BBC BASIC for SDL 2.0

[Ed Davis]

Just curious - why doesn't BBC BASIC for SDL 2.0 get much love/use from this group?
It is Open Source (distribution on Github), it seems to run virtually everywhere - Windows, Linux (x86 CPU only), Mac OS-X, Raspberry Pi (Raspbian), Android and iOS.

Does anyone have opinions on it, pro's vs. con's, etc?
Thanks!

[B+]

My memory of BBC Basic was that is was rather complex process to get Mouse X, Y but that was some time ago.

BBC for Windows was OK too.

[Richly]

Well, I've banging on about BBC BASIC for a while 

https://retrogamecoding.org/board/index.php?topic=365.0

BBC BASIC has a fine pedigree, first written by Sophie Wilson of ARM fame

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophie_Wilson

This version culminated in BBC BASIC V, which you will find as part of the current versions of RISC OS.

Richard developed his own versions of BBC BASIC (Z80 and DOS) culminating in BBC BASIC for Windows and latterly the cross-platform BBC BASIC for SDL 2.0 - both of which are still largely compatible with the original BBC BASIC whilst benefiting from modern enhancements.

More on the history of BBC BASIC can be found here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_BASIC and here http://www.rtrussell.co.uk/bbcbasic/history.html

There are also the Brandy versions of BBC BASIC - Brandy BASIC, Napoleon Brandy BASIC and the more recent Matrix Brandy BASIC.

I don't know if it does or doesn't have much love here but I think that it is widely respected. I suspect that it has more popularity with British users since it is a British BASIC and most of us Brits (including me) first encountered it at school when learning to program using BBC Micros.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/taster/pilots/computer-literacy-project

Even today, BBC Micros and BBC BASIC are still being used in the UK (along with more popular and modern languages like Scratch and modern platforms, such as the BBC Microbit and Raspberry PI) to teach kids how to code...the hard way... 

https://www.tnmoc.org/learning

If you want to have a go at the original BBC BASIC like it was on the BBC Micro (and don't want to buy a BBC Micro or install RISC OS) then you can have a go using this great emulator

http://www.mkw.me.uk/beebem/

[B+]

Wow off to a grand start!

[Richly]

Wow off to a grand start!

BBC BASIC is case sensitive _ is that a pro or con 

[B+]

OK

[B+]

Wow, has GL like QB64:

[Richly]

Richard lists some features for both BBC BASIC for Windows and BBC for SDL 2.0

http://www.bbcbasic.co.uk/bbcwin/bbcwin.html

http://www.bbcbasic.co.uk/bbcsdl/

I suppose he is presenting these features as advantages, although no doubt many (most) feature in other BASICs in some shape or form.

I'm still at the 'B' in BASIC level (not B+ yet  ) because I don't have a lot of time to practice (at least that's my excuse  ) and I tend to divide my practice (playing?) time between different BASICs and other languages.

In other words, others are more qualified to judge than I am.

However, from a 'B' level perspective:

Pros = I am familiar with BBC BASIC and I can use it (SDL version) on my Windows, Android and Mac machines.
Con = GUI programming in BB4W and BBC SDL is complex; for me, at least.

In fact, I find Sinclair BASIC more accessible than BBC BASIC; but that could be because I owned a ZX Spectrum back in the day, which was much cheaper to buy than a BBC Micro, and so I spent more time with Sinclair BASIC at home and less time with BBC BASIC at school.

[Richly]

Wow, has GL like QB64:

B+

Did you know that Richard has developed a translator that translates Qbasic to BBC BASIC?

Might be useful if you are comparing / translating between the two dialects whilst you are exploring...

http://www.bbcbasic.co.uk/qb2bbc/index.html