HTBasic

HTBasic is a language developed by TransEra Corporation in 1988. TransEra has been a developer and manufacturer of hardware, software, and engineering products since 1976 such as Tektronix workstations, HP plotter interfaces, IEEE-488 Interface card. HTBasic borned to be a easy language to comunicate with hardware devices, but rapidly gained all the functionalities of an event-driven programming language. HTBasic is a powerful scientific /engineering language that combines the ease-of-use of BASIC, the math capabilities of FORTRAN and the structured-programming of Pascal and C. Its quite clear to understand the evolution HTBasic made: the language has the structure of an interpreted numbered-line Basic, but above this it has be implemented with all the necessary commands and statements to manage events in a kind of old Basic style using statements such as ON/OFF EVENT, WAIT FOR EVENT, DISABLE EVENT... It may produce GUI programs. HTBasic has a IDE but the code runs in a old-fashioned black DOS window similar to the GWBasic screen. The Help is very well done, one of the most exhaustive ever seen. The language is no more developed and has been discontinued in 200.

Web site: http://www.htbasic.com/software.html

HSP

HSP (Hot Soup Processor) is a free Basic-like language developed with the main purpose to create 2D/3D games and multimedia applications. HSP fully supports DirectX and has a large community which provides libraries and applications. HSP is an interpreter but can build stand-alone EXEs starting from 100Kb. HSP is very famous and popular in Japan. Unfortunately the English ducumentation is really poor. A Macintosh version also exists.

Web site: http://www.onionsoft.net/index_e.html

HotBasic

HotBasic is a new Basic compiler. It produces stand-alone executables by parsing source code straight to assembler language producing much more small EXEs starting from 6,5Kb. Rapid-Q users will appreciate the generally backward compatibility with Rapid-Q basic coding syntax, but do not consider it as a 'new Rapid-Q', the ability to extend Rapid-Q is a plus. HotBasic is a fully featured advance programming language. HotBasic offers a number of objects to build GUI applications such as form control, buttons, radio buttons, checkboxes, image managing, labels, listboxes, richedit, statusbar, menu, fonts. HotBasic provides also advance features as clipbpoard control, memory management, strong mathematical functions with FPU management, registry editing, socket and SQL functions, access to application data. At the moment HotBasic is not a language for beginners. As to the first drafting the documentation is better althought the help is not user-friendly: it's a number of text files that you can view with a browser. Explanations are not easy to understand. A Linux version is planned for the future. The effort of the developer is serious and constant. Anew version is available and many new 'components' may be downloaded among which an IDE. Very good.A visual GUI designer is now available.

HotBasic Web site

HBasic

HBasic is RAD Basic like language for Linux which can create stand-alone executables. Throught its complete and execellent IDE you may create, execute and fully debug programs. The IDE offers also project managment, GUI designer and property editing, syntax highlightning of the source code, code completion and code folding, and debugging mode: step-through code, display values of variables in special windows or by moving the mouse over the variable name in the editor. HBasic has object oriented features either in combination with precompiled C++ components or class definitions. It may also be extended creating C++ components. HTBasic is one of the most complete and professional level Basic language for Linux.

Web site: http://hbasic.sourceforge.net/

GLBasic

GLBasic (once called DiNGS) is a basic-like 2d/3d/networkable cross platform programming language for develope games which creates stand-alone EXEs. GLBasic includes lots of useful tools such as setup utilities for the game developed. Many examples and an extensive documentation with tutorials and samples for every command is provided. There are also lots of free graphics and a user-friendly editor that may help debugging the code. Games written in GLBasic run on Windows 9x, NT, 2000 and XP. Graphics uses OpenGL. It supports transparent sprites, sprite rotations, sprite zooming, alpha blending, stereo sound playback, movie playback (mpg, avi, mp2, mov), joystick, mouse and keyboard.

Web site: http://www.glbasic.com/

GFA-Basic

Originally GFA-Basic had been developed for the ATARI console and the version for Windows wanted to be a valid alternative to VisualBasic. The goal was to give the programmer the best instruments to create powerful programs. GFA-Basic had never followed the road traced by VisualBasic, as it has always been developed as a product with its own characteristics. GFA-Basic is a professional programming language, it has hundreds of commands and functions and a very well written manual. Thousands of programmers use GFA-Basic but if you plan to start using it, keep in mind that this language does not follow those implicit syntax rules that most of the popular modern Basic languages do. Althought there are really many GFA-Basic programmers, unfortunately the forums I found where not enought populated to be useful. The IDE should be improved.

Recently some bloggers was claiming that GFA-Basic was discontinued, but after a little search i found GFA-Basic Blog: http://gfabasic.blogspot.com/ where you can find information about current project status. Most of it dated by August 2006.

GamesBasic

GamesBasic (not to be confused with GameBasic mentioned on post before) is a new free programming language which allows the user to create multimedia applications such as games, demos and educational software. GamesBasic has just been relased in alpha version and it's in early development. GamesBasic compile to native assembly and the authors state that has one of the fastest compilers. GamesBasic comes with a good working environment with syntax coloured highlighting, visual breakpoints, debug windows such as breakpoints and CPU view, support for projects with multiple files. Debugger features are: single-step through code, step-into step-over feature, live insertion of breakpoints into executing code, breakpoint window and - the authors say - application can never crash the IDE. GamesBasic does not support DLL's, but in the future the language should be able to use any external DLL's. Last version of GamesBasic is 0.7 and is dated September 2005.

Web site: http://www.gamesbasic.com/

Gamebasic

Free open source Basic language written to create games. It seems that Gamebasic has been abandoned as the last update of the site is dated February 2000.

Web site: not available

Key VB Hotfixes Available for Download

by Chris Mayo

Microsoft Visual Basic Team heard from you that popular hotfixes should be a public download rather than requiring a call to support.

Based your feedback, we’ve launched a pilot program that will allow you to download the most frequently requested Visual Basic 2005 hotfixes without having to contact Microsoft Developer Support. For more information about this pilot and a list of hotfixes that are available for download please visit the pilot home page.

More details...

Gambas

Gambas is a Basic-like language with object extensions inspired by Java. A program written with Gambas is a set of files. Each file describes a class, in terms of object programming. The class files are compiled and then executed by an interpreter. The language component architecture allows to extend the language, writing components as shared libraries dynamically add new native classes to the interpreter. Althought it does not complie to a real stand alone EXEs, you must take a look at it as it is really simple to learn but yet a powerful language. The author is constantly improving it.

Web site: http://gambas.sourceforge.net/

FreeBASIC

FreeBASIC, althought is a new compiler (the first version was released the 30 of November 2004), it is not a 'new' BASIC language. The user must not learn anything new than DOS Basic. FreeBASIC is compatible with QBasic and QuickBasic but the author states that 'compatibility doesn't mean you can compile a source-code made for QuickBASIC and hope it will run fine'. The language itself contains only a small number of keywords: all functions are implemented as libraries. FreeBASIC does not have any new intrinsic routine, like MSGBOX for example, so there's no variable clashes with old code. The language supports dynamic and static arrays up to 2GB, with unlimited number of dimensions, redim preserve; inline Assembly; reference to variables is by name; it may create OBJ, LIB, DLL, console and GUI EXEs. While FreeBASIC isn't an optimizing compiler, it does many kinds of optimizations to generate the fastest possible code on x86 CPU's, not losing against other BASIC alternatives. The package does not come with an IDE but a third-party IDE may be downloaded from the Links section.

Web site: http://www.freebasic.net/

FBSL

Freestyle Basic Script Language its script tool dedicated to 32 Bits Windows platforms. It can produce console or GUI applications and can compile to stand alone-executable file (a complete stand-alone GUI application starts from 90Kb, 6Kb with a 93Kb run-time module). The language is rich of features and offers all the most common commands, function and statments. The syntax is not very close to Basic but its still very easy to learn. GUI objects included are textboxes, richedit, listboxes and comboboxes, buttons and radio buttons, group boxes. Advance features are: socket management, memory functions, clipboard management, pop-up menus (the right-click menus), simple net commands and registry management. Well done documentation. FSBL comes now with a visual IDE.

Web site: http://www.fbsl.net/

ExtremeBasic

ExtremeBasic is attempting to take some of the best concepts from the scripting languages, provide easy to leverage and powerful in-built functionality, with a clean and powerful Basic dialect, all within a complete development environment. The language comes with an Integrated Development Environment with code editors, GUI tools, debugger, and a rich class library covering GUI applications, networking, multimedia, etc. At the moment ExtremeBasic is available for Macintosh and the Windows version is at an early alpha stage, but the Mac screenshots are very promising. The developer is thinking about a Linux version too.

Web site: http://www.extremebasic.com/

Euphoria

Euphoria is a free Windows/Linux Basic-like language compiler. Euphoria seems to have gained some success within a certain type of developers who contribute to its development offering source code and help. The language goes not create GUI programs itself, but there are now a number of free libraries for Euphoria which allow the creation of GUI applications, Win32Lib being the most popular. There is also a VB-like IDE available for Win32Lib which includes a graphical form designer and code editor. Both of these are available from the downloads page on the Euphoria site.

Web site: http://www.rapideuphoria.com/

EthosBASIC

EthosBASIC is a Basic-like language developed with the purpose to create 2D and 3D games. It has lots of features and it comes with simple but complete tutorials to start over with ease. Good for beginners who will enjoy creating their own games fastly. EthosBasic is constantly improved with new commands and functions. The language comes with a sprite editor which has been powered with new features. New version 1.4 has fixed several bugs. EthosBASIC can build stand alone EXEs.

Web site: http://www.ethosbasic.com/

Phoenix Object Basic

Phoenix Object Basic (once called Envelop) is a RAD development tool for Linux (and now for Windows). It's a fully object-oriented languages which uses inheritance and polymorphism. The main characteristic of Phoenix is that it has been created to allow developers with VisualBasic experience to start programming for Linux without having to learn deeply a new language. Phoenix language includes a visual designer to build GUI with all the major elements such as windows, forms, menu and data aware controls, such as buttons, labels, listboxes and comboboxes, frames. The IDE provides a source level debugger with breakpoints and watchpoints, and single stepping. Phoenix also supports database access. The language does not create stand alone EXEs as the executable needs a shared runtime library and some other libraries for GUI components, database, etc. but it loads them only when necessary.

Web site: http://www.janus-software.com/

Envelop Basic

The only true experiment to create an official alternative to VisualBasic. The project has been abandoned but there are still many programmers who continue to use it and to populate forums about it. Actually the working environment is quite similar to Visualbasic 4. There is no official site and the site which offered the files to download disappeared. This is why I'm keeping it on this server.

Envelop Basic must not be confused with Envelop, the new Windows version of Phoenix Object Basic.

Download: Envelop 1.4.zip

Dx Creator

Dx Creator is a basic-like language that allows to creat 2D games. Is quite similar to Games Basic. Dx Creator compiles the source code into Windows compatible executables. Its original creators have long since stopped development of it: the project has been abandoned at least 2 years ago. The official site does not offer a downloadable copy of DX Creator so I'm keeping it on this server. Actually there is a site which has DX Creator to download but it is written in French. The french site has a link to a dx-creator.com web address but the site does'nt exist.

Downloads: dx-creator.exe

Dialect

Dialect is a general purpose basic-style programming language for Windows 9x/ME/2000/XP and CE that allows developers to write cross-platform applications (Win32 / WinCE). Dialect has an integrated development environment with debugger that works on desktop and handheld PCs. It supports sockets, serial ports, files, registry access, DLLs, GUI elements, encryption (BlowFish), printing. It may handle exceptions and its code is pre-compile for fast execution. Dialect supports also regular expressions and ADO database. Dialect generates stand-alone executables but it does'nt have a GUI editor. The package has a comprehensive help file available as a printable (Word) document.

A really good GUI editor for Dialect is Guilect. Guilect lets you dynamically add controls to a form. You can then position and resize them dynamically. Once you are done designing your form, Guilect will automatically generate the Dialect Script for those objects.

Web site: http://sourceforge.net/projects/dialect/

DarkBasic

Powerful Basic programming language expressly thinked to produce games. It supports DirectX libraries and comes with tons of documentation, examples, codes. The site offers links to games and applications developed with Darkbasic and some of them are stunning! Recommended if you want to enjoy creating games.

Web site: http://www.darkbasic.com/

D-Lib

D-LIB is script programming language. D-LIB has the typical structure of Basic and all main Basic statements, but the language itself it is not quite a basic-like language as it is most script oriented. D-LIB has some interesting features. It compiles to small stand-alone EXEs with an 18.5 Kb header only. The code may be compressed for fast compiling and linking. It fully supports WinAPI (over 44000 known Windows API-Constants and over 9800 known Windows API-Functions) and about 150 implemented functions. D-LIB offers dynamic arrays, procedure, user functions, code includes to split the the source in several pieces of code. The package contains some examples and a simple code editor. It does not provide a GUI editor.

Web site: http://www.thinkrelative.de/

Brutus2D

Brutus2D is a programming language for the hobbiest game programmer. It features a full set of BASIC language commands with additional commands to simplify the creation of two dimensional games such as shoot-em up, side scroller, platform, puzzle and other types of games. The code is simple to understand and write as it is near to the traditional basic syntax. Brutus2D code has the typical Basic structure. Programming with Brutus2D is very easy. Setting up graphics is simple and a matter of minutes. The language offers sound support (frequency, loop, position, pan, volume), graphics special effects (particle effects, fire, smoke, snow, rain (a 3D hardware suppported card is necessary), image manipulation and OLE object creation. Brutus2D creates small and stand alone EXEs, it requires DirectX 8.1 or above, Windows XP or Windows 2000.

Web site: http://brutus.pewtersoftware.com/

Blunt Axe Basic

Bxbasm (the Blunt Axe Basic Project) is a basic-like programming language that at present offers a console mode 32 bit compiler. Bxbasic dialect is a subset of the QBasic/QuickBasic 4.5 dialect.The author stopped Blunt Axe Basic developement in 2004 and the language disappeared from the Net, but thanks to Dmitry now you can download a copy here. You will need Masm32 to compile your sources to EXEs.

Downloads: BluntAxeBasi106c.zip

BlitzMax

BlitzMax is a game programming language. BlitzMax retains the BASIC roots of Blitz3D and BlitzPlus, but adds new features and abilities. BlitzMax is an enhanced BASIC language and offers many advanced functions such as: function pointers, fully dynamic arrays, inheritance and polymorphism, 'by reference' function parameters, array and string slicing, flexible 'collection' system for dealing with linked lists etc, low level pointer handling, UTF16 strings. It may alsoinclude binary data and access it as easily as if it were a regular file. BlitzMax is based on modules: collections of commands stored in special files. Modules may contain 'libraries' of commands tha can be distribute. One of these modules is included: the Max2D module contains a set of very easy to use 2D commands. The module is based on OpenGL, allowing for advanced effects such as realtime blending, rotation and scaling. The BlitzMax comes with an IDE and a complete debugger, but it does not have a gui editor. BlitzMax's strenght its the great number of programmers who use this language and can help beginners throught the Community. Althought it does not come with a good working environment, the web site offers links to third party IDEs. BlitzMax is a multiplatform language. Thanks Giovanni.June 2006. BlitzMax now offers a commercial GUI editor.

There are still some other good third-party solutions.

BlitzMax web site: http://www.blitzmax.com/

BCX

BCX is a free, powerfull language which produces small & powerful 32-bit stand-alone GUI, DLL, console, and CGI applications. It creates C source code that compiles flawlessly with LCC-Win32 and PellesC ( free C compilera). BCX produces very small EXEs starting from 5Kb. The language is constantly developed and thousands of programmers are contributing to its evolution. The language sintax is very similar to stardard basic, actually the user will found several Visual Basic, PowerBasic, and QuickBasic keywords. The latest version of BCX supports inline assembler and COM objects. The package comes with over 200 GUI, Console Mode, and DLL sample programs and dynamic libraries that will help the programmer learn BCX, a clear and complete documentation, a GUI based MessageBox builder, a GUI based Menu editor and a simple dialog editor. BCX editor has syntax highlighting functions. The dialog editor is well done and helps users to build GUI programs easly. Due to that fact that BCX is a diffused language there are many programmer's forums where novice user may find usefull informations.

There's a version of BCX drawed from Kevin Diggins' original at Sourceforge.

BCX Yahoo! groups: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BCX/

BCET

The old QuickBasic and BasicPDS programs may live again with BCET! Althought there are some limitations (statements as IN, OUT, PEEK, POKE (hard to support in a protected environment), all GRAPHICS statements, all 'ON Event' statements (but ON [LOCAL] ERROR GOTO is supported), RESUME NEXT, BLOAD and BSAVE, DEF fn, ISAM database, PLAY, IOCTL in any form, KYBD: SCRN: COMn: LPTn: CONS: PIPE:) BCET is a really good job. BCET is useful to create win-32 console mode or GUI mode programs. The original author's intention was to recompile working programs to console mode, either to get around memory limitations, or to get long file name support, or to move away from DOS, but the project evolved to a full Windows QB or BasicPDS compiler. BCET expects that the source file did run correctly in QB or PDS or QBasic. BCET doesn't check the source code for the correct operands to functions. As says the its author, as BCET becomes more stable, he expect to add quite a lot of additional checking. DOS programs that make use of external libraries (I know of QuickPAK, and there are others) will have to be modified as there is no ability to call the 16-bit DOS libraries. There is only limited support for calling win-32 API's. Great work! Thanks Guntz.Last version of BCET is dated July 2004.

Web site: http://www.arargh.com/basic/download.html

BBC Basic

BBC Basic for Windows borned to be initially compatible with the 6502 BBC Basic resident in the BBC Micro Master series. As BBC Basic was developed before the Windows OS the language offers all the traditional BASIC statements and instructions to build console mode programs. The language has aproximately 150 instructions: plotting and primitive graphics, file operations, math functions, memory, but also sprites, direct serial port and parallel port communications (also under Win NT and XP with a library), system commands, printer. A Windows version is also available and it is fully integrated with the Windows environment. The Windows version has the main controls to build GUI programs, althought not always so simple to use. As it first destination was microcontrollers BBC Basic has many features that others languages don't have such as teletext mode, other commands involving particular screen display modes and graphics up to 1600x1200, hardcopy video regions. A great feature of BBC Basic is the built-in Assembly which offers all the 8086, 286, 386 and 486 instruction set. BBC Basic language is similar to the old Basic, but the code is not so neat as that. Pretty language but its origins seems to interfere with the modern programming syntax.

Web site: http://www.rtrussell.co.uk/

BasPas

BasPas is a Basic to Pascal Compiler. BasPas has now it's own Library format, functions and procedures may be written in one file, and mLib will generate a lib file. BasPas is compiled with FreePascal 1.0 from the DEV-Pascal 1.9 File of the Bloodshed Software side.

Basic4GL

Basic4GL is a free BASIC programming language for Win32 platforms with built in OpenGL v1.1 support. Basic4GL, althought it uses a virtual machine, it may compile to stand-alone EXEs. Its syntax is simple, but only regards few aspects is similar to traditional BASIC. Basic4GL has been designed to be an easy to learn language for writing games, 3D demos and utilities. Basic4GL is built around the OpenGL 3D accellerated graphics library. It automatically handles such tasks as creating an OpenGL window and fully initialising the library so that the programmer may write immediately the code for its program. Basic4GL comes with a number of tutorial programs. Vectors and matrices are integrated directly into the Basic4GL language as 1D and 2D arrays respectively. On these you may perform vector and matrix notation algebra directly. Basic4GL has a trigonometric functions library which makes trigonometry calculations quick, easy and compact to implement. The language has also a 2D sprite and tile engine. So that's easy to create 2D side scrollers, shoot-em-'ups, and animations without writing a line of OpenGL code. All editing takes place within the Basic4GL built in IDE, consisting of a syntax highlighting editor and a full symbolic debugger. Basic4GL compiles and runs code changes in an instant without having to leave the Basic4GL programming environment. As it says its author: 'Basic4GL it's not designed to compete with Blitz Basic, Dark Basic, Pure Basic, DiNGS Game Basic or any other commercial product. Basic4GL was intended as a replacement for the old, free, beginner friendly, BASIC languages like QBasic/GWBasic that made programming accessible and easy to get into. But upgraded with modern features to keep it relevant, up-to-date and fun to use.'

Wreb site: http://www.basic4gl.net/

B++ Builder

B++ Builder 2004 (by Softpae) is a complete development enviroment. B++ IDE has a VS.NET look, syntax highlighting and intelisense. The syntax is very similar to Visual Basic: it has properties, classes, event handling for all controls very similar to Visualbasic. It supports all the standard Windows controls, such as forms, buttons, menus, shortcuts, ActiveX, etc. All controls are kept in the main GUI class but you can create your own classes or controls with only a few lines of code. The IDE supports full debugging and release versions. Third party C++ libraries and Win32 API may be used. B++ Builder creates GUI, console or DLL applications without runtime modules. The compiler generates and compiles C++ code. A C++ compiler is included. B++ is a good and powerfull language but users would appreciate a much more integrated working environment. The IDE of B++ is really essential for example it does not have a window which shows controls (for example double clicking a control could insert the code directly into the code window) and this could be useful. A form designer would be very useful too. The B++ Builder 2004 is a direct descendant of the free Russian version of B++ which now seems to be abandoned.

After all, Softpae's web site has changed and at the moment ther is no English section but you may download in the section 'Produkty'. Now B++ Builder is free and SoftPae released the source code also. The author Anton Pitak mailed me explaining that Softpae would be happy if users and developers make new libraries and controls, and send them to Softpae as now B++ is an open source project.

Web site: http://www.softpae.com/

AutoIt

AutoIt v3 is a freeware BASIC-like scripting language. It was first designed for automating the Windows GUI and general scripting using a combination of simulated keystrokes, mouse movement and window/control manipulation in order to automate tasks. With version 3 AutoIt has become a powerful language able to cope with most scripting needs. AutoIt may generate GUI applications with controls as textboxes, checkboxes and radio buttons, select items in drop-down lists, etc. Althought the authors say that AutoIt v3 language has a syntax similar to VBScript and BASIC, actually it near to standard Basic only regarding its structure. AutoIt supports complex expressions, user functions, looping, drag&drop, math functions, network functions, registry and process management.

AutoIt is small and self-contained with no runtimes need. Scripts can be compiled into stand-alone executables. Unfortunately AutoIt does not have its own IDE, so you need to use NotePad or another text editor. The current editor used by the majority of AutoIt users is SciTe, the AutoIt development team has created a custom version of SciTe with full syntax highlighting that also integrates various third-party AutoIt tools like syntax checking and script tidying). SciTe may be downloaded from AutoIt web site. Actually a RAD environment would have been a better choice.

Web site: http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/index.php

XPB! Basic

XPB! Basic is a true 32 bit compiler. Its amazing feature is the ability to build GUI stand alone EXE in approx. 4Kb. Althought it is not a RAD the working environment is really good. At present it has more than 200 between commands, functions and statements and it is constantly improved and updated. You can also create OBJ and DLL. Recommended.

August 2003 - August 2004. For one year XPB! Basic disappeared from the Net and the official site was down. XPB! Basic has been discontinued under that name by the developer Tony Jones and the compilers's code has passed to Russ of Vortex Effects who planned to continue development under the new name AsmBasiX.

August 2004. Rick Lett, Tony Jones' co-developer of XPB, acquired the rights to continue the developement of AsmBasiX from Russ as he 'was unable to devote the time required to get AsmBasiX available for the public'. Rick Lett called AsmBasix back to its original name XPB! Basic. Russ reports that 'the person taking over development is very committed to see this product continue'. Thanks James and thanks Michalis.November 2004. XPB!Basic has again been abandoned. Many forums that I read, report that the project has been discontinued by the end of October 2004.

The last programmer who had XPB!Basic in his hands is Rick Lett but its official site is down. Previously he had an other official site but he removed all the pages about the language around 21/22 October 2004. The forum linked above talks about Rick, but as you may see from the email of Tony Jones he was the owner of the outcastprogramming.com site. From the 22nd of October till the end of 2004 a message 'Due to technical problems OutCastProgramming will be unavailable for about a week' was the only thing displayed by the site. Now the site offers some general information about programming with FBSL (Free Basic script language). It seems that Rick Lett sold some copies of his new version of XPB!Basic without informing Tony that XPB will be made public again and in so posting the new update at OutcastProgramming, claiming sole merit for its re-release. The new version had only few improvements. This created the conflict between the two and has led to the shutdown of XPB again. The registered users were abandoned and all support stopped.

XPB! Basic is hard to find, but thanks to Jonathan, here you can download a 'rare' copy of version 1.12 and version 1.17.

Download #1: http://basic.mindteq.com/download/XPBBasic112.exe
Download #2: http://basic.mindteq.com/download/XPBBasic117.exe

AsmBasic

AsmBasicX (previously called XPB! Basic) has been passed to a new (the third one) programmer who called back XPB! Basic and has published the first new release.

Web site: offline

Active BASIC

ActiveBasic is quite diffused in Japan. ActiveBasic produces small and stand-alone EXEs, it has a GUI and Form designer. It fully supports Win32API and DirectX. An English version is scheduled.

Web site: http://www.activebasic.com/

MicroCode Studio

MicroCode Studio is a powerful, visual Integrated Development Environment (IDE) with In Circuit Debugging (ICD) capability designed specifically for microEngineering Labs PICBasic Pro compiler. The main editor provides full syntax highlighting of your code with context sensitive keyword help and syntax hints. The code explorer allows you to automatically jump to include files, defines, constants, variables, aliases and modifiers, symbols and labels that are contained within your source code. It supports Windows 2000, 98, 95, XP, NT 4.x.

Web site: http://www.mecanique.co.uk/code-studio/
Free Download: http://www.melabs.com/resources/win_ide.htm

Basic IDE

The BASIC IDE is an open source IDE for the RapidQ programming language. It has an flexible code editor and form designer for all the RapidQ components. Future additions include Code Tip and Code Completion. The IDE is written in Object Oriented Delphi. It works in Win-32 environment and supports Windows operating systems.

Web site: http://basic-ide.sourceforge.net/

RapidQ

Rapid-Q is a cross platform Basic free programming language, is available for Windows 95/98/NT/2000, Linux/i386, Solaris/Sparc, and HP-UX. It generates stand alone EXE of about 300Kb. Due to the fact that it's free RapidQ has gained great success and althought the project has been abandoned by its creator William Yu in August 2000 when it has been hired by RealBasic Inc.

Thousands of programmers still continue to develope with it and are still implementing new functions (sometimes re-engineering its libraries!). It has a simple IDE to help beginners creating their applications. Excellent. There are some interesting third-party IDEs/RADs for Rapid-Q: RapidQ++IDE (the site is in italian only), Basic-IDE (once called Koolbasic) New RapidQ IDE (unfortunately it has been abandoned as you may read in the FAQs section), RapidQ Creator and RQWork.

Before RapidQ vanishes from the Net here you can download a package containing the original version, some usefull patches and new Includes. The official site is gone, but you may find lot of resources on this site.

CH Basic Flash Limited Edition Compiler

CH Basic is a unique tool for programming. As soon as a programmer enters a Basic Command the compiler interprets and translates into assembly giving them an immediate listing of both assembly and Basic. Every change in Basic program is updated in the assembly window in real time. It supports Windows 32-bit OS.

Web site: http://www.celestialhorizons.com/

Proton Plus Lite PICBASIC Compiler

The PROTON PIC BASIC Compiler is an entry level product written with simplicity and flexibility in mind by Proton. Proton PIC BASIC is almost certainly the easiest PIC programming language around, developers can now produce extremely powerful applications for their PIC micro without having to learn the relative complexity of assembler, or wade through the gibberish that is C. It incorporate a seamless development environment, where developers can write, debug and compile their code within the same Windows environment, and by using a compatible programmer, just one key press allows to program and verify the resulting code in the PICmicro of their choice.

See also

• PICBASIC web site, http://www.picbasic.org/

BASIC-Tiger Compiler Software

The Tiger-BASIC IDE includes the functions to edit, compile, source-level debug and download and is designed for Windows systems Win98 or above. With its clear definitions, the Tiger-BASIC IDE enables short development time. The compiler supports the full Tiger-BASIC language (BASIC-Tiger Manual #1) as well as pseudo codes for controlling the compilation process. The compiler creates highly stable, compact and fast-running code. The compiled runtime code can be debugged directly in the BASIC-Tiger module.

SXWIZ Basic Compiler

SXWIZ produces a linear, easy to read assembly source and there are no hidden subroutines. This makes it an invaluable tool for educators and hobbyist alike who know Basic and would like to learn or teach assembly language. No complex builds or link operations as with a C compiler, users can write program with full featured source editor, click Compile and users have their assembly source. SXWIZ is compatible with low cost emulation tools such as the Parallax SX-KEY and SV Tehs SX-DEVS. This version is compatible with Windows 95/98/XP.

See Also

• SXWIZ Web site, http://www.sxwiz.com/

GLBCC 0.1.1 for Windows

by Anthony Liguori

The GNU/Liberty Basic Compiler Collection (GLBCC) is a suite of tools designed to allow Windows and Linux users to compile Liberty Basic code to a standalone application. GLBCC uses entirely independent and entirely free libraries to generate super small and super fast executables that have no external dependency. The project originally started as a single utility to convert Liberty Basic code to C but quickly became an integrated compiler system. It is as stated above compatible with Windows and Linux OS.

Web site: http://lbpp.sourceforge.net/
Downloads: http://lbpp.sourceforge.net/download.html

BLOC

BLOC (abbreviation) - Basic Like Object Compiler

BLOC is a programming language, a BASIC programming language with some more features that are not implemented in similar compilers; this is why it was named Basic Like Object Compiler.

BLOC is based on translating sources to Pascal code and compiling it into binary executables. So it's compiler, but for today it's translator also, because translating for BLOC is main part of application deployment before compilation procedures. BLOC is available for Windows and Linux OS.

BLOC was originally created to provide a free implementation of a BASIC programming language for creating webware applications, so features like working with XML, SQL, sockets, etc considered as high priority tasks for BLOC.

BLOC development was suspended and not supported anymore since 2004 after Skitsanos acquired and closed down arachnoWare Inc., the company where compiler was initially made.

Visia Compiler

Visia Compiler (once called Linley Compiler) is a native x86 compiler for the Windows 32 platform. It is written in Visual Basic but compiles directly into machine code without the need of any runtime libraries or other dependencies. The language supports GUI creation, API, pointers, inline assembly (fasm must be installed). It may build and include libraries, include source headers (inc), custom entry point and dynamic arrays. Syntax is only little similar to basic-like languages as coding structure is near to C than Basic. Linley Compiler is free, the download section offers a package of usefull examples. You may download the source code also. The new release has been improved and it includes an advance linker and resource compiler, a new IDE, DLLs creation and other handy features. Visia produces very small stand-alone EXEs.

Visia Compiler has been dropped by the author due to school engagements, but the source code is available so the language may be updated and improved.

See Also

• Visia Compiler Home Page
• Download Visia Compiler