Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)? Has anybody made a BASIC programing language that will compile Wii executables (boot.ELF files)? I know that QBASIC and Visual BASIC will compile PC executables (EXE files). But is there a Wii BASIC anywhere?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,972#msg-972Fri, 17 Jul 2026 22:16:46 +0200 Phorum 5.2.23 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,2187#msg-2187 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,2187#msg-2187
You're right about the language being easily extendable, that how I managed to get Wiimote access into WiiBASIC so fast. The project is currently on hold whilst I'm working on something else, but when I come back to it, Graphics, SD card and network will also be added in.

Interpreters are generally slower than compiled, however, they have several uses. One would even be that they can be ported, so the WiiBASIC I write could have a Windows or Linux compile so you can test code out on the PC as well as the Wii]]> whodares OfftopicSat, 27 Sep 2008 01:15:51 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,2184#msg-2184 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,2184#msg-2184
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whodares
There are plenty of variants of BASIC, and I agree, some only had GOTO and GOSUB (which are what functions technically are anyway).

QBASIC/QuickBASIC definately had them

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Arikado
So you're gonna do all that work just to make and play text applications or primitive graphics applications?

Why do you assume you'll only be able to do "primitive graphics" in BASIC? I saw a 3D engine written in QuickBASIC by Ken Silverman (The guy who wrote BUILD for Duke3D etc.) and it was by no means sluggish. I've also seen QuickBASIC programs loading in bitmaps and drawing to the screen, so you can get your "Advanced" graphical displays.

Anyway, This is going too far off-topic, so I'm not going to debate any more on BASIC as a language. So back on topic...

@VideoGamer: Why would you want to code a BAS file on PC and copy it across? Considering the Wii can support a USB keyboard, you might as well include it all on the device (although that wouldn't stop you from coding on the PC and copying it over).

However, what you might be after more than WiiBASIC like I was imagining, was probably a BASIC to C converter so you could write your BAS file, run a program on the PC to convert it to C, link in all the necessary libraries (Wiimote, Network, GRRLib etc.) and compile your ELF file.
Isn't GOSUB considered a function? It's not LIKE a function, it IS a function.
And technically, since BASIC is an interpreted language, it's easy to modify the language to add more features.
Remember: Interpreters are your friend.]]> strongfan OfftopicFri, 26 Sep 2008 22:58:27 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1203#msg-1203 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1203#msg-1203
Videogamer: using the bash shell and subsiquently GCC is basically like learning a new language, it has it's own scripting language from which you can create programs (although this isn't optimal). When it boots type this:

cd c:/


and hit enter. cd means change directory. Once here keep using the cd command to move through your computer until you get to the folder where the make file is located and type

make

then it should come up with some words and babbel. If it works, then you will get your compiled program other wise it will give you errors, what line they are and what the error is.
To get a list of the folders and files in the current directory type

ls


(short for list, dir in windows), this makes it easier to navigate although cygwin is easy to use anyway, although for a BASIC programmer it may not be so easy.]]> WiiPhlex OfftopicMon, 25 Aug 2008 14:54:14 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1196#msg-1196 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1196#msg-1196 tona OfftopicMon, 25 Aug 2008 07:47:58 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1191#msg-1191 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1191#msg-1191 Videogamer OfftopicMon, 25 Aug 2008 04:49:57 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1181#msg-1181 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1181#msg-1181 WiiPhlex OfftopicMon, 25 Aug 2008 00:35:16 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1177#msg-1177 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1177#msg-1177
Please. What C compiler would you recommend?]]> Videogamer OfftopicSun, 24 Aug 2008 23:18:37 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1149#msg-1149 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1149#msg-1149 GPF OfftopicSun, 24 Aug 2008 13:43:48 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1142#msg-1142 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1142#msg-1142 Videogamer OfftopicSun, 24 Aug 2008 06:48:37 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1135#msg-1135 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1135#msg-1135 WiiPhlex OfftopicSun, 24 Aug 2008 05:33:25 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1130#msg-1130 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1130#msg-1130
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whodares
There are plenty of variants of BASIC, and I agree, some only had GOTO and GOSUB (which are what functions technically are anyway).

QBASIC/QuickBASIC definately had them

Quote
Arikado
So you're gonna do all that work just to make and play text applications or primitive graphics applications?

Why do you assume you'll only be able to do "primitive graphics" in BASIC? I saw a 3D engine written in QuickBASIC by Ken Silverman (The guy who wrote BUILD for Duke3D etc.) and it was by no means sluggish. I've also seen QuickBASIC programs loading in bitmaps and drawing to the screen, so you can get your "Advanced" graphical displays.

Anyway, This is going too far off-topic, so I'm not going to debate any more on BASIC as a language. So back on topic...

@VideoGamer: Why would you want to code a BAS file on PC and copy it across? Considering the Wii can support a USB keyboard, you might as well include it all on the device (although that wouldn't stop you from coding on the PC and copying it over).

However, what you might be after more than WiiBASIC like I was imagining, was probably a BASIC to C converter so you could write your BAS file, run a program on the PC to convert it to C, link in all the necessary libraries (Wiimote, Network, GRRLib etc.) and compile your ELF file.

What I imagined was NOT a version of BASIC to run on the Wii. I imagined a version of basic that would run on the computer. Then when you compiled the program from basic, it would produce a boot.elf file with Wii compatible code (turn the BASIC commands into Wii commands and write them to a boot.elf file). Then you would just put that boot.elf file on the SD card, put it in the Wii and start your own homebrew program from the Homebrew Channel on the Wii.

The actual BASIC programming language would NEVER NEVER NEVER have to run on the Wii.

Now does everyone see what I'm talking about? (if so then this is a hint that I would like someone to make this form of BASIC, so I can start making my own homebrew apps for Wii without having to learn C or any other programing language, because I'm already VERY knowledgeable in BASIC and VisualBASIC, but I know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about how to program in C or any other programing language)]]> Videogamer OfftopicSun, 24 Aug 2008 05:11:53 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1129#msg-1129 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1129#msg-1129You don't have to add a prototype for a function in C or C++ if it is declared before the main method.]]> WiiPhlex OfftopicSun, 24 Aug 2008 04:42:04 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1118#msg-1118 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1118#msg-1118 vader347 OfftopicSat, 23 Aug 2008 21:44:04 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1114#msg-1114 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1114#msg-1114Yes, but who would waste the time to write a long program to get past graphic primitives? As you also said this getting offtopic.

Bottom line Videogamer: Move forward with C++ instead of backward with BASIC. I'm done posting on this topic.]]> Arikado OfftopicSat, 23 Aug 2008 20:44:27 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1113#msg-1113 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1113#msg-1113
QBASIC/QuickBASIC definately had them

Quote
Arikado
So you're gonna do all that work just to make and play text applications or primitive graphics applications?

Why do you assume you'll only be able to do "primitive graphics" in BASIC? I saw a 3D engine written in QuickBASIC by Ken Silverman (The guy who wrote BUILD for Duke3D etc.) and it was by no means sluggish. I've also seen QuickBASIC programs loading in bitmaps and drawing to the screen, so you can get your "Advanced" graphical displays.

Anyway, This is going too far off-topic, so I'm not going to debate any more on BASIC as a language. So back on topic...

@VideoGamer: Why would you want to code a BAS file on PC and copy it across? Considering the Wii can support a USB keyboard, you might as well include it all on the device (although that wouldn't stop you from coding on the PC and copying it over).

However, what you might be after more than WiiBASIC like I was imagining, was probably a BASIC to C converter so you could write your BAS file, run a program on the PC to convert it to C, link in all the necessary libraries (Wiimote, Network, GRRLib etc.) and compile your ELF file.]]> whodares OfftopicSat, 23 Aug 2008 20:38:31 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1112#msg-1112 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1112#msg-1112 Arikado OfftopicSat, 23 Aug 2008 20:22:42 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1111#msg-1111 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1111#msg-1111
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Arikado
@henke37
yes, but only via goto. C functions are alot cleaner.

That's rubbish. Also, in C you have to declare functions twice, once as a "prototype", and the other with the code.]]> whodares OfftopicSat, 23 Aug 2008 20:22:14 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1109#msg-1109 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1109#msg-1109 henke37 OfftopicSat, 23 Aug 2008 19:44:17 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1106#msg-1106 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1106#msg-1106yes, but only via goto. C functions are alot cleaner.]]> Arikado OfftopicSat, 23 Aug 2008 16:50:42 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1103#msg-1103 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1103#msg-1103 henke37 OfftopicSat, 23 Aug 2008 15:50:57 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1096#msg-1096 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1096#msg-1096
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Videogamer
You all are confusing what I said. You seem to think I want BASIC that would run BAS files on the Wii. I NEVER said that. I said I want a BASIC that AFTER one writes their program in the BASIC, they could then compile a boot.elf file (instead of the more typical *.EXE file).

So you're gonna do all that work just to make and play text applications or primitive graphics applications?]]> Arikado OfftopicSat, 23 Aug 2008 14:35:55 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1084#msg-1084 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1084#msg-1084 henke37 OfftopicSat, 23 Aug 2008 13:10:10 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1075#msg-1075 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1075#msg-1075 Videogamer OfftopicSat, 23 Aug 2008 06:24:48 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1065#msg-1065 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1065#msg-1065 WiiPhlex OfftopicSat, 23 Aug 2008 01:50:30 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1011#msg-1011 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1011#msg-1011
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WiiPhlex
Why do people always look for the easy language? Learn a proper one like C++ or C# and make proper games.

I hate people bashing BASIC as if it's not a proper language. Depending which flavour of BASIC you pick up, you can do almost everything in it that you can do in C, C++, and C#. Also, C#.NET and VB.NET they compile to the same thing regardless of language, but I find it faster to implement in VB.NET.

@VideoGamer: Actually, I have had an idea about producing a WiiBASIC, but I've not done anything on it yet]]> whodares OfftopicFri, 22 Aug 2008 15:53:51 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1002#msg-1002 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,1002#msg-1002
Before C++, I was originally taught Liberty BASIC "in order to get a get a grasp on the fundamentals of programming". I didn't find it too hard to switch, and besides for nostalgia will probably never go back to it. C++ in 21 days and C++ for dummies are highly reccomended books to help get you started.]]> Arikado OfftopicFri, 22 Aug 2008 15:26:10 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,985#msg-985 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,985#msg-985 WiiPhlex OfftopicFri, 22 Aug 2008 11:34:38 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,981#msg-981 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,981#msg-981 iofthestorm OfftopicFri, 22 Aug 2008 10:09:20 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,976#msg-976 Re: Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,976#msg-976 henke37 OfftopicFri, 22 Aug 2008 07:45:38 +0200 http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,972#msg-972 Is there an easy way to program the Wii (BASIC)?http://forum.wiibrew.org/read.php?14,972,972#msg-972 Videogamer OfftopicFri, 22 Aug 2008 05:33:47 +0200