Learning [V]BASIC

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-06-18 09:55pm

I need some resources for learning the BASIC programming language. Google's BASIC directory doesnt have any tutorial sites worth the server space they occupy, and I can't find any books at my local Barnes and Noble. I bought VB6 for Dummies, however it doesn't teach any actual BASIC. Amazon doesn't have anything just on BASIC. Help?

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-06-18 10:34pm

Why are you looking at BASIC? Why not learn another, more modern, language?

EDIT: Also, which BASIC are you using? The one that comes with DOS?

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2003-06-18 10:37pm

phongn wrote:Why are you looking at BASIC? Why not learn another, more modern, language?

EDIT: Also, which BASIC are you using? The one that comes with DOS?

Well, if he's going to do programming for Windows, he's going to want to know BASIC, since it's my understanding that they do alot of their programming in Visual BASIC.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-06-18 11:56pm

Yes lots of windows programming is VBasic. I wanna make some games, and VBasic seems to be rather good for this. Or so I've heard. I'm going to look into VC++ tho cause c++ im familiar with.

Plus, what other programming language can you use on an ATARI?

BabelHuber · Post by **BabelHuber** » 2003-06-19 12:08am

Well, first of all, if you can program C++ you shouldn´t have any difficulties to learn any other programming language. This is, if you really know it, of course.

C++ is one of the best languages to code anyway, it´s blazingly fast and it doesn´t force you to program object-oriented all the time, in fact you can do what you want, e.g. using pointers to pointers, undefined arrays that are just pointers etcetcetc. Ideal for games.

BASIC and Visual Basic are 2 completely different languages, BTW.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-06-19 01:07am

fuck. ok well then ill just read my little book and do vc++ as well.

thankies.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2003-06-19 02:02am

If you know C++, VB ought to be pathetically easy to learn. Kindergarteners could learn VB.

EmperorMing · Post by **EmperorMing** » 2003-06-19 08:42am

kojikun wrote:Yes lots of windows programming is VBasic. I wanna make some games, and VBasic seems to be rather good for this. Or so I've heard. I'm going to look into VC++ tho cause c++ im familiar with.

Plus, what other programming language can you use on an ATARI?

There is a flavor of Basic out there, Dark Basic? I'm thinking of that you may want ot check out. Been used for a lot of recent games...

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-06-19 02:27pm

C++ is still somewhat immature, though - notice how many applications are still coded in C. It isn't that fast either, though compilers are getting better.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-06-19 05:29pm

Howwie, you know any languages? Which would be best for games..?

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2003-06-19 05:46pm

I knew VB and Java once. I found VB to be a pretty decent language. What sort of games do you have in mind?

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-06-19 10:05pm

classic 2D shooters (like the modern Bangaioh) maybe some 3D if I can hack together a good render engine..

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2003-06-19 11:19pm

It can be done in VB, although I wouldn't want to be the one to have to code it.

Hethrir · Post by **Hethrir** » 2003-06-20 04:56am

I hope you don't plan on using the DirectX APIs...I tried a couple of times and was left with desk imprints on my forehead.

VB is nearly a case tool. drag the buttons on a form, splash a little code in and run! I learnt VB5 and 6 at college. Try these sites. Back in 99 when i started VB 5 there were heaps of awesome VB site with tonnes of public domain code, but they all shut down for some reason

http://www.planet-source-code.com/
http://www.vbexplorer.com/VBExplorer/VBExplorer.asp

BabelHuber · Post by **BabelHuber** » 2003-06-20 11:29pm

C++ is still somewhat immature, though - notice how many applications are still coded in C. It isn't that fast either, though compilers are getting better.

But C++ has OO capabilities. While it's not the be-all-end-all like a lot of people think, it can make programming more efficent in some cases, including UI and gaming stuff.

EmperorMing · Post by **EmperorMing** » 2003-06-21 02:28am

kojikun wrote:classic 2D shooters (like the modern Bangaioh) maybe some 3D if I can hack together a good render engine..

Then you might want to consider Dark Basic.

Here: www.darkbasic.com

LordShaithis · Post by **LordShaithis** » 2003-06-24 11:28am

10 PRINT "ASS!";
20 GOTO 10

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-06-24 11:37am

GrandAdmiralPrawn wrote:10 PRINT "ASS!";
20 GOTO 10

Pity that Visual Basic does not use line numbers.

LordShaithis · Post by **LordShaithis** » 2003-06-24 04:42pm

It fucking should. DO/WHILE is for commies, godammit.......

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-06-24 07:34pm

Line numbers are stupid, and if you're learning how to program you may as well learn how to do real looping and nesting since no other languages uses it.

LordShaithis · Post by **LordShaithis** » 2003-06-25 04:41am

Noooooooooo! It's EVIL! When I take over, C++ is going to have to add line numbers! That is if someone conjures up a version for the Commodore 64, which will be the only legal computer on earth! Mwa ha ha! *slobber*

Crazy_Vasey · Post by **Crazy_Vasey** » 2003-06-25 06:31am

phongn wrote:C++ is still somewhat immature, though - notice how many applications are still coded in C. It isn't that fast either, though compilers are getting better.

C++ compilers are the devil. The error messages you get from STL code are truly, deeply frightening at times.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-06-25 01:44pm

I hear MSOC13 (e.g. VS.net) is getting pretty good. ICC sometimes barfs, tho.

Crazy_Vasey · Post by **Crazy_Vasey** » 2003-06-25 02:19pm

VS.NET 2003 is supposed to support just about everything in the C++ standard. I have no idea if they fixed the paragraph long error messages from a single typo though.

SyntaxVorlon · Post by **SyntaxVorlon** » 2003-06-25 05:06pm

There is a basic interpreter in dos I think, I have learn Visual Basic (for beginers) in 24 hours/chapters.
Or maybe it was learn Programming in 24 hours.
You'll probably be better off with C++ or C anyway.