Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!mephisto!prism!rc7
From: rc7@prism.gatech.EDU (Richard Catrambone)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: BASIC Compiler for BASIC on the IBM PC
Message-ID: <11138@hydra.gatech.EDU>
Date: 9 Jul 90 13:54:02 GMT
Organization: Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology
Lines: 39

When I originally posted my question about a BASIC compiler,
a number of people were kind enough to e-mail suggestions.
Below I have compiled (no pun intended) their responses.
I have removed peoples' e-mail addresses.  Thanks to everyone
who sent me their suggestions!!

	If you have to do some serious programming in BASIC, i would
suggest you buy QuickBasic 4.5 from Microsoft. It only cost about 75$
and you will be able to do almost anything. There is also the next
version of QuickBasic for professionnal. It is version 7.0 but this
one cost about 500$.

I don't know what you mean exactly by "good" basic compiler, but you
definitely want one that is GWBASIC compatible. It supports all the same
syntax as the GWBASIC interpreter on MSDOS, or BASICA on IBMPC DOS.

I user QuickBasic 4.5 from microsoft.  This is a very good program.
If you have any questions about it just let me know.

Most basic compilers require you to add a special toggle on the compile line
to permit compiling ON conditions.  I have the the new MSC Basic 7.0 at work.
It's impressive.  If you need lots of graphics capabilities, or wamt to manage
data with something not quite as powerful as Btrieve, look into it.  Otherwise,
QB4.5 would probably fill lesser requirements.

I think that the best pc basic compiler is the
metrabyte MBC basic compiler.  I think it costs about $400.

Borland used to sell Turbo BASIC.  Excellent.  But they sold the
compiler to another company, which just brought out the latest and
greatest version of it.  I wish I could remember the name.  I think I
saw an ad for it in either Dr Dobbs or Computer Language magazine.

My suggestion...spend the money and get QuickBASIC.
-- 
CATRAMBONE,RICHARD
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
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