Getting Started with C64 Development

Set up your tools for Commodore 64 programming.

What You Need

To develop for the C64, you need two things: a way to compile your code, and an emulator to run it.

⚙️ Dev Toolchain

Our Docker image includes ACME assembler and petcat for BASIC.

Install

docker pull code198x/commodore-64

Compile

BASIC

docker run --rm -v "$(pwd)":/code -w /code \
  code198x/commodore-64 petcat -w2 -o game.prg game.bas

Assembly

docker run --rm -v "$(pwd)":/code -w /code \
  code198x/commodore-64 acme -f cbm -o game.prg game.asm

🖥️ Emulator

Install VICE natively for the best experience.

macOS

brew install vice

Linux

sudo apt install vice

Windows — Download from vice-emu.sourceforge.io

Run

x64sc game.prg

Use x64sc (accurate) rather than x64 (faster but less accurate).

Ready to Build

Your tools are set up. Time to write some code.

Start with BASIC → · Start with Assembly →