IIGS.BASICs

[Allan_Crout@mindlink.bc.ca (Allan Crout)]

Greetings all.

I recently saw references to GS.BASIC  and other BASICs for the IIGS but no
one mentioned AC/BASIC from Absoft Corp (or did I miss it?).

Absoft includes a compiler, an ORCA editor, and an inch-thick book of
explanations and examples of sytax for BASIC programming in the desktop
environment. Absoft claims that AC/BASIC source code is compatible with
their Amiga version and provides some tips on how to make necessary minor
changes to code.

AC/BASIC is also compatible with Microsoft BASIC source code for the
Macintosh. Some sound and graphics calls in MS BASIC source code need
minor adjustments to compile under AC/BASIC. There are many books written
about MicroSoft BASIC for the Mac, and I have found them to be a good
source of programming tutorials which are not found in the AC/BASIC ref
manual.

AC/BASIC is compatible with System 6.01.

An old Nibble mag ad listed the price at $125; who knows what it would be
now.

Some one in the GS.BASIC thread mentioned an inCider/A+ article. If it's
the article I'm thinking of, it's by Joe Abernathy, and is called STUDIO
BASIC. The series first appeared in the April, 1989 issue and continued
about every other month into 1990. It included a brief description of the
BASICs discussed in the earlier thread, and provided several samples of
source code for TML BASIC, Micol Advanced BASIC and AC/BASIC.

    I spoke with an Absoft tech rep recently, and he related to me that
there had been little interest in AC/BASIC for the IIGS during the past 2
years. In fact, they still support the product, but only support that can
be given over the phone. In other words, they won't do any research to
provide support for the IIGS version of AC/BASIC.

SAMPLE CODE:
============
REM Chapter12/Example13
PRINT "Hello World!"
DIM a%(SCREEN(0,0,96,8)/2)
GET (0,0)-(96,8),a%               'GET it
PUT (0,0),a%,XOR                  'Erase it
WHILE MOUSE(0)=0
    x%=RND*500
    y%=RND*180
    PUT (x%,y%),a%                'Display text
    FOR x=1 TO 300:NEXT           'Delay a little
                                  '(x & x% are different variables)
    PUT (x%,y%),a%,XOR            'Erase text
WEND

 ===============================================================

    Absoft Corp,
    2781 Bond Street,
    Auburn Hills, MI,
    48057
    (313)853-0050


I wish I could give you a better technical description of AC/BASIC, but I
hope you find the above informative, at least.

    -- al
ALLAN_CROUT@mindlink.bc.ca