will (05/10/83)
Relay-Version:version B 3/9/83; site harpo.UUCP Message-ID:<536@sdchema.UUCP> Date:Mon, 9-May-83 19:31:02 EDT This is a BASIC compiler from PSS (Personal Software Systems) in England. They also make Quicksave, you may have heard of that. Anyway, the compiler is about $20 from various outlets, including 'Sinclair Place'. The ads claim that Mcoder handles '99.9% of all BASIC.' Well, that is obviously not quite true, but, unfortunately, it isn't even close. It comes on a tape and takes about 3 minutes (?) to load. Instructions are included, but they are pretty sparse. The compiler, which is all machine code, is lines 0-3 of every program. It is summoned by using 'LET L=USR xxxxx', with xxxxx being different for various functions. After having studied the directions for several hours (that's the only way you can learn to use it, there's no step-by-step) you type in your program in BASIC in lines 5 and up. You compile your program, after having finished and debugged it, by using a LET L=USR... command. It compiles quite fast, about as fast as it would take to list the program using 2K...maybe faster. If you want to save the program, compiled or not, you have to save the compiler along with it. This is a very cumbersome requirement. Here are the Keywords/Functions you are NOT allowed to use: AND ACS ASN ATN CLEAR CODE CONT COS EXP INPUT LEN LN LPRINT NOT OR PI RUN SAVE SGN SIN SQR STEP STR$ TAB TAN VAL As you can see, the normally impressive mathematical capabilities are, one might say, shot to h---. Some commands are not allowed, but can be substituted with 'USR x', etc: COPY INKEY (must be used as 'CODE INKEY$=xx') NEW Another problem with the math: calculations cannot be performed on the same line as another command. I.e., one cannot say 'PRINT X+4'. Rather, it must be: LET X=X+4 PRINT X Also note that AND and OR cannot be used in IF statements. Hmm... Variables can only be a single letter. Also, only one array is allowed... 'Z'. The last line in the program must always be 'STOP'; you will ALWAYS forget this. One good feature: one can load in BASIC programs, as long as they do not contain lines 1-4, after having loaded Mcoder, and compile them. Bob Berch sells another BASIC compiler for, I believe, a little more. However, if his ad holds true, it is far better than Mcoder (his ad is more descriptive). If anyone wants his adress, contact me thru the net. Will Doolittle U.C. San Diego