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This forum run by PowerBASIC is the best programming resource on the internet, period. However, is it meant to replace any sort of tutorials, walkthroughs, and code design documentation that should come with the compiler? (Beyond the few short subject specific sections in the documentation already.)
The reason I ask this is that it appears as though many (not all!) of the “wishlist” ideas that continually appear on this forum are due to a misunderstanding about how to program in PowerBASIC. The greater programming world outside of PowerBASIC is very different from PowerBASIC. And as most programmers come to PowerBASIC after working with other languages and techniques, they often appear to misunderstand some basic concepts of how to use the language as most effectively and efficiently as possible. It appears as though they approach their PowerBASIC applications the same way they would approach their “native” programming language.
If PowerBASIC doesn’t make a bigger distinction of these differences, then they will be forced by the market to follow the general programming trends whether good or bad. I have always seen PowerBASIC as a language that tried to stay away from the “bad” of modern trends while adopting the “good”.
Thus... I strongly suggest that PowerBASIC expands it’s documentation to cover all aspects of programming in PowerBASIC. This would be most effectively done in a book with the title “PowerBASIC in 21 days”, or “PowerBASIC for the know-not”. This book should start with PowerBASIC programming concepts, then move into DDT concepts, then some advanced API SDK concepts, and then finally some good up to date AMS concepts for within PowerBASIC. The entire book should be PowerBASIC specific. i.e. not for c or c++!
I believe that this would be the best thing for the PowerBASIC community and would make life for the newcomers much easier, and much more inviting. This would also help people understand that PowerBASIC is not just another version of BASIC, it is in it’s own league and can not be directly compared to other languages. Bringing us back to the first point then of programmers recognizing that you must approach a PowerBASIC application in a totally different manor than you would for any other language.
PS: If PB doesn’t do this themselves, I think I’ll make some money off such a book myself! (Still a half starving student with initiative to eat!)
Just my 2 cents in response to my limited view of the world,
Colin Schmidt
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Colin Schmidt & James Duffy, Praxis Enterprises, Canada
[email protected]
The reason I ask this is that it appears as though many (not all!) of the “wishlist” ideas that continually appear on this forum are due to a misunderstanding about how to program in PowerBASIC. The greater programming world outside of PowerBASIC is very different from PowerBASIC. And as most programmers come to PowerBASIC after working with other languages and techniques, they often appear to misunderstand some basic concepts of how to use the language as most effectively and efficiently as possible. It appears as though they approach their PowerBASIC applications the same way they would approach their “native” programming language.
If PowerBASIC doesn’t make a bigger distinction of these differences, then they will be forced by the market to follow the general programming trends whether good or bad. I have always seen PowerBASIC as a language that tried to stay away from the “bad” of modern trends while adopting the “good”.
Thus... I strongly suggest that PowerBASIC expands it’s documentation to cover all aspects of programming in PowerBASIC. This would be most effectively done in a book with the title “PowerBASIC in 21 days”, or “PowerBASIC for the know-not”. This book should start with PowerBASIC programming concepts, then move into DDT concepts, then some advanced API SDK concepts, and then finally some good up to date AMS concepts for within PowerBASIC. The entire book should be PowerBASIC specific. i.e. not for c or c++!
I believe that this would be the best thing for the PowerBASIC community and would make life for the newcomers much easier, and much more inviting. This would also help people understand that PowerBASIC is not just another version of BASIC, it is in it’s own league and can not be directly compared to other languages. Bringing us back to the first point then of programmers recognizing that you must approach a PowerBASIC application in a totally different manor than you would for any other language.
PS: If PB doesn’t do this themselves, I think I’ll make some money off such a book myself! (Still a half starving student with initiative to eat!)
Just my 2 cents in response to my limited view of the world,
Colin Schmidt
------------------
Colin Schmidt & James Duffy, Praxis Enterprises, Canada
[email protected]
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