Microsoft's Basic Language for 6502 microprocessors has transitioned to open-source status.
In a move that will delight retrocomputing enthusiasts, Microsoft has made its 1978 version of BASIC available as open-source software. This version of the programming language, which can be traced back to the files in a GitHub repository, supports early computing models such as the Commodore PET, KIM-1, and early Apple systems.
The open-source release of Microsoft BASIC for the 6502 microprocessor, first introduced in the 1970s, marks the second time Microsoft has made an old product available. This version of the programming language, which originated in mid-1978, has been unofficially circulating in the community for a long time.
The open-source version of Microsoft BASIC comes with plenty of opportunities for retrocomputer enthusiasts to experiment. It may also inspire real-hardware projects. Any licensing worries related to this version of Microsoft BASIC have been cleared up, as it has been made open source under an MIT license.
The original Version 1.1 of Microsoft BASIC for the 6502 was developed jointly by Bill Gates and Commodore engineer John Feagans. In the 1970s, Microsoft's BASIC was the foremost supplier of BASIC interpreters.
It's worth noting that this open-source version of Microsoft BASIC is not the same as the extended versions found in later home computers such as the Commodore 64. The 6502 microprocessor, which powers this version of Microsoft BASIC, is still in use today.
Michael Holley's work serves as the header image for this article and is in the public domain. This open-source release marks another step in Microsoft's ongoing effort to make its historical software accessible to the public.
