BASIC, BASIC !

Announcing new direction for the Computer Workshop

My company the Computer Workshop is making a transition. For some time I used a single BASIC programming language exclusively. Out of necessity, but also out of need to do something better, I have decided to instead focus not simply on one dialect of BASIC, but instead to promote and serve BASIC itself as a language, no matter the dialect.

Despite many feeling BASIC is obsolete, it keeps returning in all sorts of flavors and dialects. But Basic needs even better support, not simply for a specific dialect, but for the language as a whole. This is the new goal of the Computer Workshop. The Computer Workshop is now supporting and promoting BASIC as a programming language, rather than any one or two specific dialects of it. There is a need for more Basic programming languages, better ones, and also a need to find ways to better integrate the different versions (share code, share libraries). Some Basic languages have excellent compilers, but poor RAD environments. Some have great RAD environments, but need improvements in the language. The sharing between BASIC’s is very limited and needs to be encouraged. One BASIC may be well suited for building libraries for another Basic. Also one can not limit oneself to a single BASIC, because some are better suited for one platform and some for another.

So why not help improve the sharing of knowledge, source code and tools between differing BASICs ?

That is the new goal of the Computer Workshop.

So why do I care ? Why this approach ?

Consider my experience as a BASIC only programmer.

I was first exposed to BASIC in 1975 when I was in highschool (if you are wondering my age, I am in my mid 50’s). In the 1980’s in the early days ot the home computer, I taught myself Basic, first as a hobby and then later doing it commercially. I learned a great deal with the Commodore 64 and TI-99/4A computers, especially the C64. I learned 6502 machine language and even wrote my own compiler, which I used to write a family friendly video game which I sold to Compute Gazette magazine (made a whole $1500 off of that) back in 1987. I wrote custom software for local businesses in the CPM days using GWBasic and later for DOS based PC’s using QBasic, then Quikc Basic and finally Microsofts premier professional basic PDS 7.1. I did some assembler when using PDS 7.1 even write some assembler modules for it.

I have written custom software using Microsoft DOS Basics for the likes of video rental stores, furniture store, accounts payable and receivables for a limber supply store, sales and estimate software for auto repair store, software for an engineer, PBX maintenance software, quality control software for manufacturing and job tracking, shipping and job estimating for custom machine shop. Some of my DOS applications are still in use today, amazingly.

When Windows came along, I tried a number of different Basics like CA Realizer, GFA Basic and finally came to Visual Basic. I loved VB 1.0 with its great IDE and tiny runtime. I ported the machine shop software for one customer to Visual Basic, but built a hybrid app which partly emulated its DOS cousin so the learning curve was less, but it was a real Windows app. I over the years purchase VB 1.0, 2.0 and 50 Pro. You can see, that I am very familiar with Visual Basic. I parted ways with Visual Basic and then moved to PowerBasic (I had some good reasons, but VB was still a favorite). I started with PowerBasic at a time when it had no GUI command set, no Visual Designer, nothing, so I was forced to learn how to code using the Windows WIN32 API solely. Because of the experience I gained, I was one of the early (if not possibly the first or second) third party developer of PowerBasic addons to start building GUI tools. Now I have about a decade and a half os working solely with the Windows API (and OpenGL) building tools for PowerBasic programmers. My product EZGUI is now in its fifth generation and its feature set is extensive. I have spent the last 14 years learning how to push the WIN32 API to its limits and guess what ?

My company has been developing software using BASIC for a couple decades now. In recent years I have been developing programming tools for BASIC programmers, albeit a single dialect, PowerBasic. Now it is time to expand this and rather than simply move to another dialect of Basic for a time, I have decided it best to change the goals of my company, but instead support BASIC as a language rather than a single dialect.

Announcing BASIC, BASIC forums !

Today I am happy to announce the creation of a new section in my online forums, called BASIC, BASIC !   http://cwsof.com/forums/index.php

This new forum was not created to simply just gather Basic programmers from all around. There are plenty of forums for that. I will point you to one which I like, Coding Monkeys ( http://www.codingmonkeys.com ). The purpose of these new forums is a way for my company to get more deeply involved in promoting BASIC itself as a language with the idea of code sharing, better integration between dialects and the improvement of BASIC as a whole. My company has been building GUI tools for PowerBasic programmers for nearly a decade and a half and I have extensive experience with the Windows platform. Now I would like to push beyond that and to find the commonality among BASICs and to help improve the language, even some which are no longer supported like classic Visual Basic. Some of what the Computer Workshop will offer will be free (such as information on my new forums and I have a lot of experience to share), but also some will be commercial development of new tools and libraries for different dialects of BASIC.

To be fair, I don’t do this for a hobby and I don’t have a so called “day job” which pays the bills, so this is my living. I have spent decades working with BASIC and have a lot of confidence in it as a language. There are aspects of BASIC that other languages could learn from, one is ease of use. If you have read my blog before you know how I feel about software development becoming too complex. There is a need for more easy to use, but powerful, programming languages and my company feels BASIC is the language. BASIC needs to come out of the shadows and into the light, so to speak. I don’t think we need anoth C++ clone or Java clone. Most new languages tend favor copying the current object oriented path of C++. BASIC was designed for ease of use and fast coding. BASIC has a more natural syntax to it, so code is more readable and maintainable making it easier to debug. BASIC has primarily been procedural in nature which is something that maybe programming languages should possibly go back to (read my blog about the problems with OOP). BASIC has a lot going for it.

But sadly there is no major BASIC dialect any more. Visual Basic dot.net is more akin to its cousin C#, than it is to BASIC, even its predecessor classic Visual Basic. So the only reall solution as I see it is to find ways to bring the multiple dialects of BASIC together. This is the goal of the new forums I am starting.

So if you visit my forums and don’t see many (or even any yet) posts in the new section, BASIC, BASIC don’t let that stop your from registering on the forums (which requires a real name and you must email me to register at:  chrisboss@centurylink.net or support@cwsof.com

I am not expecting the forum to be a huge discussion base for thousands of programmers and I actually don’t want it to grow too big (which I can’t control or moderate). I am just hoping a few BASIC programmers, who would like a civil place to discuss how to push all dialects of BASIC to their limit, would come and take part. At the minimum, I have my own experience and knowledge to share and it is extensive. If there is one thing the Computer Workshop does and does well it is BASIC.

So, what kind of people could benefit from these new forums ?

While hobby programmers are welcomed, the forums are really for teaching how to push the limits of BASIC for professional use. I am professional programmer who has spent years developing software for businesses and also tools for programmers. That said, I also believe in the hobby programmer. But instead of treating it just as a hobby, I would like to help hobby programmers bring their skills up to the level of professional programming. You see, I was a self taught programmer. I started programming as a hobby in the 1980’s. I didn’t even plan on turning it into a trade, it just happened that way. But programming is a skill I was designed for. So if you are a hobby programmer, feel free to register on my new forum section BASIC, BASIC. On my forums the beginner programmer will be treated as well as the seasoned programmer. I moderate my forums extensively and I expect a high standard among members. Now some may not like it, but my forum is just one of a few who expect real names for member names. An alias only allows one to “hide who they are” and promotes members to be rude without consequences. For years I have used my forums for tech support for my customers and they have gladly accepted the real name requirement and the forums have maintained a high level of civility. I will not tolerate any member denigrating another, especially just because they are a beginnner. You can’t learn if you are afraid to ask questions.

I don’t expect a huge flood of new members, mind you, but even if just one or two show up and have something useful to share and also want to learn, then my company will consider it a success.

Are you developing the next great BASIC programming language ?

Maybe I have something to offer you. One of the biggest weaknesses in many independent BASICs found on the internet is the RAD environment. One can use an open source code editor to build an IDE, but the visual drag and drop part is always the most difficult to do. But there is where the Computwer Workshop excels. I have been building GUI tools for years (for Windows) and my latest EZGUI 5.0 Professional was designed with a WYSIWYG engine built in, which was designed for building drag and drop Visual Designers. It even has its own Property Listbox control too. It has the core features needed to build a quality programming language. So maybe come to my new forums and touch base with me and see if I can be of help to you in building the next great BASIC programming language.