PowerBasic v9.07

[primo]

i have downloaded the free version of powerbasic classic from powerbasic site, you need only to register then go to its store and choose powerbasic classic, its price is 0. just write the password in its page, needed when installing it.
it is very speedy compiler, and suitable for scientific research and the hobbies such as astronomical calculations and everything complex or simple, and it is more than enough for the amateurs , while the developers can buy the more advanced version 10.xx. for me i am an amateur and a collector of goodies so i have downloaded the gbthreads (size 255 MB 7zip file, uncompressed to 1.7 GB)
i will use sed editor while learning the language.

[kcvinu]

I have few doubts about PowerBasic.
1. Does PB support Unicode ?
2. Does PB's IDE support Unicode ?
3. Does PB's IDE capable to make stand alone exes ?
4. Does PB supports OOP ?
5. Does PB has GC ?

[primo]

* Does PB's IDE capable to make stand alone exes ?
yes, the freeware powerbasic 9.07 can produce stand alone exes. and it is made once we compile the code from the ide, we can run the exe from console or dbl click

about the unicode questions i can't answer.
but look:
https://www.powerbasic.com/html_faq/faqs_unicode.php

i want to add that it is easier to design the programs in thinbasic and after it works okay we can port it to powerbasic

[Michael Hartlef]

Eros, is this version suitable to develop TB modules?

[Michael Hartlef]

i have downloaded the free version of powerbasic classic from powerbasic site, you need only to register then go to its store and choose powerbasic classic, its price is 0. just write the password in its page, needed when installing it.


I am unable to find it and can't see anything to register.

[Michael Hartlef]

Ok, now I found it. Get into the store through the forum, NOT the main page. Or from the main page, when you are in the store, click on catalog. Doooh.

[ErosOlmi]

Eros, is this version suitable to develop TB modules?
Absolutely yes.

[Michael Hartlef]

Cool. I got it.

To bad they stopped development on Powerbasic now. Do you think they will find an investor that will pick it up and develop it further?

[matthew]

Thanks for the info, I've been looking to try PowerBASIC for some time but the price had always been a problem.

[ErosOlmi]

Do you think they will find an investor that will pick it up and develop it further?

I hope but I doubt.

PB Forum has revamped thanks to some great PB "lovers" volunteers.
Activity on the forum is quite good and responsive.

Some "promises" on development have been done but so far there is nothing.
You know "PowerBasic no vaporware" policy so ... never say never.

[axelmoe]

Hi Eros,

Now quite honestly, what does this mean for the future of TB?:confused:

[primo]

what does this mean for the future of TB?
does not means anything, because TB have many additional functions to make the life much easier, i have downloaded PB but find it hard to use, so just now i am using thinbasic every day because its string functions are easier to use than PB, too many functions are easier to use than PB, also its debugger is much useful and can pinpoint the error easily in contrast to PB ide, also the interpreters have their special usage such as for educational purposes, i can't describe the many features specific to thinbasic my brain is frozen from cold. all in all every language have its characteristics and its usefulness in specific areas.

[Michael Hartlef]

Hi Eros,

Now quite honestly, what does this mean for the future of TB?:confused:

I am not Eros, but I think it won't matter much as long thinBasic is compatible with current Windows Versions.

[ErosOlmi]

thinBasic is developed mainly using PowerBasic 10.x version.
Almost all thinBasic modules are developed using PowerBasic 9.x or 10.x

Now that PowerBasic 9.x is released as free ... everyone willing to develop thinBasic modules can do it for free using thinBasic SDK.
There is an article on how thinBasic SDK works in thinBasic Journal 2 at http://www.thinbasic.com/community/showthread.php?9450-ThinBasic-Journal-Issue-2
Also unzip SDK in \thinBasic\SDK\ directory to see how to develop a thinBasic module using PowerBasic.
You need at least be familiar in developing a DLL using PowerBasic or other languages.

That said, the fact that PowerBasic is not developed anymore (as far as we know at the moment) it doesn't mean anything.
PowerBasic 10.x is a great compiler with great features and will be perfect as long as 32bit will be enough and managed by operating Windows systems.

Anyway, we are also looking in other directions but so far we've not found anything else we are confident and comfortable with.

Ciao
Eros

[axelmoe]

Hi Eros,

many thanks for your concrete answer. Why I am asking?
From my point of view TB is a very powerful programming language that is easy to learn
and for me it was only the question whether the announcement PB has a direct impact on TB development.

Kind Regards,

Axel

[Michael Hartlef]

I hope i didn't ask this before. Can PB9 be used to create TB classes? And if yes, is there an example available? First i would want to do is turning my modules into class based ones. Unless you suggest otherwise.

[ErosOlmi]

emm ...

Using PB10.x classes is all quite easy.
Using PB9.x I think it can be done but at the moment I've not an example. Give me few days and I will try to create a sample module

What happen internally when you create a TB Class is that thinBasic Core engine will maintain a special internal variable and will expose/pass to the module functions a 32bit pointer you can do to do what you prefer.
In PB10.x it is easy to use that pointer to allocate/deallocate/manage a full class and PB will do all the job.
In PB9.x you need to allocate/release memory when needed.

Anyway I will let you know.

[ErosOlmi]

Michael,

good news. I forgot that PB9x already implemented Classes and Interfaces.

Attached a revised module developed by Petr and compiled with PB905 (so PB907 is better I suppose)
You can get the idea on how to implement a TB Class, how to add Methods and how to handle Get/Set in Properties.

The included approach is the preferred one.

There is also another approach to implement TB Classes that is to pass all parsing needs to a user functions.
Is a little more complex because developer is in charge of all parsing stuff but gives more freedom.
If you are interested I can create an example but not immediately.

Let me know.
Eros

[Michael Hartlef]

Thanks Eros! As always you are as quick as possible. I will check these sources tonight.