# DarkBASIC

> BASIC dialect

**Wikidata**: [Q278791](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q278791)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/darkbasic

## Summary
DarkBASIC is a programming language and dialect of BASIC developed by The Game Creators, a software company based in the United Kingdom. Originally released in 2000, the language is designed for machine instruction and its source code is currently maintained under an MIT License.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** DarkBASIC is a dialect of the BASIC programming language.
- **Developer:** Created by The Game Creators, a UK-based company in the video game industry.
- **Inception:** The language was originally established in 2000.
- ** Headquarters:** The developing company is headquartered in Macclesfield, United Kingdom.
- **License:** The language is distributed under the MIT License.
- **Latest Version:** The preferred stable version is 12.02.16, released on February 12, 2016.
- **Source Code:** The official repository is hosted on GitHub at `TheGameCreators/Dark-Basic-Pro`.
- **Company Founding:** The developer, The Game Creators, was founded in 1999.

## FAQs
### Q: Who created DarkBASIC?
A: DarkBASIC was developed by The Game Creators, a software company founded in 1999 and headquartered in Macclesfield, United Kingdom.

### Q: Is DarkBASIC open source?
A: Yes, the source code for DarkBASIC Pro is available under the MIT License and is hosted on GitHub.

### Q: When was the last stable version of DarkBASIC released?
A: The most recent preferred stable release is version 12.02.16, which was published on February 12, 2016.

### Q: What type of programming language is DarkBASIC?
A: DarkBASIC is classified as a dialect of BASIC. It functions as a language for communicating instructions to a machine.

## Why It Matters
DarkBASIC holds a specific place in the history of specialized programming languages as a dialect developed distinctly by and for the video game industry. Created by The Game Creators—a UK-based company established in 1999—the language represents an effort to provide tailored tools for software development within that sector.

Its relevance is underscored by its longevity and adaptability. While originally inceptioned in 2000, the project evolved to become open-source, eventually adopting the MIT License. This transition allowed the community to access and modify the core technology, ensuring its preservation beyond its initial commercial lifecycle. The language maintained active development well into 2016, with stable versions released in February of that year. By bridging the gap between standard BASIC dialects and the specific needs of the video game industry, DarkBASIC provided a structured environment for instruction communication that remained technically viable for over 15 years.

## Notable For
- Being a specialized **dialect of BASIC** tailored for the video game industry.
- Development by **The Game Creators**, a company with specific industry focus since 1999.
- Transitioning to an **MIT License**, making the professional version free and open-source.
- Maintaining a **long development lifecycle**, spanning from 2000 to 2016.
- Hosting its source code publicly on **GitHub**, allowing for community-driven maintenance.

## Body

### Development and Origins
DarkBASIC is a programming language categorized as a dialect of BASIC. It was developed by The Game Creators, a software company operating within the video game industry. The company, founded in 1999 and headquartered in Macclesfield, United Kingdom, released the language with an inception date of 2000.

### Technical Specifications
The language functions as a tool for communicating instructions to a machine. In its "Pro" iteration, the software reached a stable version identified as **12.02.16**, released on February 12, 2016. A prior stable version, **09.02.16**, was released just days earlier on February 9, 2016.

### Licensing and Repository
The source code for Dark-Basic-Pro is maintained in a Git repository hosted by GitHub. The project operates under the **MIT License**, facilitating open access to the codebase. The official website for the language was historically hosted at `darkbasic.thegamecreators.com`, though archived snapshots indicate an end time for the main page capture in June 2016.

### Identifiers and Recognition
DarkBASIC is indexed in multiple knowledge databases. It holds a Freebase ID (`/m/03g637`) and a Google Knowledge Graph ID (`/g/11bc5gnc3g`). The entity is described simply as a "BASIC dialect" in Wikidata and has Wikipedia pages in over 10 languages, including German, French, Russian, and Dutch.

## References

1. [Source](https://api.github.com/repos/TheGameCreators/Dark-Basic-Pro)
2. [Release 09.02.16. 2016](https://github.com/TheGameCreators/Dark-Basic-Pro/releases/tag/09.02.16)
3. [Release 12.02.16. 2016](https://github.com/TheGameCreators/Dark-Basic-Pro/releases/tag/12.02.16)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013