Re: Pascal or whatever for IIgs...

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Mike Westerfield writes ...
> 
> ----------
> In article <37963C84.E881D9B5@swbell.net>, Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>
> wrote:
> 
> >     Okay. So, what are the limitations on developing GS desktop applications with
> >the new IIgs BASIC?
> 
> There are three main ones, at least in a direct comparison with C, Pascal or
> Modula-2.
> 
> 1. BASIC is an interpreted language.

     This eliminates one big misunderstanding-- I was thinking that the new
IIgs BASIC would be a compiled version.


> That's good and bad. It makes it easier
> to prototype a program, but the end product runs slower. Ironically, for a
> really large product, the finished program would be smaller than the same
> program in a compiled language, or even assembly language, but size is not
> usually a factor for a toolbox program.

     Except that, usually, a program using more code will execute faster
because more tasks are performed in-line rather than via subroutine calls.

 
> You might think that being interpreted keeps BASIC from using assembly
> language subroutines.
>
> That's actually not true. GSoft BASIC has a clean
> interface to user tools, which gives you a great way to add assembly
> subroutines. The package comes with two small sample tools, too.

     Neat! If the user can load in machine code routines and CALL them without
a lot of hassle, A GSoft program + machine code can be as fast as it needs to
be.

 
> 2. There are no courses (YET!) to teach you toolbox programming in GSoft
> BASIC. Courses already exist for Pascal and C.
> 
> 3. This is the biggie. GSoft BASIC is most natural from its own shell, which
> works like a souped up Applesoft BASIC.SYSTEM shell. It _can_ be used from
> the ORCA environment, installing GSoft BASIC as an ORCA language, but we
> don't actually ship it that way. You need some way to create resource forks
> for most desktop programs, and the only ones we sell is Apple's Rez
> compiler, which only works from the ORCA shell, and Design Master, which is
> a bit dated. There is no RezEdit equivalent on the Apple IIGS. You need to
> think about how you will create resources before choosing GSoft BASIC as a
> desktop development language.
 ....

     Having an easy way to create standard desktop programs would be nice; but,
it is not an important consideration for many kinds of applications. An
adventure game, for example, does not need or particularly benefit from the
desktop 'look' or pull-down menus.

     Thanks for the information!



Rubywand