What is BitMagic?

BitMagic is a development suite for the Commander X16, delivered as a VSCode extension. It brings together three things:

• a compiler for 65c02 assembly, with a C# macro system for generating code;
• a source-level debugger, so you step, breakpoint and inspect the X16 like any modern language;
• an emulator for the X16, which the debugger runs and which also ships standalone.

BitMagic’s emulator is close to the official X16 emulator but not a perfect match. You can follow the open issues on GitHub.

BitMagic rounds off the sharp corners of 65c02 development, making retro dev fun!

Install it from the VSCode marketplace or Open VSX for VSCodium, or search for BitMagic in your editor, then head to Getting Started.

Start here

• Getting Started: install, scaffold a project, run it, set a breakpoint.
• The Compiler: assembling .bmasm source, segments and scopes.
• The Template Engine: generating code with C#.
• The Debugger: debugging the X16 inside VSCode.
• The Emulator: running the X16 standalone.

Support

This is a one-person project, so support is limited.

Bug reports and other BitMagic issues go on the GitHub issue tracker, where they won’t get lost.

For questions about the X16 itself, start with the X16Community docs, then the X16 forums or the associated Discord.