Here is the complete list of Commodore 64 Basic V2 commands, functions and reserved variables, with a simple explanation. This is a simple compendium to remember all the commands, instructions and functions, when you already know how to use them! The Commodore 64's Basic V2 has far fewer instructions than the Commodore 16, 116, Plus/4 Basic V3.5 and compared to Commodore 128 Basic V7.
| Instruction | Description | Type | |||||||
| ABS | Returns the absolute value of a number | Function, numerical | |||||||
| AND | Returns true if both conditions are true | Operator, logical | |||||||
| ASC | Returns the numerical value of a char | Function, numerical | |||||||
| ATN | Returns the arctangent of a number | Function, numerical | |||||||
| CHR$ | Returns the character corresponding to the number | Function, string | |||||||
| CLOSE | Closes a file | Instruction/command | |||||||
| CLR | Delete variables arrays, data, … | Instruction/command | |||||||
| CMD | Changes the data output to other peripheral | Instruction/command | |||||||
| CONT | Resumes execution of a BASIC program | Command | |||||||
| COS | Returns the cosine of an angle (rad) | Function, numerical | |||||||
| DATA | Stores constant information in the program code | Instruction/command | |||||||
| DEF FN | Defines a user-defined function | Instruction | |||||||
| DIM | Allocates space in array memory for a new array | Instruction/command | |||||||
| END | Ends the processing of the current program | Instruction/command | |||||||
| EXP | “e” with the power given by the argument | Function, numerical | |||||||
| FN | Executes a function defined by DEF FN | Function, numerical, special | |||||||
| FOR | Program loop start (FOR … TO … STEP … NEXT) | Instruction/command | |||||||
| FRE | Returns the number of unused bytes of BASIC RAM | Function, numerical, special | |||||||
| GET | Reads one or more chars from the keyboard | Instruction | |||||||
| GET# | Reads single characters from the specified device | Instruction/command, special | |||||||
| GO TO | Jumps to a line number | Instruction/command | |||||||
| GOSUB | Jumps to a subroutine … RETURN | Instruction/command | |||||||
| GOTO | Jumps to a line number | Instruction/command | |||||||
| IF | Tests a condition IF … THEN or IF … GOTO | Instruction/command | |||||||
| INPUT | Reads data from the keyboard | Instruction | |||||||
| INPUT# | Reads data from a file stored on peripheral device | Instruction | |||||||
| INT | Rounds a number | Function, numerical | |||||||
| LEFT$ | Left chars of a string | Function, string | |||||||
| LEN | Returns the number of characters in a string | Function, numerical | |||||||
| |||||||||
| LET | Assigns values in a variable | Instruction/command | |||||||
| LIST | Displays the BASIC program in memory | Instruction/command | |||||||
| LOAD | Loads a program | Instruction/command | |||||||
| LOG | Natural logarithm with the basis e | Function, numerical | |||||||
| MID$ | Inner chars of a string | Function, string | |||||||
| NEW | Clears RAM and program | Instruction/command | |||||||
| NEXT | Program loop end (FOR … TO … STEP … NEXT) | Instruction/command | |||||||
| NOT | Reverses true to false | Operator, logical | |||||||
| ON | Contruct ON … GOTO, ON … GOSUB | Instruction/command | |||||||
| OPEN | Opens a file or a channel | Instruction/command | |||||||
| OR | Returns true if one or both conditions are true | Operator, logical | |||||||
| PEEK | Returns the memory content | Function, numerical | |||||||
| POKE | Changes the content of any memory address | Instruction/command | |||||||
| POS | Determines the actual position of the cursor | Function, numerical, special | |||||||
| Prints data to the current output device | Instruction/command | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| PRINT# | Stores data in a file | Instruction/command | |||||||
| READ | Reads constant values from DATA | Instruction | |||||||
| REM | Comments | Instruction/command | |||||||
| RESTORE | Clears the pointer of the next data value | Instruction/command | |||||||
| RETURN | Finishes a subroutine: GOSUB … RETURN | Instruction/command | |||||||
| RIGHT$ | Right chars of a string | Function, string | |||||||
| RND | Generates a random floating point number | Function, numerical | |||||||
| RUN | Starts a program | Instruction/command | |||||||
| SAVE | Saves a program | Instruction/command | |||||||
| SGN | Returns the sign of a number (-1, 0, 1) | Function, numerical | |||||||
| SIN | Returns the sine of an angle (rad) | Function, numerical | |||||||
| SPC( | Sets a number of spaces | Function, PRINT (Carry = 0!) | |||||||
| SQR | Calculates square root of a number | Function, numerical | |||||||
| ST | Gets I/O status byte | Reserved variable | |||||||
| STEP | Program loop increment/decrement (FOR … TO … STEP … NEXT) | Instruction/command, special | |||||||
| STOP | Breaks a program | Instruction/command | |||||||
| STR$ | Converts numerical values or variables into a string | Function, string | |||||||
| SYS | Calls an assembly language subroutine | Instruction/command | |||||||
| TAB( | Sets the cursor column | Function, PRINT (Carry = 1!) | |||||||
| TAN | Returns the tangent for a given angle (rad) | Function, numerical | |||||||
| THEN | Tests a condition IF … THEN | Instruction/command, special | |||||||
| OF | Gets the system time (seconds/60) | Reserved variable | |||||||
| TI$ | Gets or Sets the system time (HHMMSS) | Reserved variable | |||||||
| TO | Program loop target (FOR … TO … STEP … NEXT) | Instruction/command, special | |||||||
| USR | Calls an assembly language subroutine with argument | Function, numerical/string | |||||||
| VAL | Returns the numerical value of a string | Function, numerical | |||||||
| VERIFY | Verifies a saved program | Instruction/command | |||||||
| WAIT | Waits for a memory location to assume specific values | Instruction/command | |||||||
| + | Sum | Operator, numerical/string | |||||||
| – | Subtraction | Operator, numerical | |||||||
| |||||||||
| * | Multiplication | Operator, numerical | |||||||
| / | Division | Operator, numerical | |||||||
| ^ | Exponent | Operator, numerical | |||||||
| > | Greater | Operator, logical | |||||||
| = | Equal | Operator, logical | |||||||
| < | Less | Operator, logical | |||||||
| π (pi) | 3.1415926… | Function, numerical, special | |||||||
On the website www.valoroso.it and on the ValorosoIT YouTube channel, I am publishing several episodes to learn how to program in Basic, with the Comodore 64, Commodore 128, GwBasic, QuickBasic, QB64, Atari, etc...
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