PRINT "Hello, QBasic World!"
QBasic holds a special place in computer science history. Released by Microsoft in 1991 with MS-DOS 5.0, this beginner-friendly IDE and interpreter introduced millions of people to programming. Decades later, retro computing enthusiasts, educators, and nostalgic developers still look for ways to run classic .BAS files.
We tested three prominent QBASIC online compilers: qbasic online compiler
Browser-based execution can sometimes run faster than original hardware, requiring you to implement delay loops or CPU throttling frames (like _LIMIT or SLEEP ) to make old games playable. Conclusion
The Ultimate Guide to QBasic Online Compilers: Bringing Retro Programming to the Modern Web PRINT "Hello, QBasic World
SCREEN 12 ' Switch to 640x480 graphics mode CLS RANDOMIZE TIMER PRINT "Press any key to exit..." DO x = INT(RND * 640) y = INT(RND * 480) radius = INT(RND * 50) + 5 colour = INT(RND * 15) + 1 CIRCLE (x, y), radius, colour _LIMIT 30 ' Limits the loop to 30 frames per second LOOP UNTIL INKEY$ <> "" END Use code with caution. QBasic Limitations in the Browser
What are you trying to build? (a retro game, a math script, or basic practice?) Do you need graphics and sound capabilities, or just text? (a retro game, a math script, or basic practice
| Platform | Key Feature | Best For | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Complete browser-based IDE | Beginners & comprehensive learning | | QBJS (itch.io) | Multimedia support & game engine | Game development & modern web features | | OneCompiler | Simple, fast interface | Quick tests & code snippets | | JDoodle | Mobile-friendly design | Coding on smartphones | | Replit | Collaborative coding | Team projects & sharing | | Archive.org | Original MS-DOS QBasic experience | Pure nostalgia & authenticity |
QBJS is a modern JavaScript implementation of the Basic language designed to be compatible with QB64 and classic QBasic. It supports most QBasic keywords, built-in graphics via the GX API, and modern browser APIs including DOM manipulation. Unlike classic QBasic, QBJS uses pass-by-value for parameters. Try it online at qbjs.org .
: While primarily a downloadable modern compiler, the QB64 ecosystem is the spiritual successor to QBasic, bringing legacy code into the 64-bit era with support for networking and modern graphics.