RPGDX > Forums > Design and programming > Question: QB 45

Joakim · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 9:43 am Post subject:

Just FYI I was going to write a language that had as little build in functionality as C, but with a nicer syntax (I like words over random characters like ^ for xor and ~ for negation)

tcaudilllg · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 11:29 am Post subject:

I think BASIC can work with complex systems well.

http://lordgalbalan.tripod.com/UITOPL2.txt

Is that not complex?

Nodtveidt · Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 1:14 am Post subject:

I've personally been working on a new BASIC compiler for Windows, which would be open source. I was originally making it output assembly which would be assembled with MASM32, but then came to my freakin' senses (and a slap in the face by DrunkenCoder, hehehe) and realized that it'd be better off if it outputted C++ source instead. The idea behind this compiler is twofold:

1. Make it possible to port legacy QB code to Windows with zero or very little modification (which means doing a lot of emulation for low-level stuff)
2. Make it possible for BASIC developers to move on from the QB "crutch", as my compiler supports many things which are standard in today's C/C++ compilers but completely unsupported in QB (and most other BASICs as well).

The project is still in its prototype state and I don't really spend a whole lot of time developing it at the moment (that whole "real life" thing, ya know?), but it's slowly coming together. It's open source, like I said, so the general programming community will be able to improve it beyond what I can do. I'm personally sick of seeing these newer game-making BASICs with exhorborant prices, and there are still thousands of people clinging on for dear life to QB, so it's obvious that there's a gap to be filled. :)
_________________
If you play a Microsoft CD backwards you can hear demonic voices. The scary part is that if you play it forwards it installs Windows. - wallace

janus · Mage Joined: 29 Jun 2002 Posts: 464 Location: Issaquah, WA

cloudchild · Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 2:33 am Post subject:

hmm. Make the basic you are designing language easily extendable by C/C++.

Btw, there is a cross-platform basic, it's called XBasic. It's been around for a hella long time. Just google it.
_________________
BOOGA!

Rainer Deyke · Demon Hunter Joined: 05 Jun 2002 Posts: 672

janus · Mage Joined: 29 Jun 2002 Posts: 464 Location: Issaquah, WA

tcaudilllg · Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 3:08 pm Post subject:

In C, then?

http://lordgalbalan.tripod.com/UITOPL2.c

It supports both the 320u and 80u timers, and so does everything, even the fabled "voice synth" effect. Each register on the chip has a place in the OPL2Grid vector. You load the vector indices with the values you want, and update any range of registers on the chip all at once. What I'm really proud of, is the music processing routine, which is so complete that it can be transferred to any music playback form and still use the onboard OPL2 timers as CPU-independent pacers for that form's notes. Wavetable, trackers, or even something having nothing to do with music can keep step with the SB-compatible's onboard timers this way.

The library is unmaintainable because it doesn't need to be, it is simply ultimate, if you can believe it. The only way I can think of to improve it would be to include fulll OPL3 extension support. I didn't though, because three and four operators are simply so hard to work with. The idea was to provide a vehicle for learning to make excellent music. I mean, if someone's music sounds good in FM, then it'll be superior in digital form, right?

Rainer Deyke · Demon Hunter Joined: 05 Jun 2002 Posts: 672

tcaudilllg · Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 11:30 pm Post subject:

How so? K&R and ANSI specifiy both "->" and "." as valid redirection operators, although you may be right about the type constructs. Again, I've not yet tested it and I say on my website that it isn't complete. I tried the port to make it useful for C programmers. I don't like C myself, although it was the first programming language I learned about a decade ago. I had to learn it then because Andre Lamothe's "TY Game Programming in 21 Days" used it all over. It's too pointer driven for my tastes.

Rainer Deyke · Demon Hunter Joined: 05 Jun 2002 Posts: 672

Nodtveidt · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 6:31 am Post subject:

I've read a lot of LaMothe's works (my raycaster in ROTL is based in part on his RAY.C from Tricks Of The Game Programming Gurus), and I would have to agree with you, LordGalbalan, that his stuff relies greatly on pointers, and often where it's not necessary.
_________________
If you play a Microsoft CD backwards you can hear demonic voices. The scary part is that if you play it forwards it installs Windows. - wallace

tcaudilllg · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 9:11 am Post subject:

Thanks for the input. I'll fix all of those. ;)