cbmbasic ☆

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Description:
Commodore BASIC V2 as a scripting language

Type: Formula | Latest Version: 1.0@0 | Tracked Since: Dec 17, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: Developer tools

Tags: retro-computing basic commodore emulator cli

Install: brew install cbmbasic

About:
cbmbasic is a cross-platform command-line interpreter that executes Commodore BASIC V2 programs on modern systems. It faithfully emulates the original C64 environment, including the BASIC ROM routines and memory map, allowing vintage code to run natively. This enables users to explore retro programming concepts, develop new scripts in CBM BASIC, and automate tasks using a unique historical syntax.

Key Features:

Accurate emulation of Commodore 64 BASIC V2 ROM routines
Cross-platform command-line interface (CLI) for running .prg files
Direct access to emulated memory and CPU state for debugging
Supports standard input/output for integrating with modern shell scripts

Use Cases:

Running and studying legacy Commodore 64 BASIC software
Learning the constraints and techniques of 1980s home computer programming
Creating retro-style automation scripts or text-based games

Alternatives:

VICE – Full C64 emulator suite; heavier but provides complete graphical environment vs. cbmbasic's lightweight CLI focus.
QB64 – Modern BASIC interpreter for creating native apps; contemporary syntax vs. cbmbasic's strict historical compatibility.

License: BSD-2-Clause

Bottles available for: arm64_tahoe, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_ventura, arm64_monterey, arm64_big_sur, sonoma, ventura, monterey, big_sur, catalina, arm64_linux, x86_64_linux

Version History

Detected	Version	Rev	Change	Commit
Sep 13, 2025 6:52am		0	VERSION_BUMP	3e8c0055