[Tarjan] developed an interpreter called Thoreau BASIC that can boot directly on x86 machines using UEFI. Largely compatible with GW-BASIC, the software can use all the memory reported by the modern system.
Thoreau BASIC also supports high-resolution 24-bit graphics, bitmap loading, and multiple text windows. It thus combines the classic BASIC experience with modern hardware capabilities.
Why it matters
The interpreter’s bare-metal operation makes the BASIC environment available on UEFI-based x86 hardware without relying on a separate operating system layer. This approach shows that a classic programming environment is not limited to older machines and can be adapted to the memory and display capabilities of current hardware. While GW-BASIC compatibility makes it easier to transition to this environment using existing BASIC knowledge, the graphics and multiple-window features take the interpreter beyond a purely nostalgic project. However, the phrase “largely compatible” leaves it unclear which commands or programs may behave differently; moreover, how modern memory will be used in different types of BASIC applications remains an open question regarding the project’s practical scope.