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A Comparison of BASIC keywords between the ZX Spectrum and other Non-Sinclair Microcomputers
Most microcomputers of the 1970s and 1980s incorporated BASIC within their operating systems. On these computers BASIC was not just a programming language and interpreter, but also a Disk/Tape operating system, Command Line Interpreter, and Editor. There was also a variety of microprocessors, disk drives, tape systems, modems, printer, et cetera, available for these computers and as a result of this the BASIC language varied widely between systems. BASIC is made up of keywords which can be Commands, Statements, Operators, and Functions, as well as a few other keywords like Constants, and Pseudo-variables, which are not available on all computer, and Delimiters which will shall also refer to as keywords as on the ZX Spectrum they are accessed in the same way as any other statement or function.
Some systems are mostly compatible and these are listed together. The relevant page can be accessed by clicking on the appropriate banner.
The current progress of Commands, Statements, et cetera, is displayed beneath each summary. The keyword lists include both those of the ZX Spectrum and the relevant machine to which it is compared. Some keywords may count twice, such as USR, as it has more than one function.
Some keywords with the same function but which vary in the way they are spelt, such as GOTO and GO TO are counted as the same keyword, as are ASC and CODE which are different keywords with the same function. The mathematical operators ↑, ^, and ** which all mean raise to the power of are also classed as the same. On this website Operators and Delimeters are counted as keywords.
Some keyword entries have been combined for clarity i.e. the Dragon 32 keywords POINT and PPOINT. Not all keywords are listed as they may not have any relevance to the microcomputer being compared with the Spectrum, such as the Microdrive commands as these are too different compared with any disk systems available.
Some systems are mostly compatible and these are listed together. The relevant page can be accessed by clicking on the appropriate banner.
The current progress of Commands, Statements, et cetera, is displayed beneath each summary. The keyword lists include both those of the ZX Spectrum and the relevant machine to which it is compared. Some keywords may count twice, such as USR, as it has more than one function.
Some keywords with the same function but which vary in the way they are spelt, such as GOTO and GO TO are counted as the same keyword, as are ASC and CODE which are different keywords with the same function. The mathematical operators ↑, ^, and ** which all mean raise to the power of are also classed as the same. On this website Operators and Delimeters are counted as keywords.
Some keyword entries have been combined for clarity i.e. the Dragon 32 keywords POINT and PPOINT. Not all keywords are listed as they may not have any relevance to the microcomputer being compared with the Spectrum, such as the Microdrive commands as these are too different compared with any disk systems available.
BBC Micro & Acorn Electron (BBC BASIC)
Released in 1981, a year before the ZX Spectrum, the BBC Micro runs a very structured version of BASIC called BBC BASIC. This version of BASIC includes named procedures, REPEAT...UNTIL structure, multi-line functions and long name variables. The Acorn Electron was released in 1983 to compete with the ZX Spectrum and like the BBC Micro, runs on BBC BASIC, with some slight differences that include the lack of a teletext mode.
13 Commands, 51 Statements, 6 Compound & Structured Statements, 50 Functions, 5 Pseudo-variables, 3 Constants, 23 Operators, 3 Indirection Operators, 8 Delimiters
Last revision : 03/04/2024
Dragon 32/64 (Microsoft Extended BASIC) and the TRS-80 Color Computer (Microsoft Color BASIC)
Both the Dragon 32/64 & TRS-80 Color Computer use a different version of BASIC to the ZX Spectrum. The Dragon 32 & 64 use a version of Microsoft BASIC called Microsoft Extended BASIC, the TRS-80 Color Computer uses a version called Microsoft Color BASIC. Both versions appear mostly compatible with each other with just a few differences.
12 Commands, 53 Statements, 3 Compound Statements, 43 Functions, 17 Operators, 8 Delimiters
Last revision : 19/02/2024
Oric 1 & Oric Atmos (Oric Extended BASIC)
The Oric 1 was produced by Tangerine Computer Sysems and released in 1982, just months after the launch of the ZX Spectrum. Both the Oric 1 & Atmos use a different version of BASIC to the ZX Spectrum called Oric Extended BASIC. The Oric Atmos being an upgraded version of the Oric 1, had some code in the ROM rewritten to eliminate bugs which were present in the Oric 1. Other than that the Atmos and Oric 1 can be regarded as both having the same BASIC and being 'mostly compatible' with each other.
18 Commands, 53 Statements, 4 Compound Statements, 39 Functions, 3 Constants, 17 Operators, 9 Delimiters
Last revision : 28/07/2024
Camputers Lynx BASIC
Released in 1983, the Camputers Lynx shared features with many of the microcomputers around at the time. Among the features to be found on the Lynx are structured BASIC statements such as REPEAT..UNTIL and WHILE..WEND, PAPER and INK statements which use the same colour codes as the Spectrum, and the ability to store machine code data within a BASIC program.
14 Commands, 50 Statements, 6 Compound Statements, 43 Functions, 12 Constants, 2 Pseudo-variables, 24 Operators, 10 Delimiters
Last revision : 05/05/2025
This page, last revision : 05/05/2025