orion@nuchat (Roland Dunkerley III) (12/22/89)
Hi out there in netland, I have a client who has a Medical Database/Stat. application written in Clipper, and he wanted me to get some information on Thorobred BASIC because he saw someone else's application who had used that and claims that it was extremely fast. So, I was wanting to know if anyone else out there had used TB, and if they would be willing to comment on it's features, ease of use, vendor support, and so on. I myself would much rather port the application to C or C++, but he pays the bills, and he wants to at least investigate this BASIC. Do people out there still think BASIC is a REAL programming language? I vaguely remember an article in Unix World a while back mentioning the Thorobred OS, and was also wondering if this was from the same people, or if I might just be mis-remembering... Oh, I'd also like to know if TB is available under other platforms besides Messy Pizzy DOS (portability) and (lastly), how it compares to other BASICs. I guess BASIC can't be as bad as Clipper, and I write code in that when enough cash is offered. Please reply by mail, and if I recieve enough "me too"s, I'll summarize and post. Please send flames regarding how Clipper and BASIC are serious programming languages and all other such nonsense to /dev/null. Oh, and while you're at it please send fully armed ICBMs to: Pope George Bush, Chief Minion of Evil Statism The White House Wash, DC thanx in advance, Roland Dunkerley III -- *** (orion@nuchat.sccsi.com) (uunet.UU.NET!nuchat!orion) *** South Coast Computing Services *** We service Publicly Redistributable software - reasonable rates *** Inquire within
scott@bbxsda.UUCP (Scott Amspoker) (12/23/89)
In article <17766@nuchat.UUCP> orion@nuchat (Roland Dunkerley III) writes: > So, I >was wanting to know if anyone else out there had used >TB, and if they would be willing to comment on it's >features, ease of use, vendor support, and so on. Thoroughbred BASIC is based on MAI Basic/4 "Business Basic" (not to be confused with Microsoft Business Basic). Basic/4's Business Basic has been around close to 20 years. It was designed mainly for transaction-oriented business data processing, however, it has proven ideal for many other applications. I'll agree that many times, C or C++ would be a better choice, for what Business Basic was designed for, it is still the best choice (IMHO). Business Basic is superficially similar to other BASICs. What sets it apart is powerful device handling capabilities, intrinsic keyed file access with file/record locking, error and exception handling up the yin-yang, and 14-digit decimal precision math. Over the years, many companies have offered Business Basic workalikes running under various platforms. Thoroughbred BASIC is one of those workalikes. Now for the commercial... We also sell a Business Basic platform known as "Business Basic Extended" or BBx. The "extended" part involves substantial enhancements not found in traditional Business Basic such as long variable names, string arrays, windowing, graphics, multi-keyed files, and many others. We also run on dozens of different machines including any DOS or DOS network (and compatibles), and most boxes running Unix, Xenix, or some reasonably compatible **ix. Since we are upward compatible from traditional Business Basic, software written in other Business Basics generally ports easily over to BBx. If you are seriously looking for a good Business Basic give us a call or ask around. We are well known in the Business Basic world. -- Scott Amspoker Basis International, Albuquerque, NM (505) 345-5232 unmvax.cs.unm.edu!bbx!bbxsda!scott