rob (07/14/82)
The following is a summary of messages whiche were received by me in reply to my request on the network for information on basic under UNIX. 1. bas was written in pdp-11 assembler Its their in binary only on v7 distributions, and in assembler source for pdp 11's on v6 distributions, but it is not really basic. There is no known documentation, the source has NO comments, and the language is very different from anything you've ever seen before. 2. Human Computing Resources (Toronto) have what appears to be a very good basic, well interfaced into the Unix system. For example, the editor may be entered from basic with the current program written to a temp file loaded into the editor. Shell escapes and so on are also supported. You'll have to pay real money for it though ... about $600 I seem to remember, and it runs only on PDP-11's not vax. 3. Johns Hopkins made a port of DEC RSTS/E v5b basic+ to Unix. The Berkeley computer center has been maintaining it. It is an acceptable basic, but people who are used to modern DEC basics think it stinks. It is coded in macro-11, assemblers for which exist and are understood by one or two die hards here. This basic runs on 11's only, although it probably could be made to run on a VAX using compatability mode. 4. Also, a BASIC-like language is available under "3.0" or "III" called "bs". It is the closest thing to BASIC currently available. Using LEX and YACC in conjunction, a BASIC-like language can be lapped together in about 4 weeks of heavy work. 5. a distribution tape from Univ British Columbia have a "C" language basic interp for pdp-11's . I haven't had time to try it on a 4.1 VAX.
G:wing (07/15/82)
Everybody may be interested to know that one of the Berkeley machines is running a *REAL* BASIC. The UNIX is run by the business school and is otherwise known as the "C F & O 'B' Machine", to which you can mail to as b:username. Somebody else here at Berkeley is bound to submit more info here. The 'B' machine uses DEC BASIC-PLUS, which is similar to Microsoft. If you get any complaints about running DEC BASIC-PLUS on a VAX-11/780, tell them that I WORK on a system with DEC BASIC-PLUS (even though RIX is using VAX/VMS). Avior. Philip L. Wing U.C. at Berkeley