PureBasic for Blitz programmer

[blueznl]

robleong, welcome aboard! i'm a convert myself well sort of, coming from gfabasic

(long ranting following, you may simply scroll down and check the link which may help converts a little)

i had a look at the different dialects, and although pure is not entirely the way i like it (i liked the gfabasic approach in some ways better) it's getting pretty damn good with every new version

yeah, pb is lacking somewhat in the graphics department... yet... but i don't bother too much about that

my long term goal is writing games, but i'd like the basics (no pun intended) of the language to get there where i need them before i am going to bother fred about fancy 3d stuff

my feeling is that v4 is going to freak out quite a few people, yeah, it's probably going to break code again (hey, why not, if it's an improvement) but it seems it's going to compensate that with loads of features, so i know where i'd place my bets

(why i took pure instead of another basic? mmm... i just couldn't find anything that 'felt' right, never liked the vb or qb style of syntax, being an old hat in gfa (since the atari st / commodore amiga / gfa for dos) so any language that doesn't use 'sub' but 'procedure' has won half the battle )

welcome anyway!

[Kale]

version 4 .. well, it's hard to get too excited about something I don't know anything about so do you have any details?

No its a surprise but the full beta is out in the next few weeks as i understand.

[Yogi Yang]

Can someone who has experience using both PureBasic and Blitz honestly tell me what you find useful in PureBasic, and how difficult the transition would be from Blitz?

I have been using Blitz3D to program games for a few months now, but am now thinking of writing a Windows utility program. I do not think it is prudent to pay the full price to buy Blitz+ when I can pay a similar price to purchase a totally different program such as PureBasic, provided that PureBasic is easy to learn and does what I want it to do - I'm not thinking of using PureBasic for games, by the way. I'm also keen on the assembler bit (as I've used BBC Basic before) and the small executables that PureBasic allows for. Thanks!

PureBasic is really good though I am also playing with it to see if it really suits me but I have found a list different Basic and Basic like compilers and intepreters at following
http://www.freeprogrammingresources.com/basic.html

check it out for a wider choice.

For Graphics related Programming I personally like Basic4GL as it is based on OpenGL so user is not tied with Microsoft's DirectX and Windows only as is the case with DarkBasic, Blitz, etc. etc.

http://www.basic4gl.net/

Check it out!

[Steve Elliott]

Er Yogi, Rob said he's just bought PureBASIC.

[Heathen]

OK, this is an update. I know this is very belated, but I just wanted to let you all know that I've finally purchased PureBasic, after more than two and a half years of pondering! Well, you know, I've been busy writing games using Blitz...

Thanks to Steve Elliott for that final persuasive kick!

So, more newbie questions coming soon...

IMO as you get the hang of it, you will be more and more happy that you bought it. I dont even use blitz anymore.

[stevev4v]

IMO as you get the hang of it, you will be more and more happy that you bought it. I dont even use blitz anymore.

Just curious, did you use Blitz for 3D games?

[Yogi Yang]

Er Yogi, Rob said he's just bought PureBASIC.

Steve,

I am not trying to drive Rob away from PB. I am just showing him verious options that I have discovered in my quest for a good programming language. And I am yet searching for a more stable, usable, ever expanding in functionality and easy development tools.

In fact Rob can use PB for all his primary developments but can augment and lessen his development work using other tools also.

You will agree with me that everything is not possible in each and every language. Certain things are more easier in some languages while certain things are a pain in the neck.

For example I had a need for developing a 3D Bathroom modeler for a client. I tried a lot with VB but could not do it easily. I user Basic4GL and I managed to develop the software more easily and in a short span of time.

This is the reason why I always look at as many options as possible.

Thanks,

Yogi

[robleong]

Thanks again, guys.

As Steve said, I've bought PureBasic already, and am happy with the purchase - gotta start learning to use the language soon. However, for 2D and 3D games, I'm still using Blitz3D for now. Am not looking at any more BASICs for the time being, Yogi Yang, though would be interested to see how Cobra shapes up when it is finally released...

Yonks ago, I loved the BBC micro with its built-in assembler and that's one feature that attracts me to PureBasic. Thanks for the welcome, blueznl - like you, I had the Atari ST too, but I was using the DevPacST assembler in those days, rather than GFA Basic (you can check out some of my old assembler games on my website link). So, I've been around the block, but I don't have time now for C++, so PureBasic it is for me!

[dmoc]

Agghh Atari! The only one true old-skool comp is the AMIGA! Let the the battle commence

But it's good to see you jumped on board, even if it took nearly 3 years, so... we can expect your first creation round-about 2009 then? Just joking.

[robleong]

But it's good to see you jumped on board, even if it took nearly 3 years, so... we can expect your first creation round-about 2009 then? Just joking.

And you might very well be proven correct! I usually finish what I start - it could take years, but it'll be finished!

[stevev4v]

Agghh Atari! The only one true old-skool comp is the AMIGA! Let the the battle commence

Amiga Rules!

but...

Atari had their day in 8-bits... I still say Star Raiders is the best 8-bit computer game ever made on any system but I'm sure there are others who will disagree


Check this website for more info: http://www.sonic.net/~nbs/star-raiders/