Newbie Problems with getting started VisualBB/Stella

[GreenNerdyFrog]

Hello everyone,

I've decided to start coding for Atari 2600 and as you can guess I have encountered some beginners problems.

So where am I at this moment?

 

I have downloaded latest Batari Basic (bB-1.5-win-x64) and installed it.
I have downloaded latest VisualbB and Stella.

 

After configuring VisualbB and writing first simple code, I have encountered problems with compiling my game in VisialbB.

 

Code for reference:

 playfield:
 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 ................................
 ................................
 ................................
 ................................
 ................................
 ................................
 ................................
 ................................
 ................................
 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
end

 COLUBK = $CA
 COLUPF = $C2


draw_loop
 drawscreen
 goto draw_loop

 

VisualbB after pressing "Compile" button outputs:

"

Compile started at 17.06.2020 14:44:21
Compiling C:\atari\AtariProjects\manthatjumps\default.bas

"

 

But no *.bin file is created.

 

After some tinkering with VisualbB and Batari Basic, I've decided that code can be compiled using 2600bas and compiled the game.
"C:\atari\batariBasic\2600bas C:\atari\AtariProjects\manthatjumps\default.bas"
Output:

"
batari Basic v1.5 (c)2020
2600 Basic compilation complete.
      2768 bytes of ROM space left

"

And the game worked in Stella.

But still I cannot lunch it through VisualbB.
Error message:
"
[17.06.2020 14:46:21] Could not locate default.bas.bin. Attempting recompile...
Compile started at 17.06.2020 14:46:21
Compiling C:\atari\AtariProjects\manthatjumps\default.bas
"
File is in proper catalogue after compilation but VisualbB or Stella(when I want to start it through VisualbB) does not see it.
How can fix my VisualbB and get it to work properly.

My operation system is Windows 10.

I have already:
Change all the paths to not contain spaces or polish signs like ż,ś,ć etc...
Tinker with Batari Basic
Run VisualbB with different older system compatibility options (This never worked for anything for me to be honest)

ALSO!

I have problems when compiling following code using cmd console:

 playfield:
 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 ................................
 ................................
 ................................
 ................................
 ................................
 ................................
 ................................
 ................................
 ................................
 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
end

 COLUBK = $CA
 COLUPF = $C2

player0x=30:player0y=30

 player0:
 %01011010
 %01011010
 %01011010
 %01111110
 %00111100
 %10011001
 %11111111
 %00011000
end

 player1:
 %10000001
 %01000010
 %00111100
 %00111100
 %00111100
 %00111100
 %01000010
 %10000001
end

draw_loop
 drawscreen
 goto draw_loop

Output is
"

batari Basic v1.5 (c)2020
(18): Error: Unknown keyword: =

Compilation failed.
"

After deciding not to compile using VisualbB, I cannot proceed anyway. ?
Maybe someone more knowledgable can help me and point me to proper tutorials, solutions etc that can help me get started.

P.S. Yes code is from Tinkernut but I did not use his installer for software.

 

[+Karl G]

On 6/17/2020 at 9:05 AM, GreenNerdyFrog said:

player0x=30:player0y=30

I'm not seeing an intention on this line, which is probably the cause of your error. I don't have anything to offer as to your issue with Visual bB, but I would recommend that you try using Atari Dev Studio instead. The former was abandoned years ago, and the latter is still undergoing active development. 

[GreenNerdyFrog]

Thank you for the reply Karl G.

 

That's exactly what I have done and it works perfectly.

Now I'm using VisualbB only to create sprites, playfield, etc.

 

On 6/21/2020 at 1:20 AM, Karl G said:

I'm not seeing an intention on this line, which is probably the cause of your error.

That was the problem.