Hand BASIC vs Shaderific
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Hand BASIC
Learn and program in BASIC language on your mobile device. This app offers a compatible version of Commodore's BASIC, ideal for students, scientists, and productivity workers. It includes a text editor, file management, and optional graphics extensions.
- Commodore 64 BASIC V2 compatible
- Full-speed execution on device
- Load/save files with directory creation
- Full-featured iPhone text editor
- Optional graphics extension with GML
- In-app help and sample code
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Learn and Program BASIC Language on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad! Hand BASIC - CBM Flavor is a compatible version of Commodore's version of Microsoft BASIC 6502 as found on the Commodore 64. Released for Educational purposes. BASIC (Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) is a computer language designed so that it can be learned very easily. Hand BASIC users could be students, scientists, or any productivity workers. Type HELP to get started! *** Credits for CBMBASIC go to Michael Steil and James Abbatiello *** Features + Compatible with Commodore 64 BASIC V2 + It is not emulated, it runs with your device full speed + The ability to LOAD/SAVE files (case sensitive file names) + File I/O Support (Read/Write data files) + Full featured iPhone Text Editor to build your programs + The ability to make directories ** NEW ** + Provided with helpful Direct Mode Commands (nonstandard, see support webpage) + Renumber your program, plus other helpful file keeping functionality + Alert Sounds + In App Help (type HELP) + Portrait/Landscape Views + Supplied with Sample code (type FILES to see list). Now available through In-App Purchase: Graphics Extension: Empowers you to create complex graphics from simple graphic objects Features + Draw simple graphic objects: lines, rectangles, circles, text, ... + Draw at the super speed of your device + Make animations + Use Graphics Macro Language (GML) to draw objects + Define your colors with alpha channel (32bit color with transparency) + Select your drawn text font face and size + Interact with user taps + Assistant for typing Graphic Commands + Enables you to run included Graphic Sample Programs(10 samples) To find more details type HELP then select Graphics Extension Reference To open Graphics Extension Purchase Screen: - Type: PURCHASE - Type: ACTION then select Purchase - Or, run a program that uses Graphics Make sure to check out App Blog Page: cbmhandbasic.blogspot.com Please Note: - This is not Commodore 64 emulator. It is “Standalone” BASIC of Commodore 64. - Basic knowledge of Commodore 64 BASIC V2 is needed to use this App or just Read FAQ's. - While BASIC requires all commands to be capitalized (Lock Caps by double taping), commands will be automatically capitalized - Since this is not Commodore emulator, PEEK/POKE does not work. See New Commands for alternatives - Only ASCII characters are supported - iPad has different Graphics Extension than ordinary one (sold separately) Visit "Hawwash-Soft" page on iTunes for more Free App's Have Fun!
Shaderific
Develop OpenGL shaders on your mobile device. Write and compile GLSL code, tweak parameters, and see immediate visual results. Includes a reference, code editor, and a library of built-in shaders and objects.
- GLSL shader development
- Real-time parameter tweaking
- Built-in GLSL reference
- Code completion and syntax highlighting
- Import/export shaders and objects
- Particle systems
- Video texture support
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Get started with OpenGL ES 2.0 and OpenGL ES 3.0 shader development on your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch today. Create your own vertex and fragment shaders using the OpenGL Shading Language (GLSL) and compile them on your mobile device. Tweak your shader code and the values of the uniforms and see the effects immediately. Wether you are an experienced developer or a beginner, Shaderific is a powerful and fun tool to work on your shaders on the go or to do some prototyping on the couch. GLSL REFERENCE - Built-in reference for the OpenGL Shading Language - Detailed descriptions of all GLSL data types, qualifiers, variables, constants, statements and functions - Context-sensitive help for all GLSL keywords providing a description and usage examples (iPad) EDITOR - Code completion for keywords, functions and user-defined variables (on pressing the tab key) - Syntax highlighting with customizable colors - Line numbers and error highlighting - 9 fonts in 9 sizes (6 monospaced, 3 proportional) - Three customizable predefined themes (default, light, dark) - Keyboard extension with frequently used keys on iPad - Improved undo / redo support SHADERS - 28 built-in shaders ranging from simple lighting and procedural coloring to normal mapping and procedural noise generation - Change the values of the built-in parameters and uniforms without interrupting the render loop and see the effects immediately - Import shader files with Dropbox or iTunes Document Sharing OBJECTS - 30 objects including 3 polygons, 6 polyhedrons, 7 parametric surfaces and 14 real-life items (teapot, watering can, chair, trumpet, etc.) - Resolution of real-life objects ranges from 500 to 300,000 faces (triangles) - Resolution of the parametric surfaces can be changed to see how this affects the quality of the rendered object - Import objects in the Wavefront object format (.obj files) - Export objects as header files DRAW INSTANCED Draw multiple instances of the same object using the newly introduced functionality PARTICLE SYSTEMS - Particle systems with spherical and cubic shape - Adjustable number of particles between 1,000 and 100,000 TEXTURES - 26 textures including 4 patterns, 4 earth maps, 6 normal maps and 2 cubemaps - Import textures in JPEG, PNG, TIFF, GIF and BMP format - Import supports texture2D textures as well as cubemaps FRAMEBUFFER TEXTURE Framebuffer texture containing the previously rendered frame STEREOSCOPY Anaglyph 3D red-cyan rendering option for all shaders VIDEO SUPPORT - Camera texture with video stream from the built-in cameras - Uniform with face bounds for up to 5 faces (face detection) - Movie textures with imported movie files - Video recording with automatic export to the photo library FULL SCREEN MODE - Full screen mode for image processing (e.g. texture blending) - Hiding the menu and status bar on double tap MULTITOUCH SUPPORT - Multitouch support with a uniform array in the shader programs - Coordinates for up to 10/5 simultaneous touches on iPad/iPhone DROPBOX SUPPORT - Import / export shader files - Import objects (Wavefront .obj files) - Import textures (jpeg, png, tiff, gif, bmp) - Import movies (m4v) - Export objects as header files with vertex, normal and face data PHOTO LIBRARY - Import images / movies - Export recorded videos FILE SHARING - Open shader files in other iOS apps - iTunes Document Sharing EXTERNAL KEYBOARD Full support for external bluetooth keyboards SETTINGS (PARAMETERS AND UNIFORMS) The built-in parameters and uniforms can be changed in the settings menu without interrupting the render loop. Parameters: - Frame rate - Scaling - Object resolution (parametric surfaces) - Number of particles (particle systems) - Number of instances (draw_instanced) - Video resolution - Video playback frame rate - Stereo anaglyph red-cyan - Stereo intensitiy - Global rotation (axis and velocity) - Object rotation (axis and velocity)
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Hand BASIC at Free against Shaderific's $49.99. Hand BASIC also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (47 vs 4). Shaderific's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On rating, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Hand BASIC is free to download; Shaderific costs $49.99 up front. Hand BASIC sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Shaderific asks for nothing beyond the download.
Hand BASIC holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hand BASIC has 47 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of Hand BASIC's written reviews are positive against 91% of Shaderific's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Hand BASIC ships an update every 5 weeks, Shaderific every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Hand BASIC | Shaderific |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $49.99 |
| Rating | 4.4 (47 ratings) — better | 4.3 (4 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | 91.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 47 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 14.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 42 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ahmad Hawwash | Gryphos GmbH |
Customer experience
Hand BASIC
Shaderific
Bugs and requests
Hand BASIC
Reported bugs
11 issues- Infinite loops freeze the app with no way to stop execution
- Graphics mode (SCREEN 1) pops up briefly then disappears
- On-screen keyboard functions dance around screen on iPad with external keyboard
- Low Power Mode cuts program speed in half on iPhone
- Program runs original version instead of edited version
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- Syntax errors on valid BASIC commands
- Copy/paste of programs doesn't work properly
- Line editing requires retyping entire lines for corrections
- Help and FAQ pages no longer accessible
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Graphics extension removed in updates, requiring repurchase
Requested features
16 requests- Run/Stop button to break out of infinite loops
- Bluetooth keyboard support
- Changeable font options
- Copy/paste functionality
- PEEK and POKE command support
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- Ability to delete programs
- Print AT function for neater output
- INPUT command support
- Web service integration
- Files app integration
- PC version of the app
- Compiler for standalone app creation
- Import/export .BAS files
- Full C64 character set support
- Cursor color customization
- Function keys and CTRL support
Shaderific
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Hand BASIC
- Graphics Extension$9.99
- Graphics Extension for iPad$9.99
Shaderific
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Hand BASIC free?
Is Shaderific free?
Which has better reviews, Hand BASIC or Shaderific?
Do Hand BASIC or Shaderific have ads?
Which is updated more often, Hand BASIC or Shaderific?
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