Show HN: I Wrote A BASIC Interpreter That Boots On UEFI Machines

A developer has created a BASIC interpreter that boots directly on UEFI systems, marking a significant technical achievement in retro computing and firmware compatibility. This project allows users to run a classic programming environment on modern hardware without relying on emulators or legacy BIOS modes, making it relevant for hobbyists, educators, and firmware enthusiasts.

The developer, who posted on Show HN, detailed how they wrote a minimalistic BASIC interpreter capable of initializing directly from UEFI firmware, bypassing traditional bootloaders. The project aims to recreate a simple, nostalgic programming environment reminiscent of early personal computers, with features like line numbers, immediate mode, simple graphics, strings, and arrays. The implementation involves low-level coding in C and assembly, interfacing directly with UEFI protocols to load and execute the interpreter.

This achievement demonstrates that it is technically feasible to run custom interpreters or operating environments directly from UEFI firmware, which is the modern replacement for BIOS in most systems. The project’s code is publicly available, and the developer has shared detailed documentation on the boot process, highlighting challenges such as UEFI security measures and hardware compatibility. The interpreter is designed to be small and portable, capable of running on a variety of UEFI-compatible hardware, including recent PCs and some embedded systems.

While the project is still in early stages, it has garnered interest from the retro computing community, firmware developers, and hobbyists interested in low-level programming. The developer emphasizes that this work is primarily educational and experimental, showcasing the flexibility of UEFI firmware and the potential for custom boot environments.

Why Booting a BASIC Interpreter on UEFI Matters

This development is significant because it demonstrates that modern firmware standards like UEFI can be used to run custom, low-level environments without traditional bootloaders or operating systems. It opens new avenues for hobbyists to experiment with firmware-level programming, potentially enabling lightweight, secure, and customizable boot environments for educational or specialized use cases.

For the retro computing community, this project bridges the gap between historical programming environments and modern hardware, allowing old-fashioned BASIC programming to be directly accessible on contemporary systems. It also showcases the increasing versatility of UEFI, which is often viewed as a complex, security-focused layer, but can also serve as a platform for custom firmware applications.

Furthermore, this work highlights the potential for developing minimal operating environments that can run entirely from firmware, reducing dependencies on traditional OS boot processes. Such environments could be used for secure, isolated computing tasks, embedded systems, or just as a technical showcase of firmware capabilities.

Background on UEFI and Retro Computing Projects

UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) has become the standard firmware interface for most modern PCs, replacing the legacy BIOS. Unlike BIOS, UEFI offers a modular, extensible environment with support for secure boot, graphical interfaces, and network functionality. While UEFI is primarily designed for booting operating systems, it also allows for custom applications and bootloaders to be executed directly from firmware.

Retro computing enthusiasts have long sought ways to run classic programming environments like BASIC on modern hardware. Traditionally, this has been achieved through emulators or virtual machines, which can be resource-intensive and less authentic. Some hobbyists have experimented with booting minimal OSes or interpreters from floppy disks or USB drives, but these methods often lack integration with UEFI firmware.

This project builds on recent advances in UEFI development tools and open-source firmware projects, demonstrating that it’s possible to write a self-contained BASIC interpreter that initializes directly from UEFI firmware, without intermediary bootloaders or OS layers. The developer’s approach involves creating a small, UEFI-compatible binary that loads into memory and executes, effectively turning the firmware into a simple runtime environment.

“This project shows that even simple, old-fashioned environments like BASIC can be brought into the modern UEFI world, opening up new possibilities for experimentation and learning.”

— the developer

Unresolved Technical Challenges and Security Concerns

While the project successfully demonstrates booting a BASIC interpreter on UEFI, several questions remain. It is not yet clear how well the interpreter performs across different hardware configurations or whether it can be extended to include more advanced features. Additionally, UEFI’s security features, such as Secure Boot, may prevent unsigned or custom binaries from executing without modifications, which could limit practical deployment.

Further testing is needed to determine compatibility with various firmware implementations and hardware platforms. The developer has acknowledged that security measures like Secure Boot could pose obstacles, and they are exploring ways to sign the binary or disable secure boot temporarily for testing purposes.

There is also uncertainty about how this approach could scale or be integrated into more complex firmware environments, or whether it could serve as a foundation for more sophisticated firmware-based operating environments.

Next Steps for Development and Community Engagement

The developer plans to refine the BASIC interpreter, improve compatibility, and document the process thoroughly for community use. They also intend to explore ways to sign the binary to enable secure boot compatibility, making it easier for others to try the project on their own hardware.

Community feedback and contributions are expected to shape future iterations, potentially adding features like graphics, sound, or more extensive BASIC dialects. The developer also hopes to demonstrate the project at firmware and retro computing conferences to inspire similar experiments.

In the longer term, the project could evolve into a platform for educational tools, firmware hacking, or lightweight, secure computing environments that run entirely from firmware.

Key Questions

Can I run this BASIC interpreter on my own UEFI system?

It depends on your hardware and firmware configuration. The project is designed to be portable, but Secure Boot and other security features may require adjustments or signing the binary. The developer provides documentation and source code for testing and customization.

Does this work with all UEFI firmware?

Not necessarily. Compatibility can vary depending on firmware implementation and hardware. The project has been tested on some systems, but broader testing is ongoing to determine universal applicability.

What are the security implications of running custom binaries from UEFI?

Running unsigned or custom binaries can trigger security measures like Secure Boot, which may prevent execution. Disabling Secure Boot or signing the binary can mitigate this, but users should be aware of potential security risks.

Could this approach be extended to other programming environments?

Yes, the concept could be adapted to other interpreters or lightweight environments, provided they can be compiled into UEFI-compatible binaries and loaded from firmware.

What is the main goal of this project?

The primary aim is educational and experimental — to demonstrate that simple, classic programming environments like BASIC can be run directly from modern firmware, bridging retro computing and contemporary hardware.

Source: hn