Thoreau BASIC Brings GW-BASIC into the Modern Era

Thoreau BASIC is a modern reimagining of the classic GW-BASIC, a programming language that once came pre-installed on IBM-PC compatible computers. While GW-BASIC was designed for older hardware, Thoreau BASIC has been updated to work seamlessly with 21st-century systems. The project aims to maintain full code compatibility with old GW-BASIC programs, including support for line numbers and GOTOs, while also taking advantage of modern hardware capabilities.

The updated version can boot from a UEFI-enabled x86 PC or run under Windows, supporting 64-bit memory and multithreading. It offers advanced features like 24-bit graphics at any resolution, built-in commands for file management, sprite-based graphics, mouse and keyboard input, and 32-channel sound. Unlike traditional interpreted languages, Thoreau BASIC also allows programs to be compiled for Windows or bare-metal execution on UEFI x86 machines.

Although not open source, Thoreau BASIC follows a 'pay what you want' model on Itch.io, where users can find examples of its capabilities. While other projects like MoonBASIC and BASIC-256 have attempted to revive BASIC, none have reached the same level of popularity as the original. Nevertheless, Thoreau BASIC provides a nostalgic yet functional way to experience programming in a modern context.