PowerBASIC is the brand of several commercial compilers by Venice, Florida-based PowerBASIC Inc. that compile a dialect of the BASIC programming language with a syntax similar to that of QBasic and QuickBASIC. The first version was published as BASIC/Z; later it was distributed by Borland as Turbo Basic and since 1989, it has been known as PowerBASIC.^[1][2][3] A diagram of the operation of a typical multi-language, multi-target compiler. ... Venice is a city in Sarasota County, Florida, United States. ... This article is about the programming language. ... A programming language is an artificial language that can be used to control the behavior of a machine, particularly a computer. ... QBasic is an IDE and interpreter for a variant of the BASIC programming language which is based on QuickBasic. ... Microsoft QuickBASIC (also QB or sometimes, QBasic, which is also a different system) is an Integrated Development Environment (or IDE) and Compiler for the BASIC programming language that was developed by Microsoft. ... Borland Software Corporation is a software company headquartered in Austin, Texas. ... Extension for the embedded basic in the Commodore 64. ...

Characteristics

PowerBASIC is a native-code BASIC compiler, unlike some other versions of BASIC which are interpreted, and is faster than many other implementations.^[4] Unlike some other versions of BASIC, such as Visual Basic, PowerBASIC programs are self-contained and do not require runtime files to execute. In computer science, an interpreter is a computer program that executes, or performs, instructions written in a computer programming language. ... This article is about the Visual Basic language shipping with Microsoft Visual Studio 6. ...

The PowerBASIC for Windows compiler can create both GUI-based EXEs and DLLs, while PowerBASIC Console Compiler for Windows can create command line applications. Both Windows versions include an IDE with source debugger, and offer access to independent DLLs if desired. PowerBASIC Forms, a visual user interface design tool, is also available as an add-on for PowerBASIC for Windows.^[5] This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Windows redirects here. ... An integrated development environment (IDE), also known as integrated design environment and integrated debugging environment, is a programming environment that has been packaged as an application program,that assists computer programmers in developing software. ... The user interface is the part of a system exposed to users. ...

The PowerBASIC for Windows compilers are compatible with the Windows 9x series and the Windows NT series of operating systems, including Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.^[6] PowerBASIC for DOS is also available including support for versions of DOS from 3.30 onwards and includes a DOS-based IDE.^[7] Windows 9x is the family of Microsoft Windows operating systems that comprises the 32-bit, DOS-based Windows versions: Windows 95, Windows 98, and often also Windows Me. ... Windows NT (New Technology) is a family of operating systems produced by Microsoft, the first version of which was released in July 1993. ... Windows Vista is a line of graphical operating systems used on personal computers, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, Tablet PCs, and media centers. ... Windows Server 2008 is the name of the next server operating system from Microsoft. ... This article is about the family of closely related operating systems for the IBM PC compatible platform. ...

Notable language features of 32-bit compilers

• Array functions to SORT, SCAN, INSERT, DELETE, and ASSIGN
• DDT (dynamic dialog tools) to create GUI interfaces
• COM (component object model) client functions
• Communications: COM ports, UDP, TCP, EMAIL
• Dynamic pointers which don't require a pointer variable
• Extended precision floating point calculation (80-bit/18 digit)
• Graphics with optional auto-scaling
• Inline assembler, including SIMD opcodes
• MACRO engine with multi-line and function macros
• MAT (matrix) functions
• Menu statements for dynamically creating and modifying menus
• Pointers with multiple levels of indirection
• Printing to host-based ("Windows-only") printers
• Regular expressions with search/replace
• Run-Time libraries and DLLs are not required
• Threads with thread-safe support code
• User-defined types and unions

Syntax

Some of the syntax differs from other languages for statements dealing with arrays, dialogs and controls. Many of these are multi-word statements. For example, to get a result from scanning an array for a value, the syntax is:

 Array Scan a(), = 23, To i 

Where the variable "i" receives the result. In some other languages, this might be implemented as a function, for example:

 i = ArrayScan(a(), 23) 

"Hello World" program

This example program displays a messagebox saying "Hello World"

 #Compile Exe "Hello.exe" Function PBMain MsgBox "Hello World" End Function  

PowerBASIC history

• BASIC/Z for CP/M and DOS (published by System/Z, Inc.)
• Turbo Basic for DOS (published by Borland)
• PowerBASIC for DOS (published by Spectra Publishing)
• PowerBASIC for DOS (published by PowerBASIC, Inc.)
• PowerBASIC DLL Compiler (published by PowerBASIC, Inc.)
• PowerBASIC Console Compiler (published by PowerBASIC, Inc.)
• PowerBASIC for Windows Compiler (published by PowerBASIC, Inc.)

References

2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 71st day of the year (72nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• PowerBASIC official website