May order PB depending on answers... :)

Shannara · Post by **Shannara** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 11:24 pm

I am currently in the middle of creating a game in VB for client & server. Now, due to dll hell and other vb issues, I am looking at using PB in the client, but I have a few questions...

1. Winsock support, is there any? I need to be able to download files via FTP for updates and such, not to mention communicate with the game server.

2. Custom file types. U know the kind in VB, UDTs written and read from files... Any support here?

3. Ability to read GIF files... any support?

4. DirectX support for graphics both 2d and 3d. Does PB support such?

5. I would need to port over my custom encryption code, that should be hell..

6. Ability to use OCX/DLL (ActiveX) controls in PB, is this possible?

7. The client uses a parent mdi form and child mdi forms. Is this possible in PB?

7. If I decide to convert the server over, does PB support IOCP (A must for any network server applications), use of the msscript.ocx (vbscript) scripting?

8. Does PB support OpenGL? I am looking at porting the client to Mac OSX, and Linux...

Any answers would be wonderfull!

Kale · Post by **Kale** » Fri Oct 31, 2003 12:56 am

Let me have a go at answering a few...

1. Winsock support, is there any? I need to be able to download files via FTP for updates and such, not to mention communicate with the game server.

viewtopic.php?t=7403
There is also a native 'Network' library of useful commands.

2. Custom file types. U know the kind in VB, UDTs written and read from files... Any support here?

PB supports UDT's or Structures as they are called here. Example code:

Code: Select all

Structure ATTACHMENTDETAILS
    Filename.s
    FileType.b
    ContentType.s
    StructureUnion
        Base64StringAddress.l
        ASCIIStringAddress.l
    EndStructureUnion
EndStructure

Structure MAILDETAILS
    RecipientEmailAddress.s
    SenderName.s
    SenderEmailAddress.s
    SMTPServer.s
    Subject.s
    MessageAddress.l
    Attachments.ATTACHMENTDETAILS[#MAXIMUM_ATTACHMENTS]
    SendAttachments.b
EndStructure

Account.MAILDETAILS
Account\SenderName = "Kale"
etc...

3. Ability to read GIF files... any support?

Most standard image file types are supported, if not ask in the forums and im sure someone will have an answer to support them. This is a third party lib which supports gifs: viewtopic.php?t=6005

4. DirectX support for graphics both 2d and 3d. Does PB support such?

DirectX can be called directly from PB using a huge include file (found somewhere here

) or by using the new 'Interface' commands recently introduced in v3.80

5. I would need to port over my custom encryption code, that should be hell..

VB to PB is not as bad as it first seems, remember if your stuck just ask here.

6. Ability to use OCX/DLL (ActiveX) controls in PB, is this possible?

Yes, using the new 'Interface' commands (i think i also saw a [low price] commercial lib to handle this as well) See here:
viewtopic.php?t=7902

7. The client uses a parent mdi form and child mdi forms. Is this possible in PB?

Above my knowledge, but im sure any GUI is possible some how.

7. If I decide to convert the server over, does PB support IOCP (A must for any network server applications), use of the msscript.ocx (vbscript) scripting?

Above my knowledge, but PB does support threads if you were to write your own IOCP routines.

8. Does PB support OpenGL? I am looking at porting the client to Mac OSX, and Linux...

Yes PB does support OpenGL but no MacOS port is available (yet) When you buy you get the Windows, Linux and Amiga version all in one!, an example of OpenGL:
viewtopic.php?t=6971

Search this forum for lots of answers and also browse the resource site for other cool PureBasic Addon librarys, snippets, app, games, etc... here:
http://www.reelmediaproductions.com/pb

AngelSoul · Post by **AngelSoul** » Fri Oct 31, 2003 6:48 am

PureBasic is really worth buying, the price is very low for such an advanced and optimized compiler compared to Visual Basic.

What i really love about it it's the easy and straight access to Windows API without the hassle to declare the functions.

example: lockworkstation_()

Buy it you won't regret it i'm sure.

blueznl · Post by **blueznl** » Fri Oct 31, 2003 9:57 am

i'm a gfa convert, and never liked vb, so perhaps not the best guy to ask

purebasic is nice but still in development, as it shoud be

good parts: fast, flexible, compact, veeeeeeeeery friendly other users
bad parts: syntax is slightly weird now and again, some basic statements are still missing

is it currently usable? oh hell yes! it's definitely worth its salt (and price)

is it the program you need? well, that depends on it... i myself am not into the interface and com objects stuff, so i can't comment on that, for the other things it is certainly getting (you) there...

read the forum, decide for yourself, i think it's good and will even get better over time

ricardo · Post by **ricardo** » Fri Oct 31, 2003 3:09 pm

I don't think that is a good idea to 'translate' one code from a language to other language.

In VB you have some 'tools' available and you code using it... in PB the 'tools' or styles are different ones!

If you are looking for some way to implement your VB code almost the same but without runtimes, then go to Delhpi.

If you are looking for a new approach on programming, then try PB.

Shannara · Post by **Shannara** » Fri Oct 31, 2003 6:55 pm

The problem is, Delphi DOES have runtimes. There is just a compiler switch that determines if you want the runtimes added into the EXE or seperately

I have Delphi 7 Studio here at home. It's nice for linux and windows, but it still has runtimes just like VB.

As for porting code over. Well, that is needed. I created my own encryption scheme, so it'll need porting over

Im thinking about it. It would be a complete switch over (at least on the client side), but my due date for the product is 1/1/04. I'm starting to think I should wait for PB to mature some more before commiting myself and the product over to this language...

ricardo · Post by **ricardo** » Fri Oct 31, 2003 9:34 pm

PB is different from VB.
Its not just port some code.

Once you understand the concept of PB you feel glad to forget VB.

I was a VB coder, no i have many month without touching the VB IDE and im happy with that.

Shannara · Post by **Shannara** » Sat Nov 01, 2003 1:17 am

Porting mean converting a piece of code from one language to another. I never said PB is a port of some code. I said I need to port my code over from VB to PB, if I choose to do so...

Shannara · Post by **Shannara** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 7:34 pm

Bah, it looks like I will be buying this with-in 3 days. Now that I see it can use DirectX9, Im assuming it can also use DirectX8.

Another question though. My current client makes extensive use of the RichTextBox. For forground colors and styles (bold, underline, etc). Is there an equivilent in PB?

Karbon · Post by **Karbon** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 8:19 pm

EditorGadget, yes.

Post by **freak** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 8:28 pm

The EditorGadget() is a Richedit box.
There are no functions avaiable to manipulate colors/styles via internal commands yet, but
you can simply use some custom-made functions, which use the windowsAPI to
accomplish that.

See here for some functions:
viewtopic.php?t=6666

Timo

Shannara · Post by **Shannara** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 10:11 pm

Thanks for the info, color is basically a requirement so is the Styles..

Anyways, I just ordered the bugger. It said 59 Euros for the cost, which is what? $40 US Dollars? If so, the receipt claims I was charged for 59 USD. ... interesting. Anyways, hope everything goes through for tonight

It said I need approval

Ah well, all is life.

Pupil · Post by **Pupil** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 10:23 pm

Shannara wrote: Anyways, I just ordered the bugger. It said 59 Euros for the cost, which is what? $40 US Dollars? If so, the receipt claims I was charged for 59 USD. ... interesting.

I think you're overestimating the value of USD. I would say you got it cheap, 59 Euro is approx. (today) 66 USD

Shannara · Post by **Shannara** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 10:35 pm

Ok, well, either or I'll need a definate price, so I can record it properly in the Account books for my company. Does anybody here know?

Oh and btw: it was confirmed and went through. Even got my keycode, im happy

On a side note, how is PB with the embedded mySQLlib.dll?