I used the latest version of wxbasic dotpupmaker (05) to create the enclosed dotpup of ANOTHER Basic called Xbasic . . .[ahem . . .] Long Lobster story coming . . .
When I first decided to be a Linux cructacean I had a two year migration plan - it has taken me three years. My first working and workable system was Debian on the Hard drive (installed from Knoppix)
To help along the Linux community I decided to try programming. Knowing at that time I would have to program in both Windows and Linux I began to investigate languages . . . I must admit I wanted Pascal - but it was only later that I could install that language and the versions I came across I did not like.
Now . . . installing programs was not as straightforward for a newby as it is now . . . So in part I choose Xbasic because it worked on Windows and Linux (even the graphics) with great compatibility. Xbasic also ran from 3.11 through to what is Vista because it carried its own windowing system. This is an overhead - sure. Sometimes it does not matter.
XBasic was a bit more difficult than wxbasic (which I looked at) but it was compiled (I thought this was important - now I much prefer script or interpreted languages) Xbasic was comparable to C in speed - which for a BASIC is remarkable.
It had a built in editor and GUI interface creator - so it was complete. This complete enviroment I came to appreciate very much. Other languages seemed bits of this and that all sort of almost put together. Or too simplistic, not capable of professional results. Xbasic compiled FAST when writing - but to actually compile programs to execubles is a lot more involved. It is cranky. The support group at yahoogroups were very helpful - over 3000 people there now. I even have some beginner web pages (sadly offline) but I may upload again . . .
Xbasic is a 64 bit ready language. It is NOT multi-threaded (I would end up using it in this way - stretching me WAY beyond my abilities) and it is ideal for high intensity maths calculations. One thing that totally mystified me was the lack of a random function (you can download functions for this).
For years now a new version has been in preparation but has still not materialised. IF it ever happens Xbasic might become more popular. There is a Windows development called xblite - impressive but it is the Linux version that interested me . . .
There are demos enclosed.
Is it suitable for Puppy development?
m m m . . . not for the mainstream Puppy - no.
Dotpups of compiled programs (with the huge run time required) can be produced but xbasic is a specialised Basic for those with personal program requirements. Max Reason wrote the language in the late 80's on a Unix machine to help him design custom telescopes. Initially it was sold - now it is free and open source. Xbasic is written in Xbasic.
I would suggest madness and a great investment of time is required for Xbasic - sure is fast and stable though . . .it certainly pushed me over the edge - but I was so close to start with . . .
Here is the story I told my psychiatrist of why I selected xbasic . . . .
http://www.cyber-shaktipat.org/relax/alms.html
Anyways here is the dotpup - too big to host on the forum
2331k download
http://tinyurl.com/77gj5
