I am trying to write a program using FreeBASIC and I hit a limitation thatãcauses me to consider another langauge to get past said FreeBASIC limitation.ãThe program that I'm writing is a DOS program and a side project. At the momentãI have two options available: C++ (either DJGPP or Open Watcom) or Free Pascal.ããAny recommendations for someone who's used to BASIC in DOS? I have no plans ofãusing graphics, the program is only going to be in text mode only.ãã-jagãCode it, Script it, Automate it!ãã---ã þ Synchronet þ MtlGeek - Geeks in Montreal - http://mtlgeek.com/ -ã

Re: Language to Transition To From BASIC?ã By: Jagossel to All on Tue Jul 03 2018 07:13 pmãã > I am trying to write a program using FreeBASIC and I hit a limitation thatã > causes me to consider another langauge to get past said FreeBASICã > limitation. The program that I'm writing is a DOS program and a sideã > project. At the moment I have two options available: C++ (either DJGPP orã > Open Watcom) or Free Pascal.ã >ã > Any recommendations for someone who's used to BASIC in DOS? I have no plansã > of using graphics, the program is only going to be in text mode only.ããWhy not just plain-ole C?ãã digital manããThis Is Spinal Tap quote #10:ãDozens of people spontaneously combust each year... just not widely reported.ãNorco, CA WX: 78.5øF, 54.0% humidity, 6 mph NE wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrsã---ã þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.netã

Re: Language to Transition To From BASIC?ã By: Jagossel to All on Tue Jul 03 2018 07:13 pmãã Ja> I am trying to write a program using FreeBASIC and I hit a limitation thatã Ja> causes me to consider another langauge to get past said FreeBASICã Ja> limitation. The program that I'm writing is a DOS program and a sideã Ja> project. At the moment I have two options available: C++ (either DJGPP orã Ja> Open Watcom) or Free Pascal. ãã Ja> Any recommendations for someone who's used to BASIC in DOS? I have noã Ja> plans of using graphics, the program is only going to be in text modeã Ja> only. ããI haven't programmed in BASIC in a long time, but several years ago I wasãlooking for a C++ compiler to use for DOS. I seem to recall that Open Watcom'sãDOS compiler had support for more recent C++ than other DOS C++ compilersã(I still don't think it supported C++11, but still a fairly recent variant ofãC++).ããNightfoxãã---ã þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.comã

Jagossel wrote to All <=-ãã Ja> Any recommendations for someone who's used to BASIC in DOS? I have noã Ja> plans of using graphics, the program is only going to be in text modeã Ja> only.ããI've never programmed in C myself, but I did several projects in Pascalãback in high school. I can attest that it's not very hard to move from BASICãto Pascal. ãã ã--- MultiMail/Linux v0.51ã þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.netã

Re: Language to Transition To From BASIC?ã By: Digital Man to Jagossel on Tue Jul 03 2018 17:29:27ãã > > Any recommendations for someone who's used to BASIC in DOS? I have no plaã > > of using graphics, the program is only going to be in text mode only.ã > ã > Why not just plain-ole C?ããThat'll depend. I'm used to how easy it was to move the cursor and change theãcolors in BASIC; and I need loops to do the keyboard scan so that the cursorãcan be moved by the user.ããAre there function or libraries for C that'll provide the same functionallity?ãã-jagãCode it, Script it, Automate it!ãã---ã þ Synchronet þ MtlGeek - Geeks in Montreal - http://mtlgeek.com/ -ã

Re: Language to Transition To From BASIC?ã By: Nightfox to Jagossel on Tue Jul 03 2018 17:19:29ãã > I haven't programmed in BASIC in a long time, but several years ago I wasã > looking for a C++ compiler to use for DOS. I seem to recall that Open Watcoã > DOS compiler had support for more recent C++ than other DOS C++ compilersã > (I still don't think it supported C++11, but still a fairly recent variant oã > C++).ããI tried to get stsrted with Open Watcom 1.9 yesterday, and I got stuck onãtrying to create a makefile. I have never done makefiles before, and findingãresources on it has been a challenge. Have Open Watcom come with an IDE thatãonly works in Windows doesn't help.ããOddly enough, I found Open Watcom easier to set up than DJGPP. I might continueãdown that route if I cannot get Free PASCAL working...ãã-jagãCode it, Script it, Automate it!ãã---ã þ Synchronet þ MtlGeek - Geeks in Montreal - http://mtlgeek.com/ -ã

Re: Language to Transition Toã By: Dreamer to Jagossel on Tue Jul 03 2018 23:48:00ãã > I've never programmed in C myself, but I did several projects in Pascalã > back in high school. I can attest that it's not very hard to move from BASICã > to Pascal.ããBased on what I have seen so far, it seems to be the case: easy to move fromãBASIC to PASCAL.ããHowever, I tried to look into using Free PASCAL, it doesn't work in MagicãDOSBox; I might have to recreate a FreeDOS VM on my phone with Limbo and see ifãFree PASCAL will work there. I may try to see if I can find a better DOSãversion of Free PASCAL and try again.ãã-jagãCode it, Script it, Automate it!ãã---ã þ Synchronet þ MtlGeek - Geeks in Montreal - http://mtlgeek.com/ -ã

Re: Language to Transition To From BASIC?ã By: Jagossel to Nightfox on Thu Jul 05 2018 08:00 amãã Ja> I tried to get stsrted with Open Watcom 1.9 yesterday, and I got stuck onã Ja> trying to create a makefile. I have never done makefiles before, andã Ja> finding resources on it has been a challenge. Have Open Watcom come withã Ja> an IDE that only works in Windows doesn't help.ããMakefiles aren't that bad. And I suppose after this exercise, you'll know moreãabout makefiles, which isn't a bad thing. :)ããNightfoxãã---ã þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.comã

Re: Language to Transition To From BASIC?ã By: Jagossel to Digital Man on Thu Jul 05 2018 07:55 amãã > Re: Language to Transition To From BASIC?ã > By: Digital Man to Jagossel on Tue Jul 03 2018 17:29:27ã >ã > > > Any recommendations for someone who's used to BASIC in DOS? I have noã > > > pla of using graphics, the program is only going to be in text modeã > > > only.ã >ã > > Why not just plain-ole C?ã >ã > That'll depend. I'm used to how easy it was to move the cursor and changeã > the colors in BASIC; and I need loops to do the keyboard scan so that theã > cursor can be moved by the user.ã >ã > Are there function or libraries for C that'll provide the sameã > functionallity?ããYes, of course.ãã digital manããSynchronet "Real Fact" #76:ãMichael Swindell still has the "Synchronet Blimp" in his possession.ãNorco, CA WX: 95.2øF, 29.0% humidity, 2 mph NW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrsã---ã þ Synchronet þ Vertrauen þ Home of Synchronet þ [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.netã

Jagossel wrote:ã> I am trying to write a program using FreeBASIC and I hit a limitation thatã> causes me to consider another langauge to get past said FreeBASIC limitation.ã> The program that I'm writing is a DOS program and a side project. At the momentã> I have two options available: C++ (either DJGPP or Open Watcom) or Free Pascal.ã> ã> Any recommendations for someone who's used to BASIC in DOS? I have no plans ofã> using graphics, the program is only going to be in text mode only.ããIf you don't need a compiled end product you could use PERL which is easy to useãand has tons of modules to allow you to write portable code. PERL will handle allãthe memory management for you and will probably be a shorter learning curve thanãusing C or C++.ããI found PERL very quick to learn and easy to use...it's probably what stopped meãlearning C :)ãã---ã þ Synchronet þ End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.comã

Re: Re: Language to Transition To From BASIC?ã By: Nelgin to Jagossel on Sat Jul 21 2018 02:56 amãã Ne> If you don't need a compiled end product you could use PERL which is easyã Ne> to use and has tons of modules to allow you to write portable code. PERLã Ne> will handle all the memory management for you and will probably be aã Ne> shorter learning curve than using C or C++.ãã Ne> I found PERL very quick to learn and easy to use...it's probably whatã Ne> stopped me learning C :)ããPerl tends to be a lot easier to write than it is to read. These days I mightãprefer Python over Perl (and in fact, I've heard of Python being used a lotãthese days to teach progrmaming).ããNightfoxãã---ã þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.comã

Nightfox wrote:ã> Re: Re: Language to Transition To From BASIC?ã> By: Nelgin to Jagossel on Sat Jul 21 2018 02:56 amã> ã> Ne> If you don't need a compiled end product you could use PERL which is easyã> Ne> to use and has tons of modules to allow you to write portable code. PERLã> Ne> will handle all the memory management for you and will probably be aã> Ne> shorter learning curve than using C or C++.ã> ã> Ne> I found PERL very quick to learn and easy to use...it's probably whatã> Ne> stopped me learning C :)ã> ã> Perl tends to be a lot easier to write than it is to read. These days I mightã> prefer Python over Perl (and in fact, I've heard of Python being used a lotã> these days to teach progrmaming).ããYup, Python is another option. Again, something I don't use because I don'tãneed it. I can do most of the things I need in shell scripts. For those thatãdeal with a lot of text files and manipulating them one way or another, orãfor something regular expression heavy, I use PERL. Even php has a perlãregular expression library. In Python 2.5 the regex module was removed, whichãcontained Emacs type pattern matching. It now uses re which is privdesãPERL like patching. For regex, you really can't beat PERL.ãã---ã þ Synchronet þ End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.comã

Re: Re: Language to Transition To From BASIC?ã By: Nightfox to Nelgin on Sat Jul 21 2018 20:31:40ããI strongly reccommend and use Perl myself. Very good skill to have...ããMarisaã--- https://AmigaCity.xyz - Portal for the Amiga - More than 2,600 free DLsã
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Re: Re: Language to Transition To From BASIC?ã By: Nelgin to Nightfox on Sun Jul 22 2018 03:25 amãã Ne> Yup, Python is another option. Again, something I don't use because Iã Ne> don't need it. I can do most of the things I need in shell scripts. Forã Ne> those that deal with a lot of text files and manipulating them one way orã Ne> another, or for something regular expression heavy, I use PERL. Even phpã Ne> has a perl regular expression library. In Python 2.5 the regex module wasã Ne> removed, which contained Emacs type pattern matching. It now uses re whichã Ne> is privdes PERL like patching. For regex, you really can't beat PERL.ããYeah, the regex library in Python is pretty good. I've used regularãexpressions in JavaScript also, and I think it's fairly decent in JavaScriptãtoo.ããNightfoxãã---ã þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.comã

Re: Re: Language to Transition To From BASIC?ã By: Nightfox to Nelgin on Mon Jul 23 2018 09:11 amããI would agree with Python as a good choice. Especially comming from BASIC. Ifãour not real familiar with the C style programming languages I think you wouldãpick up Python rather quickly.ãã---ã þ Synchronet þ Days of Old BBS - telnet://daysofoldbbs.wilhartsolutions.comã

Re: Re: Language to Transition To From BASIC?ã By: Clifra Jones to Nightfox on Tue Jul 24 2018 01:47 pmãã CJ> I would agree with Python as a good choice. Especially comming from BASIC.ã CJ> If our not real familiar with the C style programming languages I thinkã CJ> you would pick up Python rather quickly.ããI've done more with C-style languages, and I found Python fairly easy to learn.ããNightfoxãã---ã þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.comã

Re: Re: Language to Transition To From BASIC?ã By: Nightfox to Clifra Jones on Tue Jul 24 2018 12:58 pmãã > I've done more with C-style languages, and I found Python fairly easy toã > learn.ãã > NightfoxããI cut my teeth on BASIC, VB.6, VB.NET. I kind of struggled with the C styleãlanguages until PowerShell became and integral part of my job. Now I find I canãlearn these languages much easier. I am currently learning/developing apps inãNode-JS MEAN Stack and I really like it. I find I am much more productive thanãwith the .NET languages. The fact that .NET wants to hide everything behind webãobjects made it more difficult to debug. I was more productive back in the oldãschool ASP days. I feel I am back to that level of productivity with NODE.ããPython, like PowerShell is just great if you need to get something automatedãand get it done FAST!ããClifra JonesãSysopãDays Of Old BBS:ãAddress: daysofoldbbs.wilhartsolutions.comãTelnet, SSH (Port 2222), Webãã---ã þ Synchronet þ Days of Old BBS - telnet://daysofoldbbs.wilhartsolutions.comã

Re: Language to Transition Toã By: Jagossel to Dreamer on Thu Jul 05 2018 08:04 amãã > However, I tried to look into using Free PASCAL, it doesn't work in Magicã > DOSBox; I might have to recreate a FreeDOS VM on my phone with Limbo and seeã ã > Free PASCAL will work there. I may try to see if I can find a better DOSã > version of Free PASCAL and try again.ããIf you want to use DOS, try this:ãhttp://www.retroarchive.org/turbo/ult-trbo.zip - it's a package I built lastãyear that's got Borland Pascal 7.1, a speed-fixed CRT unit and a ton ofãTurboPower 3rd party stuff. Just unpack, set the search paths and go.ããg.ãã---ã þ Synchronet þ The Retro Archive - bbs.retroarchive.orgã

Re: Re: Language to Transition To From BASIC?ã > By: Nightfox to Clifra Jones on Tue Jul 24 2018 12:58 pmãã > > I've done more with C-style languages, and I found Python fairly easy toã > > learn.ãã > > Nightfoxãã > Python, like PowerShell is just great if you need to get something automatedã > and get it done FAST!ãããI agree with you both. Python is a really good language to start with. Manyãcolleges and universities are using it to teach everything from basicãprogramming to AI and deep learning. For anyone starting, use python 3.7.ãThere've been a lot of speed improvements and some syntax changes since 3.6.ã2.7 ãhas an EOL in 2020, so it's best to just stay away from it.ãã-Fireballãã---ã þ Synchronet þ My Brand-New BBSã

C is king. I recommend it highly.ãã+==========+ããRegards,ãTristan B. Kildaire (Deavmi)ããEmail: deavmi@ewbbs.synchro.net; deavmi@kk4qbn.synchro.netãã+==========+ãã---ã þ Synchronet þ Electronic Warfare BBS | telnet://bbs.ewbbs.netã

Idk what terminal you using all I know is how to operate vt100 terminals. Fromãthe way I use it I don't have helper functions but remember the codes needed toãbe sent to stdout for the terminal (a vt100 one) to interpret. I could use aãlibrary that held these codes and did such printing for me but eh.ãã+==========+ããRegards,ãTristan B. Kildaire (Deavmi)ããEmail: deavmi@ewbbs.synchro.net; deavmi@kk4qbn.synchro.netãã+==========+ãã---ã þ Synchronet þ Electronic Warfare BBS | telnet://bbs.ewbbs.netã

Also as someone learning C and also x86 as a product of that it really makesãyou learn a lot.ãã+==========+ããRegards,ãTristan B. Kildaire (Deavmi)ããEmail: deavmi@ewbbs.synchro.net; deavmi@kk4qbn.synchro.netãã+==========+ãã---ã þ Synchronet þ Electronic Warfare BBS | telnet://bbs.ewbbs.netã

Deavmi, to Jagossel...ãã De> Idk what terminal you using all I know is how to operate vt100ã De> terminals. From the way I use it I don't have helper functions butã De> remember the codes needed to be sent to stdout for the terminal (aã De> vt100 one) to interpret. I could use a library that held these codesã De> and did such printing for me but eh.ããDeavmi! Long time, man. Welcome back!ããThe application that I was working in back then has already been released: ãCobalt (https://github.com/jagossel/cobalt); which is my answer to ãproviding an open source algernative to TheDraw or ACiD. I found out thatãANSI files uses those printing characters, and so having them printing on ãthe screen was pointless (except for full screen view, good for taking ãscreenshots).ããAt the time, I was using DOSBox on my cell phone. So, it had to be ANSI with ãCP437. I was able to test it on real hardware with FreeDOS and discovered ãissues with navigation. Those issues exist in virtualized environments ofãFreeDOS as well. I got two issues fix, I just need to find time to commit ãthe changes and push them to Github.ãã-jagãCode it, Script it, Automate it!ãã... Fear not! I know how to write a "Hello, World!" program!ã--- MultiMail/DOS v0.51ã þ Synchronet þ the Outwest BBS - outwestbbs.com - Email denn@outwestbbs.comã

Re: Language to Transition To From BASIC?ã By: Deavmi to Deavmi on Sun Nov 18 2018 12:09 pmãã De> Also as someone learning C and also x86 as a product of that it reallyã De> makes you learn a lot.ããBy "x86", do you mean x86 assembly code? You would learn a lot, but unless youãhave a job or something where you really need to program in assembly code, youãmight not use it much. I had a couple of x86 assembly classes in college andãhave not used assembly since then. Also I tend to write a lot more code in C++ãrather than C.ããNightfoxãã---ã þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion: digitaldistortionbbs.comã

I would agree with Python as a good choice. Especially comming from BASIC. Ifã> our not real familiar with the C style programming languages I think youã> would pick up Python rather quickly.ãããI also love Python. I found it easy to learn. I work in journalism where dataãjournalists are often self-taught, and Python seems to be the most popularãlanguage (although many use R).ãã--Joshããã////--------------------------------------------------ãBiC -=- http://breakintochat.com -=- bbs wiki and blogãã---ã þ Synchronetã

Re: Re: Language to Transition To From BASIC?ã By: Kirkman to Clifra Jones on Tue Nov 20 2018 10:00 pmãã > I also love Python. I found it easy to learn. I work in journalism where dataã > journalists are often self-taught, and Python seems to be the most popularã > language (although many use R).ã > ã > --JoshããPython has great documentation, a thriving ecosystem of libraries and tools,ãand fairly good cross-platform support. Lots of Linux distros ship itãpre-installed as dependencies for Python programs too.ããBut as far as DOS goes, I don't think you could get it to run let alone itsãtools or libraries. There's a re-implementation named MicroPython that canãapparently be compiled using DJGPP but as a separate interpreter you likelyãwould need to patch or outright not be able to use existing libraries.ããJohn.ãã---ã þ Synchronet þ End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.comã