BASIC LIGHTNING is an extension to the CBM64's resident BASIC interpreter which adds over 150 ccmmands. The additional ccmmands cover three main areas: structured programming, graphics and sound. One of BASIC LIGHTNING'S most powerful features is the ability to multi-task; up to five parts of a BASIC program can be run at once. A compiler for BASIC LIGHTNING will be available in early 1985 which will produce "stand-alone" compiled programs which can be marketed without paying royalties.

The structured programming ccmmands included in BASIC LIGHTNING include all the control ccmmands found in PASCAL. This includes multiple-line IF-THEN-ELSE, REPEAT-UNTIL, WHILE-WEND as well as  PROCEDURES with full parameter passing (including arrays), multiple-line functions and CASE-OF.

The sound and graphics ccmmands included are the same as those in WHITE LIGHTNING, adapted to BASIC syntax, and include ccmmands to plot points, draw lines, move software sprites to and frcm the screen, scroll blocks of the screen or sprites with character or pixel resolution, rotate, invert or mirror sprites or screen windows and exchange sprites with parts of the screen. You can also make use of the 64's inbuilt hardware sprites and it is possible to redefine the 64's character set.