NETOPRMS@NCSUVM.BITNET (Michael Steele) (10/20/88)
Has anyone used AC Basic compiler for the GS? I have a friend who just
bought a GS but doesn't want to learn the ins and outs of the Toolbox. I've
heard that writing quick, easy windowing programs is possible with AC Basic,
any comments? Does anyone have a demo version I might play with?
Thanks in advance, Michael
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NETOPRMS@NCSUVM.BITNET Michael Steele co-sysop of NCSU Apple Users BBS
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ARPA: mikes@ncsuvx.ncsu.edurupp@cod.NOSC.MIL (William L. Rupp) (10/25/88)
In article <487NETOPRMS@NCSUVM> NETOPRMS@NCSUVM.BITNET (Michael Steele) writes: > > Has anyone used AC Basic compiler for the GS? I have a friend who just > bought a GS but doesn't want to learn the ins and outs of the Toolbox. I've > heard that writing quick, easy windowing programs is possible with AC Basic, > any comments? Does anyone have a demo version I might play with? > > Thanks in advance, Michael >------------------------------------------------------------------------ >NETOPRMS@NCSUVM.BITNET Michael Steele co-sysop of NCSU Apple Users BBS I have both AC BASIC and TML BASIC, and can therefore offer at least some comments which may be useful. First I should say that I am working on a TML BASIC tutorial, so you may want to take that into consideration. Actually, both are good, depending on what you want to accomplish and your level of sophistication. If you want to do some down-to-the-metal programming, TML is much better. It's support of the Toolbox is very good. It's editing/compiliing environment essentially gives you an interpreter environemnt for speedy program development. AC BASIC takes a different approach. If you have used MS-BASIC on the Mac, you will find AC BASIC very, very familiar. While AC does not offer as much support for the Toolbox, the routines it does support are sometimes easier to use than in TML BASIC. I have really not used AC much, mostly because my writing project concentrates on TML BASIC. For persons who are satisfied users of MS-BASIC on the Mac (I believe AC actually wrote the MS-BASIC complier), AC may be a very good choice. Or for real beginning programmers, or those who have Mac BASIC programs to transport to the GS. But if you are a pretty serious-minded programmer who wants to access the Toolbox routines directly, the only choice is TML-BASIC. Again, I want to emphasize that both have strong points. They are similar, though not identical, programming tools. Which you chose should hinge on which tool is appropriate for you and your situation. Bill ---------------------- I'll gladly accept a hamburger today for the use of my personal opinions Tuesday. ----------------------
mcgurrin@MITRE.ARPA (10/25/88)
I'd add a few thoughts on TML BASIC. I purchased it awhile ago, and just recently had the chance to start using it more. I like the environment, which I find very handy, especially the ability to cut and paste sections of code from one file to another (and then modify them). My major complaint is the documentation. I understand that they rely on other sources to describe the toolbox routines themselves, but is it too much to ask for better documentation on the TML BASIC syntax used to access them? If the example programs have an example similar to the one you want, your fine, otherwise it's trial and error or hunt through multiple manual locations without the benefit of a decent index. In fairness, the syntax isn't too bad once you figure it out, but it took me an evening the first time I decided to draw something other than a rectangle or line (using draw poly routines). I may be a potential customer for your book, but having taken a course in C a few months ago, I will most likely switch over. Due to the limits of the BASIC language, the handling of pointers and structures used by the toolbox is not what it could be in Pascal or C. TML does supply some desktop library calls which make it a little easier, for example, it is trivial to generate an alert box with 1 or 2 lines of text and 1 or 2 buttons (OK and Cancel).