TH>I gusee what I like about PowerBASIC is that it comes with a command
TH>line compiler. I like that, because PowerBASIC, like QuickBASIC, come
TH>with crummy IDEs, IMHO. I wrote an IDE much more to my liking.
OD>Quick-Basic also runs off a command-line compiler...  And
OD>Quick-Basic's IDE simply RULES!
You sound like a guy who hasn't tried anything else. [grin]
Anyway, if you like your IDE, that's fine. I'm not here to sell you
anything, or convert you. I didn't like either IDE, so I wrote my own
editor. I didn't have to: MicroSoft has their "Programmers Workbench"
editor. It is very configurable and programmable. Also, there is
"Arora" that is superior in features and compleatly programmable.
But, I wrote my own editor anyway, because the programming exercise
was (and is) beneficial to me. A variation of that editor I am using
right now to write you this post. It has automatic, real-time 'word
wrapping as I type' capibility that I have never seen in other
editors. It also formats the quoted text neatly (have you noticed how
the grafs break?) which make reading easier. Also, quoted text are
displayed in cyan, while my text is in green. And, text *inside*
quotes a different color still. In another words, a very colorful
display. Plus, there is mouse support, dialog boxes, and.... well,
like I've said, I'm not here to sell you anything. [grin]
OD>Give me ONE other IDE that actually CORRECTS you in real-time, and
OD>checks syntax like that?
Actually, I could program that in, but it is not really necessary.
The complier will tell you. And since compiles are fast, a syntax
check is simply a click of the key away.
OD>What does you IDE do that the others don't?
Gee, there are a number of things that I built into it. It will
insert declarations for me. As a convention I require myself to
declare variables. That way I know just what is available, and if I
mispell a variable I'll catch it at compile time and not at run-time
- that saves on debugging time. The declaration insertion is a
timesaver. Also, my editor supports and automaticall runs an
assembler, if I am working on an assembly file, or a C++ compiler, if
I have a .CPP file.
In the area of developing BASIC programs, my IDE has a SUB and
FUNCTION, similar to the MS-IDE, but I display mine in color, so I
can tell the subs from the functions. PowerBASICs IDE doesn't do this.
There are just a lot of features to tell about, and I'm not saying
that my editor is revolutionary and superior. It works better for me,
because the things that matter to me I have programmed into it. So,
obviously, it meets my needs, or could be made to do so. And,
programming it is in itself a benefit of experience.
OD>Hey, talking about real-time interpreters... I know some
OD>BASICs relied on a BASIC chipset.. Do they still make
OD>processors with those chipsets?  Or compilers that actually
OD>use them?
Not sure just what you mean. In the early days (80s) a BASIC
interpreter could be found in ROMs in many PCs and XTs. Is this what
you are refering to?
OD>See ya around!
OD>Omega@inorbit.com
cya
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