White Lightning FORTH
& Basic Lightning
by Oasis Software

White Lightning FORTH splash

[~1986,...,2023/01]

White Lightning FORTH was an amazing version of FORTH for Commodore 64 and Sinclair ZX-Spectrum. In ~1986, with $49.95 I bought C64 White Lightning FORTH which included Basic Lightning. White Lightning FORTH could multi-task two tasks by specifying a FORTH word to be executed when a CPU interrupt occurred. Basic Lightning could multi-task 5 tasks. IDEAL commands could draw 255 variable-size software sprites and play music/sound. Editing FORTH code with that traditional FORTH command-based line-editor was cumbersome.


Arcade FORTH for ZX-Spectrum

[2023/01]

Arcade FORTH for ZX-Spectrum has become the most mysterious of Oasis Software's PLs. No remnants of Arcade FORTH exist on Internet, other than blurry magazine adverts. White Lightning FORTH probably was the successor of Arcade FORTH, since in 1983 Oasis published Arcade FORTH for ZX-Spectrum, then in 1984 published White Lightning FORTH. Possible vestige of Arcade FORTH remains in White Lightning FORTH book as "THE WHITE LIGHTNING ARCADE GRAPHICS LIBRARY".

Please email any more info about Arcade FORTH.


Dragon FORTH for Dragon-32

[2023/01]

Dragon FORTH for Dragon-32 has become mysterious. Apparently, Dragon FORTH was written by Oasis Software, yet was distributed exclusively, at one time, by Dragon Data Ltd (makers of Dragon-32/64 computers). Contradicting evidence are pictures of different cassette tapes, Data Dragon Ltd on one tape, Oasis Software on another tape. One web seems to have confused Dragon FORTH vs a near-generic 6809 FIG-FORTH.

On Internet, remnants of Dragon FORTH are one program image of cassette tape, and magazine adverts only from Dragon Data Ltd, never Oasis Software, even in same magazine. The tape program when run on emulator, and its contents (UNIX xxd), show no indication of publisher/author, except, VLIST shows FORTH words that are distinct characteristics of Oasis Software Lightning languages, such as B[ ] that escapes to BASIC (runs BASIC commands inside FORTH), and PUT GET that draws/reads software sprites. Its instruction book, which would demystify it, has been lost to oblivion as no .pdf scan exists.

Please email any more info about Dragon FORTH.


other Oasis Software programming languages

[2023/01]

This list isn't 100% complete.

  White Lightning FORTH     ZX-Spectrum, C64
  Arcade FORTH              ZX-Spectrum
  Dragon FORTH              Dragon-32

  Basic Lightning           C64
  Laser Basic               ZX-Spectrum, C64, Amstrad-CPC
  Laser Basic Compiler      ZX-Spectrum, C64, Amstrad-CPC
  Sprint Basic Compiler     Dragon-32

  Machine Lightning         C64, ZX-Spectrum
  Laser Genius              C64, ZX-Spectrum, Amstrad-CPC

  Petite Pascal             Dragon-32

Oasis Basic PLs extended a system's native BASIC.

Basic Lightning was developed only for C64 (AFAIK).

Basic Lightning evolved into Laser Basic and Laser Basic Compiler.

Sprint Basic Compiler was a compiler for the BASIC on Dragon-32. Had some limitations.

Machine Lightning and Laser Genius had 6502/Z80 macro assemblers, disassemblers, monitors/debuggers. C64 Machine Lightning was delux since it included IDEAL (gfx/snd routines) and Basic Lightning.

Ocean/OceanIQ was distributor for some of these in mid/late 1980s.


screens

[2023/01]

White Lightning FORTH - C64

White Lightning FORTH C64 book   White Lightning FORTH C64 book   White Lightning FORTH screen   White Lightning FORTH screen   White Lightning FORTH screen   White Lightning FORTH screen

White Lightning FORTH Demo - C64

White Lightning FORTH screen   White Lightning FORTH screen   White Lightning FORTH screen   White Lightning FORTH screen   White Lightning FORTH screen   White Lightning FORTH screen

White Lightning FORTH - ZX-Spectrum

Oasis Software White Lightning FORTH ZX-Spectrum advert   White Lightning FORTH screen   White Lightning FORTH screen   White Lightning FORTH screen

White Lightning FORTH Demo - ZX-Spectrum

White Lightning FORTH screen   White Lightning FORTH screen   White Lightning FORTH screen   White Lightning FORTH screen   White Lightning FORTH screen   White Lightning FORTH screen   White Lightning FORTH screen

Basic Lightning - C64

Basic Lightning   Basic Lightning   Basic Lightning

Basic Lightning Demo - C64

Basic Lightning   Basic Lightning   Basic Lightning   Basic Lightning   Basic Lightning   Basic Lightning   Basic Lightning   Basic Lightning   Basic Lightning