Commodore Microcomputers (US)
Commodore Microcomputers was an American magazine dedicated to Commodore computers, published by Commodore Business Machines. It mainly focused on serious topics like how computers are used in education, science, business, and other fields. The magazine was initially called Commodore Newsletter of the PET Users Club (issues 1-10), then it was renamed Commodore Interface (issues 11-13), Commodore - The Microcomputer Magazine (issues 14-29), and Commodore Microcomputers (issues 30-44). After the final issue, it merged with Commodore Power/Play to become Commodore Magazine. The editors included Paul Fleming (issues 14-19), Diane LeBold (issues 20-42) and Carol Minton (issues 43-44).
Download all programs from this magazine on one disk:
 Comm Microcomputers.d64 |
34 programs
| Program | Author | Requirements | Files | Info |
| Using the Programmable Character Set Editor (Tumbler)  Issue 15, Vol 2 No 5 (Dec 1981), Page 27. |
Michael Tomczyk | Unexpanded | tumbler.prg Screenshot |
Programming demo, how to create simple animations with user defined graphics. It shows a man tumbling over. Controls: None. |
Light Pen Drawing Program Issue 16, Vol 3 No 1 (Feb 1982), Pages 48-49. |
Neil Harris | Super Expander+3K | lpen draw se3k.prg Screenshot |
Draw multi-colour hi-res pictures with a light pen. Controls: Light pen. |
Another Voice for the VIC Issue 16, Vol 3 No 1 (Feb 1982), Page 50. |
Andy Finkel | Unexpanded | music using cb2.prg Screenshot |
Connect an amplifier & speaker to the user port's CB2 line, to give the computer a fifth musical voice that produces square waves. Use this program to play musical notes. Controls: A-G (play note), + (change octave), ! (exit). |
The VIC's "Hidden Symbols" Issue 16, Vol 3 No 1 (Feb 1982), Page 51. |
? | Unexpanded | hidden symbols.prg Screenshot |
Displays four "hidden symbols" that are not shown on the keycaps or listed in the manual's CHR$ chart. Controls: None. |
VIC Mail Issue 17, Vol 3 No 2 (Apr/May 1982), Pages 56-59. |
Mike Heck | Unexpanded | vic-mail.prg Screenshot |
Mailing list database, store names & addresses on the computer. Records are saved onto tape, not held in the computer's memory. Displaying or printing records involves sequentially reading them from tape. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
| Using Your VIC 20 to Design Useful Forms (Business Forms)  Issue 18, Vol 3 No 3 (Jun/Jul 1982), Pages 55-56. |
Joseph Siciliano | Unexpanded & 1515 printer | business forms.prg Screenshot Sample printout |
Print useful forms that can be filled out by hand. By default it prints a shipping inventory, but it could be modified for other purposes. An enhanced version was published in issue 19. Controls: None. |
| Enhanced Business Forms on the VIC 20 (Business Forms Part 2)  Issue 19, Vol 3 No 4 (Aug/Sep 1982), Pages 55-57. |
Joseph Siciliano | Unexpanded & 1515 printer | business forms2.prg Screenshot Sample printout |
Print useful forms that can be filled out on the computer. By default it prints a shipping inventory, but it could be modified for other purposes. This is an enhanced version of the program from issue 18. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
| Conversion Tutor (Base Conversion Tutor)  Issue 19, Vol 3 No 4 (Aug/Sep 1982), Pages 67-68. |
Louis Sander | Unexpanded | conversion tutor.prg Screenshot |
Maths quiz. Practice converting numbers 0-15 between decimal, binary and hexadecimal. The quiz ends when every number has been correctly converted three times. This program uses CB2 sound, where sound effects are played via an amplifier & speaker connected to the user port. Controls: Type the correct answer. Binary numbers always have four digits e.g. 7="0111", hexadecimal numbers always start with $ e.g. 7="$7". |
Computer Art with the Commodore VIC 20 Issue 21, Vol 3 No 6 (Dec 1982/Jan 1983), Pages 4-6. |
Trip Denton | Super Expander+3K | comp art se3k.prg Screenshot |
Art program. Displays a randomly generated, constantly changing hi-res picture. Controls: None. |
How To Use CB2 Issue 21, Vol 3 No 6 (Dec 1982/Jan 1983), Pages 8-10. |
Neil Harris | Unexpanded | how to use cb2.t64 Screenshot |
Three programs that use CB2 sound, where sound effects are played via an amplifier & speaker connected to the user port. The programs are: music keyboard, wolf whistle, alley kat. Controls: For music keyboard, use keys to play notes and Shift to change octave. |
Long Division Issue 21, Vol 3 No 6 (Dec 1982/Jan 1983), Pages 25-26. |
Rick Cotton & Edward M Lichten | Unexpanded | long division.prg Screenshot |
Learn how to perform long division. Type your anwer one digit at a time, and the computer performs the associated multiplication and subtraction operations. Controls: Type your answer. |
Seeing RTTY on the VIC Issue 21, Vol 3 No 6 (Dec 1982/Jan 1983), Pages 33-35. Issue 24, Vol 4 No 3 (Jun/Jul 1983), Pages 116-117. |
Bruce Cameron & David Cameron | Unexpanded | seeing rtty.t64 Screenshot |
Three programs to decode RTTY radio signals, using the custom circuit described in the article. An updated version was published as Baudot 2 (83-10). Controls: In the Full Bardot program, press "L" to select letter mode or "F" for figures mode. |
Universal Data Entry Issue 22, Vol 4 No 1 (Mar 1983), Pages 60-63. |
Joe Rotello Jr | Unexpanded | universal entry.prg Screenshot |
Universal INPUT routine for entering data. Extensive REM statements explain how it works. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
My Favourite VIC Cartridge Issue 22, Vol 4 No 1 (Mar 1983), Pages 85-87. |
Neil Harris | Super Expander+3K | fav cart se3k.t64 Screenshot |
Three programs showing how to use the Super Expander cartridge. Simple Chords plays two chords. Hypnotic Graphics and Kaleidoscope both display random hi-res graphics. Controls: None. |
The Rule of 78's Issue 23, Vol 4 No 2 (Apr/May 1983), Pages 82-83. |
John B Roberts | Unexpanded | rule of 78s.prg Screenshot |
Financial calculator that uses the Rule of 78's to calculate the payoff balance for a loan. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
| Exterminating 101 (Trace)  Issue 24, Vol 4 No 3 (Jun/Jul 1983), Pages 57-61. |
Jim Gracely & Nick Hampshire | Unexpanded | trace.prg Screenshot |
Debugging utility. This trace program displays the current BASIC line at the top of the screen before it is executed. It shows the value of READ statements. When an IF-THEN statement is false it only displays the IF portion without looking at the THEN part. Controls: RUN the machine code loader, type NEW, use the SYS command to initialize it, and type NEW again. Now LOAD or enter the program you want to trace, and use the SYS command to enable the trace routine. |
No List/Save Issue 24, Vol 4 No 3 (Jun/Jul 1983), Pages 88-89. |
David Williams | Unexpanded | no list save.prg Screenshot |
Machine code utility that disables the LIST and SAVE commands, to discourage hacking and copying. Controls: The program asks if you want reset protection. Pressing 'Y' resets the computer when those commands are used, and pressing 'N' displays a warning message. |
Dollars and Cents Make Sense Issue 24, Vol 4 No 3 (Jun/Jul 1983), Pages 90-93. Issue 27, Vol 4 No 6 (Dec 1983), Page 16. |
Joe Rotello | Unexpanded | dollars cents.prg Screenshot |
Input routine similar to Universal Data Entry (83-03). Enter numbers without typing the decimal point, and automatically align them. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Tricky VIC Dynamic Bookkeeping Issue 24, Vol 4 No 3 (Jun/Jul 1983), Pages 96-99. |
Ron Kushnier | Unexpanded | bookkeeping.prg Screenshot |
Accounts program to keep track of household expenses. This uses self-modifying code to save the data as part of the program. When loaded for the first time, type RUN5 to set up the arrays, and then SAVE a fresh copy. This new copy can be loaded and RUN normally. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Self-Modifying Programs Issue 26, Vol 4 No 5 (Oct/Nov 1983), Pages 82-83. Issue 27, Vol 4 No 6 (Dec 1983), Page 121. |
Dave Whomsley | Unexpanded | regenerator.prg Screenshot |
Programming demo showing how to use the keyboard buffer to produce self-modifying programs. Regenerator deletes all programs lines between the selected start line, end line, and interval. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Baudot 2 Issue 26, Vol 4 No 5 (Oct/Nov 1983), Page 102. |
Bruce Cameron & David Cameron | Unexpanded | baudot2.prg Screenshot |
Updated version of Seeing RTTY on the VIC (82-12). Decode RTTY radio signals using the custom circuit from issue 21. Controls: Press "L" to select letter mode, "F" for figures mode, and "B" to enter the baud rate. Use the function keys to select the pre-programmed baud rates, e.g. F1=45 baud, F3=50 baud, F5=57 baud etc. |
The VIC 1520 Printer/Plotter Issue 28, Vol 5 No 1 (Feb/Mar 1984), Pages 46-49. |
Jim Gracely | Unexpanded & 1520 plotter | 1520 plotter.t64 Screenshot |
Three programs that print geometric designs on the 1520 plotter. They are: Cubic Spiral, Graphix, Geosnail. Controls: None. |
Finding The Roots of a Cubic Equation With The VIC 20 Issue 28, Vol 5 No 1 (Feb/Mar 1984), Pages 92-93. |
Ronald Suddendorf | Unexpanded | cubic roots.prg Screenshot |
Maths program, calculate the real and imaginary roots of a cubic equation. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
250-Digit Arithmetic Issue 29, Vol 5 No 2 (May/Jun 1984), Pages 76-85. |
William Miller | Unexpanded | 250-dig arith.t64 Screenshot |
Maths program. Calculate addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, powers, and square roots. The calculations are performed by manipulating strings, so very large numbers can be used. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Go Directly to XY! Issue 30, Vol 5 No 3 (Jul/Aug 1984), Page 8. |
Ron Tunin | Unexpanded | go directly xy.prg Screenshot |
Small machine code routine that simulates a PRINT AT command by moving the cursor to a chosen location. Controls: Call the routine with: POKE 830,x: POKE 832,Y: SYS 828 |
On Polynomials: The Cubic Equation Issue 30, Vol 5 No 3 (Jul/Aug 1984), Pages 87-89. |
Shlomo Ginsburg | Unexpanded | cubic equation.prg Screenshot |
Maths program. Solve polynomial cubic equations of the form a0 + a1*x + a2*x^2 + x^3 = 0. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Calculating Pi Issue 30, Vol 5 No 3 (Jul/Aug 1984), Pages 90-94. |
Craig R Hessel | Unexpanded | calculating pi.t64 Screenshot |
Maths program. Two short routines for calculating Pi. Controls: None. |
Prime Numbers Issue 31, Vol 5 No 4 (Sep/Oct 1984), Pages 87-90. |
Craig R Hessel | Unexpanded | prime numbers.t64 Screenshot |
Maths program. Five routines for calculating prime numbers. Controls: None. |
| Inverse Trigonometric Functions (Distance Calculation)  Issue 31, Vol 5 No 4 (Sep/Oct 1984), Pages 94-95. |
Jim Butterfield | Unexpanded | distance calc.prg Screenshot |
Maths program demonstrating a better way to calculate arc cosine functions. Enter the latitude & longitude of two locations, and it calculates their distance. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Disk and DOS Wedge Commands Issue 32, Vol 5 No 5 (Nov/Dec 1984), Pages 26-28. |
Elizabeth Deal | 3K expansion | wedge cmds 3k.prg Screenshot |
Program reminding users how to use disk commands. The listing consists entirely of REM statements that can be listed or printed. Controls: None. |
An Introduction to BASIC List Sorting Issue 33, Vol 6 No 1 (Jan/Feb 1985), Pages 42-49. |
David R Brooks | Unexpanded | list sorting.t64 Screenshot |
Eight programs demonstrating how to sort numbers, strings and other data. The techniques used are: Bubblesort, Shell-Metzner, Heapsort, Quicksort, Distribution Counting Sort, Distribution Replacement, Record Sort 1, and Record Sort 2. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Automatic Disk Back-Up and Retrieve Issue 34, Vol 6 No 2 (Mar/Apr 1985), Pages 56-59. |
Lynn Minniti | Unexpanded | auto backup.t64 Screenshot |
Make backup copies of your tape programs onto disk, and vice versa. This program uses self-modifying code, and it doesn't work with copy-protected software. Controls: See magazine for details. |
The Game of Life Issue 35, Vol 6 No 3 (May/Jun 1985), Pages 48-50. |
Cyndie Merten | Unexpanded | game of life.t64 Screenshot |
John Conway's Game of Life, simulating the birth and death of cells. There are two versions: the 'input' version lets users enter their own cell configuration, and the 'random' version starts with a random pattern. Controls: In the 'input' version, set up the board with cursor keys (move), Asterisk (set cell), Space (clear cell), Return (start). |
XDOS Issue 36, Vol 6 No 4 (Jul/Aug 1985), Pages 50-51, 120. |
C D Lane | Unexpanded | xdos.d64 Screenshot |
Extendable disk operating system. Create your own commands for performing disk operations. Controls: See magazine for details. Load the machine code program and type "SYS 828:NEW". All commands begin with the Arrow Left key, e.g. type [Arrow Left]$ to display the disk directory. Four commands are included: RENAME, DELETE, TYPE, ECHO. Rename a file by typing: [Arrow Left]RENAME OLDNAME NEWNAME |
