FreeBASIC

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FreeBASIC
ParadigmProcedural, object-oriented
Designed byAndre Victor[1]
DeveloperThe FreeBASIC Development Team
First appeared2004; 20 years ago (2004)
Stable release
1.10.1 / December 25, 2023; 3 months ago (2023-12-25)
Typing disciplineStatic
OSMS-DOS, FreeBSD, Linux, Microsoft Windows
LicenseGNU GPLv2+, Standard libraries licensed under the GNU LGPLv2+
Websitewww.freebasic.net
Influenced by
QuickBASIC, C

FreeBASIC is a free and open source multiplatform compiler and programming language based on BASIC licensed under the GNU GPL for Microsoft Windows, protected-mode MS-DOS (DOS extender), Linux, FreeBSD and Xbox. The Xbox version is no longer maintained.[2]

According to its official website,[3] FreeBASIC provides syntax compatibility with programs originally written in Microsoft QuickBASIC (QB). Unlike QuickBASIC, however, FreeBASIC is a command line only compiler, unless users manually install an external integrated development environment (IDE) of their choice.[4] IDEs specifically made for FreeBASIC include FBide and FbEdit,[5] while more graphical options include WinFBE Suite and VisualFBEditor.[6][7]

Compiler features[edit]

On its backend, FreeBASIC makes use of GNU Binutils in order to produce console and graphical user interface applications. FreeBASIC supports the linking and creation of C static and dynamic libraries and has limited support for C++ libraries. As a result, code compiled in FreeBASIC can be reused in most native development environments.

C style preprocessing, including multiline macros, conditional compiling and file inclusion, is supported. The preprocessor also has access to symbol information and compiler settings, such as the language dialect.

Syntax[edit]

Initially, FreeBASIC emulated Microsoft QuickBASIC syntax as closely as possible. Beyond that, the language has continued its evolution. As a result, FreeBASIC combines several language dialects for maximum level of compatibility with QuickBASIC and full access to modern features.[8] New features include support for concepts such as objects, operator overloading, function overloading, namespaces and others.[9]

Newline characters indicate the termination of programming statements. A programming statement can be distributed on multiple consecutive lines by using the underscore line continuation char (_), whereas multiple statements may be written on a single line by separating each statement with a colon (:).

Block comments, as well as end-of-line remarks are supported. Full line comments are made with an apostrophe ', while blocks of commented code begin with /' and end with '/.

FreeBASIC is not case-sensitive.

Graphics library[edit]

FreeBASIC provides built-in, QuickBASIC compatible graphics support through FBgfx, which is automatically included into programs that make a call to the SCREEN command. Its backend defaults to OpenGL on Linux and DirectX on Microsoft Windows. This abstraction makes FBgfx graphics code cross-platform compatible. However, FBgfx is not hardware accelerated.

Users familiar with external graphics utilities such as OpenGL or the Windows API can use them without interfering with the built-in graphics library.

Language dialects[edit]

As FreeBASIC has evolved, changes have been made that required breaking older-styled syntax. In order to continue supporting programs written using the older syntax, FreeBASIC now supports the following dialects:

  • The default dialect (-lang fb as a command-line argument) supports all new compiler features and disallows archaic syntax.
  • The FB-lite dialect (-lang fblite) permits use of most new, non-object-oriented features in addition to older-style programming. Implicit variables, suffixes, GOSUB / RETURN, numeric labels and other features are allowed in this dialect.
  • The QB dialect (-lang qb) attempts to replicate QuickBASIC behavior and is able to compile many QuickBASIC programs without modification.

Example code[edit]

Standard programs, such as the "Hello, World!" program are done just as they were in QuickBASIC.

Print "Hello, World!"

sleep:end 'Comment, prevents the program window from closing instantly

FreeBASIC adds to this with support for object-oriented features such as methods, constructors, dynamic memory allocation, properties and temporary allocation.

Type Vector
    Private:
        x As Integer
        y As Integer
    Public:
        Declare Constructor (nX As Integer = 0, nY As Integer = 0)
        Declare Property getX As Integer
        Declare Property getY As Integer
End Type

Constructor Vector (nX As Integer, nY As Integer)
    x = nX
    y = nY
End Constructor

Property Vector.getX As Integer
    Return x
End Property

Property Vector.getY As Integer
    Return y
End Property
Dim As Vector Ptr player = New Vector()

*player = Type<Vector>(100, 100)
Print player->getX
Print player->getY

Delete player

Sleep 'Prevents the program window from closing instantly

In both cases, the language is well suited for learning purposes.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "freeBASIC about page". freeBASIC compiler. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  2. ^ FBWiki : FaqPgxbox
  3. ^ freeBASIC Programming Language: Official Web site
  4. ^ "freeBASIC official website downloads page". freeBASIC compiler. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  5. ^ FbEdit on sourceforge, retrieved 13 May 2017
  6. ^ Speed, Richard (2022-05-06). "RAD Basic – the Visual Basic 7 that never was – releases third alpha". The Register. Retrieved 2023-03-26. RAD Basic is not the only game in town. Alternatives in varying stages of development include twinBASIC, which also aims to be backwards compatible with VB6 and VBA; and FreeBASIC, which implements much of what lurked in Microsoft QuickBASIC (and has a nifty IDE in the form of VisualFBEditor).
  7. ^ FreeBASIC IDEs/Editors - FreeBASIC Forums
  8. ^ "freeBASIC dialects". coderJeff's home page. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  9. ^ "Differences from QB". freeBASIC.net documentation. Retrieved 5 February 2012.

External links[edit]

IDEs