C64 Dev Machine V096_2

Stop fighting your code and start seeing it.  My custom C64 dev tool turns 6502 Assembly into a visual, block-based powerhouse. It’s the organization of a modern engine meets the raw power of the Commodore 64. Logic nodes + 2D Space = Faster, more accessible C64 Dev.!

SCROLL DOWN TO THE VERY BOTTOM FOR A DEMO VERSION WITH LIMITED FEATURES.

Key features:

• Full Mnemonics table plus some illegal opcodes for the hard-core types
• One to One coding, each node is 1 instruction
• Direct testing, Press F5 and up pops VICE!
• Label support
• Org-blocks: place re-addressed nodes anywhere in the workspace
• Mapping-boxes: Organise your space find you code with ease.
• Load Sprite data, Charset, Maps, Bitmaps and SID tune assets
• Ability to make your first Machine code games and tests! (better than basic!)
• All files are embedded into a single Json file, share away!
• The Macros help reduce hours of pain and frustration
• ..... There are many many more to come!
  
  TUTORIAL PLAYLIST and FILES:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDwNUwlf8I7ejOY_kKW8uw60fUdK0YqU7

DOCUMENTATION V1 is READY.

NOTE:
THE DEMO VERSION is Version V096_2  with limited features (no IRQ or upcoming CODE BLOCKS and OTHER NEW FEATURES but more than enough to make a game with).
Purchasing the FULL version supports the development and you get infinite updates at no extra cost.
JOIN THE DISCORD For Exclusive updates, more tips and direct help in using the software.

USEFUL MEMORY MAP LINK: https://sta.c64.org/cbm64mem.html

ASSEMBLY MNEMONICS: https://www.c64os.com/c64os/programmersguide/?s=devenvironment

COMING NEXT (Aiming for a solid version 1.0 by July 2026)

• Map Editor major feature work for map making with predefined stamps
• Code blocks
• Game templates

FAQ:

- Mac or Linux version? Not yet, not until it is completed we might consider it.

- Can I shop games made by it? Yes of course, if you do well from it, well done, just be sure to credit the tool!

- Can it support disk / tape versions and loaders etc? Not currently but it will happen after the core work is completed.

CHANGELOG

V096_2 (4th APRIL 2026) EASTER Special : DEMO now UPDATED!

• Autosaving enabled (every 2 minutes)
• Hotfix to SID_EXIT label being auto injected
• NULL_SID example setup so MARCO_IRQ's work
• Mapping box and camera improvements
• Added more shortcut keys
• Documentation version 1 released (needs more work but cant wait any longer!)
• Demo is fully featured minus IRQ and future features such as CODE blocks and other new built-in editors to come.

V095_2 (1st APRIL 2026)

• Autosaving enabled (every 3 minutes let me know if this should be less)
• Check save on leave for changes (window exit)
• Auto detect backups when opened.
• Some node wedge refinement

V094_TSJSRBWC (31/3/26)

• Time for funny version suffixes...this TSJSRBWC stands for Text Scrolling JSR called and Backward compatible. The whole method was redone to cope with joystick input and other conflicting things, this is the biggest issue with coding on C64 is multiple IRQ handlers. So now if you want to advance the scroller you need to enable the JSR, and alias and JSR to it in your game-loop. This is how most things could/should work and hope no more re-writes
• Export .prg (F4) now working correctly
• Features I said would be in the previous version were missing, they are in this one.

V090.9A (30/3/26)

• CTRL+DRAG BOX over nodes to select, move together via the top-most node or CTRL-Drag to copy
• Zoom out to see things a little differently
• HOLD shift to see extra info like node addresses and cycle count
• SFX Node added but needs a little more explaining perhaps (full tutorial coming soon) otherwise this is all I have for now : 

V090.4 (28/3/26)

• UNDO/REDO added (CTRL Z /CTRL Y) [100 states] : report any bugs please
• Some NODE latching bug fixing
• UI clicking area fixed for Assets
• Assets should save locally when imported (ongoing testing)

V089.9  (27/3/26)

• HOTFIX to Macro Move (please note this will affect any projects containing Macro move, please remove and resave before updating and loading, then redo any Macro Move nodes.
• Export as .PRG (F4)
• Reduced the right-side shelf width.

V089.6  (26/3/26)

• MAP asset editor changes to support Hires only (colours 0-15) and Mixed MC/Hires (HR) modes. Scroller updated to work correctly with these.
• Auto save window size and position (hot fixed in .6)
• UI visual update
• Anim speed renamed to 'Delay'

V088  (25/3/26)

• ANIM and COLLISION Macros updated

V088  (24/3/26)

• First draft of ANIM and COLLISION Macros
• Minor bug fixes

V087_6  (23/3/26)

• More node based bug fixes
• Bug fix to Byte data asset
• Mapping boxes now move org chains and var chains with them
• Grid and tabbing refined
• IRQ Macro added (first draft)
• updated example (demonstrating current key features) DEMO_23Mar26_V087_6.json

V087_A  (22/3/26)

• New UI controls (ALT/Middle mouse/arrow keys) to PAN
• Mouse wheel to zoon or PageUp/Down
• Double-Right click to delete nodes
• CTRL+drag nodes to copy them
• CTRL+drag in space to select nodes
• TAB to indent selected of node under pointer
• SHIFT+TAB to reverse indenting
• Preview wdge-insertion
• Node behaviour improvements
• Map scrolling improved/in progress
• Text scrolling improved/finalised
• Map resizing (min 40 max 160 in width) height fixed at 25 but can be limited in the scrolling macro
• Spred64 now autosaved, so no need for ALT+S
• Signed Byte variable (auto fixes negative values i.e -$01 = $FE
• String and Byte data assets. Byte data can contain $xx (hex) and xxx (dec) comma separated, auto injects into ram at the set location.
• other misc fixes and improvements.

V086_C (17/3/26)

• Press R/J for RTS(rti if R on node)  and JMP(jsr if J on node)
• Address labels auto rename
• New var type : strings as well as Text data asset able to be used
• Panning now with ALT or MIDDLE MOUSE
• Right mouse button deletes nodes
• Arrow keys / Page up/down to move around workspace

V086 A (17/3/26)

• SPRED64 Now integrated so you can make and edit sprites with ease!

V086 (16/3/26)

• Added J and V as shortcuts for Jump and Variables ORG for multiple variable holding points. Great for building custom tables too.
• Fix to Asset column misalignments and renaming

V085 (15/3/26)

[PATCH 1] : Embed Text Data - Fix was to the custom scroller text data file not being embedded. It embeds now.

• Scrolling Text Macro - Stable with NOP Delay control to get a close to stable raster (not perfect and depends on other stuff going on)
• Bitmap, Sprite, Scroller (with commands) and SID music all working.

V076 (11/3/26)

• Scrolling Macro - started (incomplete, use just to test it, requires a char-map and map setup in your assets and nodes)
• Music Player and Track selector fixed (also in V068)
• Sprite moving fixed up
• Other minor bug fixes
• Minor graphical updates including splash screen and icon

V072 (9/3/26)

• Sprite index / pointer fix
• Some bug fixing
• Named locations for user and hardware 

V068 (7/3/26)

• More VIC Fixes
• Video update:  

V067 (7/3/26)

• VIC bugfixes 
• Map Editor Bugfixes

V066 (6/3/26)

• Asset panel
• Reworked Sprite, Sid, Bitmap Nodes
• Additonal directions to Joystick node
• VIC setup node
• Map editor version 1
• General bug fixes to some nodes

V062 - 4th March 2026

• CODE overhaul x 2 (lots of scripts modularised)
• Joystick working with diagonal options
• Big Boxes for organising code (spacebar to locate them)
• Label finding with Jumps/Branches/JSR's
• Asset panel working well for Sid/Bitmap/Sprites (not others yet)
• Macro nodes now reference assets instead of floating nodes
• Massive performance improvements and optimisations
• All files embedded in a folder with your project file.
• Alt + drag to copy nodes

V051 (1/3/26)

• B to create mapping boxes, good for mapping out areas of code in the workspace (B, click to start, drag, let-go, name and colour, double click name to rename/recolour or X to delete)
• Auto warning of data ranges overlapping between nodes and assets etc.
• Cleaned up Json save file to a more readable version (backwards compatible)

V050 - 29th Feb 2026

• CODE overhaul
• Joystick and keyboard support
• SID / SPRITE / ASCII support
• ORG nodes to code horizontally
• Full of Joy - The full test so far including Joystick input Macro