Blitz BASIC

Blitz BASIC is a family of compiled BASIC programming languages originally developed by Mark Sibly for the Amiga platform, and later ported to Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. It is designed for rapid development of video games and multimedia applications, emphasizing ease of use, high performance, and simplicity.

History

The first version, Blitz BASIC for Amiga, was released in the early 1990s. It provided a fast compiled environment that allowed Amiga hobbyists to create games and demos with minimal overhead. In 2000, Sibly released Blitz3D for Windows, which leveraged DirectX 7 for hardware-accelerated 3D graphics. This was followed by BlitzPlus, a version focused on Windows GUI applications. The most significant evolution came in 2004 with BlitzMax, a cross-platform version that introduced an object-oriented syntax and supported multiple backends (OpenGL, DirectX 9, and later a software renderer). BlitzMax was initially available for Windows and Mac OS, with Linux support added later. An open-source fork known as BlitzMax NG (Next Generation) continues development unofficially, adding modern language features and broader platform support.

Versions

Amiga Blitz BASIC (1991–1994)

The original Blitz BASIC for AmigaOS supported the Motorola 68000 CPU and provided fast compiled bytecode or native machine code output. It included built-in commands for sprites, blitter objects, sound, and hardware scrolling, making it popular among Amiga game developers.

Blitz3D (2000–2005)

Blitz3D was a Windows-only version that combined Blitz BASIC’s rapid development with full 3D capabilities via DirectX 7. It featured an integrated 3D engine, support for mesh animations, collision detection, and a built-in GUI editor. The language remained procedural but was later updated to support DirectX 8.1.

BlitzPlus (2002–2005)

BlitzPlus was a derivative of Blitz3D aimed at developing Windows desktop applications rather than games. It included a graphical user interface (GUI) designer and commands for standard Windows controls, but lacked 3D rendering.

BlitzMax (2004–2014)

BlitzMax was a major rewrite that introduced a modular, object-oriented syntax inspired by Java. It used a bytecode virtual machine (VM) that could be compiled to native code via a JIT-like system. BlitzMax supported multiple graphics backends (OpenGL, DirectX 9, and a software backend) and libraries for audio, networking, and file I/O. The standard library included modules for 2D drawing, 3D graphics (via MinB3D), and cross-platform GUI (MaxGUI). BlitzMax was sold commercially until 2014, when it was released as freeware.

BlitzMax NG (2013–present)

After the official support ended, the community forked BlitzMax into BlitzMax NG (Next Generation). This version continues to receive updates, adding support for 64-bit systems, modern OpenGL versions, LLVM-based backend for improved performance, and new language features like closures and generics.

Language Features

Blitz BASIC dialects share a common core: a high-level BASIC syntax with a focus on readability and minimal boilerplate. Variables are dynamically typed (variant types in earlier versions, strong typing with type inference in BlitzMax). The language supports loops, conditionals, arrays, and functions. BlitzMax introduced objects, types (structs), interfaces, and modules.

Key features include:

• Built-in commands for graphics, sound, and input, abstracting away low-level APIs.
• A fast compile/debug cycle, often allowing code to be modified and re-run without full recompilation.
• Support for inline assembly (Amiga version) and foreign function interfaces (BlitzMax, for calling C libraries).
• Automatic memory management (reference counting in BlitzMax).
• A minimalistic standard library that covers most game development needs without excessive dependencies.

Syntax Example

The following BlitzMax code creates a simple window and draws a bouncing ball:

```blitzmax
Graphics(800, 600, 0)
Local x:Int = 400, y:Int = 300, dx:Int = 5, dy:Int = 5
Repeat
Cls()
SetColor(255, 0, 0)
DrawOval(x - 20, y - 20, 40, 40)
x :+ dx
y :+ dy
If x < 20 Or x > 780 Then dx = -dx
If y < 20 Or y > 580 Then dy = -dy
Flip()
Until AppTerminate()
```

Impact and Legacy

Blitz BASIC played a significant role in the demo scene and indie game development during the Amiga and early Windows eras. It lowered the barrier for non-expert programmers to create commercial-quality games. Many notable Amiga games (e.g., Pinball Dreams, UFO: Enemy Unknown used a variant) were prototyped or fully developed in Blitz BASIC. On Windows, Blitz3D was used for titles such as DarkBASIC’s competitor and FPS Creator. BlitzMax allowed cross-platform releases with minimal code changes.

Despite declining mainstream use after the rise of Unity and Unreal Engine, Blitz BASIC remains popular within niche communities (e.g., the BlitzMax retrogaming scene). The BlitzMax NG project ensures the language continues to evolve on modern operating systems.

Current Status

As of 2025, BlitzMax NG is actively maintained on GitHub, with releases for Windows, macOS, and Linux. The official BlitzBasic.com website (archived) no longer offers sales. The community provides documentation, forums, and additional modules. Legacy versions (Blitz3D, BlitzPlus) can still be downloaded from various archives but are no longer updated.