Is it proper to say that thinBasic a free version of PowerBasic?

[ChandraMDE]

Hi Eros,
Since thinBasic is created using PowerBasic, is it proper to say that thinBasic is a free version of PowerBasic?
I never use PowerBasic... so this is pure curiosity of mine. :)
Thank you and best regards.

[ReneMiner]

I would deny - I did not buy powerbasic because it has no 3d-library - but thinBasic has
And I know for sure, that thinBasic has a couple of functions and methods that are unique in the world- so powerbasic does not have them - thinBasic is not just a freeware-copy of powerbasic but a language of its own that grows by needs and ideas of the people who use it

[ChandraMDE]

Very proud and clear explanation.
Thanks.

[Petr Schreiber]

Hi ChandraMDE,

I will leave the complete reply to Eros, but I will add my point of view:

PowerBASIC and ThinBASIC are two tools with different purpose, from different authors
PowerBASIC is relatively low-level compiler - great whenever you need to calculate at light speed, work with Win32/COM or create fast DLLs
ThinBASIC is high-level interpreter - great for every day scripting, it has a large set of modules specialised for covering specific tasks.
In ThinBASIC, the computing power is provided by the modules, driven by language syntax which offers some really nice possibilites and shortcuts to make everyday coding a pleasant experience
I have read already on the internet that ThinBASIC is free clone of PowerBASIC - it is not and it was never meant to be. I own PowerBASIC compiler, Eros does too... why would we want to duplicate what we already have :)



Petr

[ChandraMDE]

Thanks Petr, that is another proud and clear explanation/opinion.
As iwritten in the thinBasic logo: passion powered interpreter
Yes, I can feel it... :yes:
thinBasic has a great community! :party:

[ErosOlmi]

Dear ChandraMDE,

thinBasic has nothing to do with PowerBasic other than 2 elements

thinBasic is mainly developed with PowerBasic
I am (like others here) a long time PowerBasic user and I've always liked PowerBasic syntax. For this reason thinBasic syntax has a lot in common with PowerBasic


That said, the rest is completely different:

PowerBasic is a commercial company which I'm not, I'm just a single person
I do not work for PowerBasic, they do not work for me. I just knew mr. Bob Zale (original PowerBasic author recently died) by many mails we exchange and in which we talked about compilers/interpreters and thinBasic.
PowerBasic is a real compiler that creates true 32bit machine code, thinBasic is a true 32bit ( ;) ) interpreter
PowerBasic is from US (Florida), I'm from Italy (Milan)
...
and ... bla bla bla .... on hundred of technical aspects we can here mention but would be too long


It is important not to mix the two languages from the communication point of view.
People can be confused and they can be ported to use the wrong tool for what they have to do.

Regarding thinBasic Community to be great or not ... I do not know. The feeling everyone has of being part of thinBasic community should speak by itself.
What it is sure is that I try all I can to keep this place up and running for people having passions in something, not just programming: technology, science, math, geometry, even other programming languages and even if those programming languages are on the same plane of thinBasic.
I try to avoid to have flames, trolls, spammers and instead concentrate on the positive side of everyone.
Sometimes we are able to do that, sometimes not, but we keep trying.

Ciao
Eros

[ChandraMDE]

Thank you Eros, for a great explanation and for making thinBasic availably free for us.
I am using FreeBASIC and XBLite, both are great compilers but I experienced that it is much easier and fun using thinBasic.
I've never been a graphical enthusiast, but after trying TBGL sample scripts, some ideas are coming around. :)
And I believe a lot of members will be agreed that thinBasic has a great community.

Thanks and Best Regards.