In order to participate in competitions for space-optimized programs (like BASIC 10 Liner), it is advisable to reduce the size of each keyword. In ugBASIC this is possible because each keyword has an equivalent translation in a two (or three) character abbreviation.

Example:

  LOCATE 10, 10 : REM 13 characters
  Lc10,10 : REM 7 characters

Note that ugBASIC does not need keyword separators. It follows that those commands formed by several keywords can be not only abbreviated but also “merged” with each other.

Example:

  POSITIVE CONST c = 42 (21 characters)
  PstC# c = 42 (12 characters)

The exception to this rule is the use of variables and constants. Indeed, since variables and constants can contain uppercase characters such as the second letter onwards, it is necessary to separate the keyword from the variables/constants:

Example:

  PUT IMAGE x AT 42,y (19 characters)
  PuImx At42,y (12 characters)