Writing Basic Programs

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dennis Marks
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Dennis Marks

I remember back in the old days of the TRS-80 and Apple II computers you
were able to write BASIC programs directly from the command line. As
operating systems grew more complicated and command line systems
disappeared BASIC disappeared. My question is can simple BASIC programs
be written and run using what is built into XP?

--
Dennis M. Marks

Disclaimer: The above is my opinion. I do not guarantee it. Be sure to
back up any files involved and use at your own risk. Batteries not
included. Not for internal use. Don't run with knives.
 
Basic is not part of the XP OS as it was in the DOS days. Some compiled
Turbo Basic programs will still run on XP but any that directly address any
hardware will not run as XP doesn't allow this function. The command line
basic had a runtime module built into the DOS OS. I don't know how you
would get a runtime module for the DOS basic today unless you ran a virtual
machine emulator and then ran the DOS OS that had the runtime built in.
 
Dennis said:
I remember back in the old days of the TRS-80 and Apple II computers you
were able to write BASIC programs directly from the command line. As
operating systems grew more complicated and command line systems
disappeared BASIC disappeared. My question is can simple BASIC programs
be written and run using what is built into XP?
Click to expand...
I don't know about writing new programs, but I'm still using a checking
account program I wrote in BasicA in 1982, from a command screen. I'm
able to modify it when necessary, like adding new accounts or changing
printers. My old Epson FX80 9 pin that I use for printing checks on
tractor feed blanks responds to printer commands, but my newer HP5550
inkjet that I use for reports ignores them.

Jim
 
Dennis Marks said:
I remember back in the old days of the TRS-80 and Apple II computers you
were able to write BASIC programs directly from the command line. As
operating systems grew more complicated and command line systems
disappeared BASIC disappeared. My question is can simple BASIC programs be
written and run using what is built into XP?
Click to expand...

The BASIC interpreter that came with MS-DOS (before QBASIC) is GW-BASIC. All
you have to do is copy the file GWBASIC.EXE (79 KB) from an MS-DOS floppy to
your hard disk. Downloading the file from the web is probably illegal.

--- start quote ---

GW-BASIC 3.23
(C) Copyright Microsoft 1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988
60300 Bytes free
Ok

--- end quote ---
 
The BASIC interpreter that came with MS-DOS (before QBASIC) is GW-BASIC. All
you have to do is copy the file GWBASIC.EXE (79 KB) from an MS-DOS floppy to
your hard disk. Downloading the file from the web is probably illegal.

--- start quote ---

GW-BASIC 3.23
(C) Copyright Microsoft 1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988
60300 Bytes free
Ok

--- end quote ---
Click to expand...

Since I probably won't be able to use basic is there ANY built in
language? For example, let's say I wanted to calculate pi. There are
many formulas available that require conditional looping. This is
something that can't be done in a spreadsheet.

Maybe the only way is with JavaScript. If that is true can a JavaScipt
be run outside of HTML?

--
Dennis M. Marks

Disclaimer: The above is my opinion. I do not guarantee it. Be sure to
back up any files involved and use at your own risk. Batteries not
included. Not for internal use. Don't run with knives.
 
Dennis Marks said:
There are many formulas available that require
conditional looping. This is something that can't be done in a
spreadsheet.
Click to expand...

1) You can use Visual Basic in Excel.

2) There are free BASIC interpreters and compilers. Google "free basic
interpreter"

Maybe the only way is with JavaScript. If that is true can
a JavaScipt be run outside of HTML?
Click to expand...

I don't know.
 
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