
Native modules that expand what the language can do.
01 / THE LANGUAGE
mBASIC keeps BASIC’s direct approach without trying to reproduce a historical dialect. Its syntax and execution model address practical needs: working with data, organising reusable code and developing interactive applications.
Strings, arrays and maps are built into the language. References let you work with existing data without unnecessarily copying whole structures.
Procedures, functions and units help you organise code. Native classes add inheritance, properties and control over member visibility.
The compiler produces bytecode that runs on the mBASIC virtual machine. Cooperative tasks, events and timers help coordinate the work of interactive applications.
02 / THE TOOLS
mBASIC comes with mbEdit and mbTk, both developed in mBASIC itself. They put the language’s capabilities into everyday use.
THE EDITOR
A terminal-based code editor designed for mBASIC. Syntax highlighting, completion, indentation, code folding, multiple cursors and go-to-definition navigation support both writing and understanding programs.
Write, explore and develop your code without leaving the terminal.
TERMINAL INTERFACES
A toolkit for building interactive terminal interfaces: widgets, layouts, focus management, keyboard and mouse input, and events. It provides the building blocks for your own text-based tools and applications.
The terminal as a complete user interface, not just a place to print text.
03 / THE EXTENSIONS
The project’s terminal focus remains a strength, not a limit on the language. Native modules add the capabilities each application needs, without requiring every program to use every dependency.
raylib
Create windows and graphical applications, draw in 2D and 3D, work with images and use audio.
SQLite · MySQL
Store and query data with SQLite, or work with a MySQL server, through dedicated modules.
pathlib
Build and inspect paths, browse directories and perform file operations.
clipboard
Exchange text with the system clipboard from an mBASIC program, on supported environments.
Modules are optional. Availability depends on the build and the environment in use.
04 / THE PROJECT
mBASIC is an independent project born from a practical need: a language that is enjoyable to use when building your own tools. The language, its runtime, mbEdit and mbTk evolve together through real-world use.
It does not aim for source compatibility with GW-BASIC, QBASIC or QuickBASIC. It keeps their approachable spirit while following its own syntax and design choices.