jhs@MITRE-BEDFORD.ARPA (01/14/87)
Here is the available documentation on the Turbo BASIC compiler for the XL/XE
computers. The compiler apparently turns Turbo BASIC (or Atari BASIC) source
code into "P-Code", or a special language understood by the "Runtime System".
Then to run it, you have to execute the Runtime System. The manual suggests
putting the Runtime System on a DOS 2.5 diskette, naming it AUTORUN.SYS so it
will execute on boot-up. Otherwise, RUNTIME might be a reasonable choice.
(They suggest RUNTIME.COM, but since you will probably be using DOS 2.5, I see
no reason to encumber it with .COM, which makes things easier ONLY with
DOS-XL and OS/A+.)
The compiled BASIC program should go on the same disk. If you want it also to
run automatically, it should be named AUTORUN.CTB. Otherwise, it can be given
another name which should, however, end with .CTB for Compiled Turbo BASIC.
Basically (so to speak), you would name the compiled file AUTORUN.CTB if you
always want to run this program when you boot the disk, e.g. if it is the only
program on the disk. Otherwise give it some other name.
The compiler and runtime system files will follow.
-John S.
(NOTE: A 40-col version of the doc file is also available.)
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THE TURBO COMPILER
Documentation and Operating
Instructions
by Dave Arlington
Original Program by
Frank Ostrowski
This documentation is provided by the Western New York Atari Users Group
and may be reprinted freely provided this credit is included.
I know everyone is still rubbing their hands in glee over TURBO-BASIC,
the new public domain Basic interpreter imported from Holland and Germany.
This month we are proud to present a new treat from our international friends
overseas, the TURBO COMPILER.
The TURBO COMPILER will increase the speed of your TURBO BASIC programs
3-5 times and regular Atari BASIC programs can be speeded up to 10-15 times
faster. Unfortunately, like TURBO BASIC, the TURBO COMPILER will only run on
the XL/XE series of computers. In addition, the finished compiled programs
will also only run on the XL/XE series.
The TURBO COMPILER is very easy to operate. It can be used with more
than one disk drive, even Drive 8, the 130XE ramdisk. On the TURBO COMPILER
disk, you will find several files. The important ones for the operation of the
TURBO COMPILER are COMPILER.COM and RUNTIME.COM. Before you begin, you should
prepare two disks. The first one should be a blank formatted disk with DOS.SYS
and DUP.SYS written on it. Your second disk should contain your BASIC program
(TURBO or ATARI BASIC).
To begin, insert the TURBO COMPILER disk into your drive and turn your
computer on. When it has finished loading you will be in TURBO BASIC. Type DOS
to get to the DOS 2.5 menu. Choose DOS Option 'L', Load Binary File and load
the file COMPILER.COM. After a short while, you will see a screen full of
German. If you do not read German, do not worry, that is what this article is
for! At any time that you are on this screen, you may reboot your system by
hitting Control-R or you may return to DOS by hitting Control-D. You will be
asked if you really want to do this. If you do, don't forget to 'J' for Ja and
not 'Y' for Yes!!
To compile your programs, remove the TURBO COMPILER disk from the drive
and insert the disk with the program you want to compile. (If you have two
drives, insert your disk with the program to compile in Drive 2 and the blank
DOS disk in Drive 1.) Press the number 1 key (Number 2 if you have two
drives). A complete listing of all the files on that drive will appear on the
screen with one highlighted in inverse video. Using the arrow keys, highlight
the file you want to compile and hit Return. That's all there is to it!
At the top of the screen, you will see the line numbers fly by as the
program is compiled. When it is finished, you will be prompted for a file name
to save your compiled program under. It has to have an extender of CTB (for
Compiled Turbo Basic). The program will not let you use any other extender. At
this time, if you have one drive, you should remove your disk with your
original program on it and replace it with your blank DOS disk. If you want
your compiled program to be an AUTORUN file, you should name it AUTORUN.CTB.
Then the file will automatically load and run at bootup time.
There is one more step that you must do to get a completely runnable
compiled program. Go back to DOS and copy the file RUNTIME.COM from the TURBO
COMPILER disk to the disk with your compiled program on it. Rename the
RUNTIME.COM file to the name AUTORUN.SYS. Your disk is now ready to go. The
TURBO COMPILER does not compile to runnable code, you must run the RUNTIME.COM
file to run your compiled program.
One technical note on the TURBO COMPILER: If you're not familiar with
other compilers for the ATARI computers, you should know that many have
trouble compiling certain types of statements or insist that you organize your
program structure in a certain way. So far none of these problems have occured
on any programs we have tested with the TURBO COMPILER. The only statement
that wouldn't compile so far is the END statement. The only program structure
that we have had trouble with is a FOR-NEXT loop that has two or more NEXTs
for one FOR. For example:
10 FOR X=1 TO 5
20 IF X=3 THEN NEXT X
30 NEXT X
Other than those two examples, we have had no problems compiling any type
of program, either TURBO or ATARI BASIC. Please let us know of any problems
you run into compiling any types of statements or programs.
Whether you program in TURBO BASIC or just want to turbocharge our old
Atari BASIC programs to super speed, I'm sure you will find the TURBO COMPILER
will fit all your speed needs.
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