More PowerBasic or learn Python

[Sudarshan Sukhani]

Hello,

I have been working with different dialects of BASIC, ending with Powerbasic 9.03. I can easily write basic code to do whatever I want the program to accomplish.

I am a stock market trader, also use a language called EasyLanguage to code trading algos.

My question was: After many years of not actively coding in PB, I now wish to start writing code for different trading applications. These are mainly meant for my own use.

Should I stick with PB, learn more about it, or shift to a more modern language like Python (with all the learning curve associated with anything new)

Any thoughts, ideas suggestions would be welcome.

[Tim Lakinir]

Hi Sudarshan
I suggest you should do both that is continue with PB and learn up Python, one programming language isn't enough

[Sudarshan Sukhani]

Thanks, Tim. Very sensible advice. I will continue with PB and learn Python on the side.

[Mike Doty]

If it can be done in real-time to an excel spreadsheet it can be done with PowerBASIC:
I would work on getting a feed and later learn the other languages.
If it requires com then there should be some Jose Roca code.
https://www.quora.com/Is-there-any-w...-data-in-excel

[Marcel Kollenaar]

Shift to Python (with all the learning curve associated with anything new). Python is almost crossplatform so you can benefit from Windows to Linux from it.

[Knuth Konrad]

Do due needs arising, I started learning Python myself and I find it to be a mess.

Given the choice, I suggest giving VB.NET (or C# is you feel venturing off of the BASIC road) a try. The whole Visual Studio is free (Community edition). Add ASP.NET to the mix, try to keep your code .NET Core compatible and your programs (and web stuff) will run on Windows and Linux without modifications.

[Mike Doty]

From Sudarshan Sukhani
Hello,
I have been working with different dialects of BASIC, ending with Powerbasic 9.03. I can easily write basic code to do whatever I want the program to accomplish.
I am a stock market trader, also use a language called EasyLanguage to code trading algos.
My question was: After many years of not actively coding in PB, I now wish to start writing code for different trading applications. These are mainly meant for my own use.
Should I stick with PB, learn more about it, or shift to a more modern language like Python (with all the learning curve associated with anything new)
Any thoughts, ideas suggestions would be welcome.

Noticed this is written in C and has examples for VB and VB.NET so headers can be created (if not already available.)
Might also startup in VB6 or VB.NET and call this or something like this and your PB code compiled into a DLL
If you stick with PB your new code can be compiled into a DLL for use with other languages (consider adjustments for C callers.)
https://www.fmlabs.com/products.htm
https://www.fmlabs.com/toolkitfaq.htm#Q6

[Shawn Anderson]

I make my living writing single page web apps and use PB for all the back end stuff. PBCC is an incredibly powerful programming tool. The only limitation is that I have to use a Windows web server but really that's not a big deal. Did you know Python and PB came out in the same year (1989)? I also do a fair amount of work in Py when I need to but prefer PB.

[Paul Dixon]

I just started Python programming.
Python is so slow!

[Dale Yarker]

Python is so slow!

Compared to other interpreters???

[George Bleck]

Shift to Python (with all the learning curve associated with anything new). Python is almost crossplatform so you can benefit from Windows to Linux from it.

Since this is a website SUPPORTED AND RUN BY THE OWNER of PowerBASIC I doubt they would approve of this message and expect it might run afoul (indirectly) of the NO-SPAM forum rules.

Personally, using BOTH languages extensively, I find PowerBASIC much FASTER and EASIER to use.

[Tim Lakinir]

Hi George
How do you use Python program to call a PB dll ? It would be interesting to do that as you will have existing pb programs
and converting it to python can be time consuming

[Dale Yarker]

What does ability to call (procedures in) a DLL have to do with an existing program? Just use the existing program. Are the procedures in the existing program EXPORTed? (probably not)

If the object is to run in a different operating system then converting (rewrite in another language) will be required anyway.

[George Bleck]

Simple example...

PB v10.04 Code

#COMPILE DLL "PB_PY.dll"
#INCLUDE "Win32API.inc"

'----------------------------------------------------------------------------(')

SUB MLMB( BYREF v_strzText AS WSTRINGZ ) EXPORT
	LOCAL v_strTemp AS WSTRING
	v_strTemp = v_strzText
	REPLACE "|" WITH $CRLF IN v_strTemp
	MESSAGEBOX %HWND_DESKTOP,( v_strTemp ), "Message", %MB_OK
END SUB

'----------------------------------------------------------------------------(')

FUNCTION LIBMAIN( _
				BYVAL hInstance AS DWORD, _
				BYVAL lReason AS LONG, _
				BYVAL lReserved AS LONG ) AS LONG
	SELECT CASE AS LONG lReason
		CASE %DLL_PROCESS_ATTACH
			LIBMAIN = 1
			EXIT FUNCTION
		CASE %DLL_PROCESS_DETACH
			EXIT FUNCTION
		CASE %DLL_THREAD_ATTACH
			EXIT FUNCTION
		CASE %DLL_THREAD_DETACH
			EXIT FUNCTION
	END SELECT
END FUNCTION

Python 32bit v3.8.5

from ctypes import *
pblib = CDLL('Drive:/Path/To/Dll/PB_PY.dll')
pblib.MLMB('Hello|World')

[David Roberts]

I thought that I had landed at the wrong forum. 193 active members and the last newest member joining over three months ago and here we are talking about Linux and Python in the Programming forum.

"Shift to Python" writes a member who has managed to knock out 10 posts in 12 years. If Bob was still around 11 posts would be an impossibility.

Maybe Adam Drake is on holiday.

[Tim Lakinir]

Thank you George
Python's coding has such a small footprint

I wonder if we can use a Python 64bit to call a PB dll ?
I think shelling a PB exe program is feasible but not calling a PB dll

[Knuth Konrad]

I tried Python, but backed away from it. The lack of any meaningfull strong data typing is something I don't want to deal with again. I'm refocusing my learning to the .NET set of tools, especially since MS is pushing .NET Core hard lately, along with ASP.NET Core and PowerShell Core.

The reason for chosing a language like Python would have been it's OS independence, i.e. being able to code for Linux environments, too. But given the above, one can stay within a familiar environemnt and still have that benefit.

[George Bleck]

Python's coding has such a small footprint

I wonder if we can use a Python 64bit to call a PB dll ?
I think shelling a PB exe program is feasible but not calling a PB dll

PB Syntax is just as small, to call the same DLL from a PB Program is...

DECLARE SUB MLMB LIB "PB_PY.DLL" ALIAS "MLMB" ( BYREF v_strzText AS WSTRINGZ )
MLMB "Hello|World"

As for (ANY) 32bit DLL from 64bit Python Script... NO (Windows Limitation, not PB or Python)

[Stuart McLachlan]

Python's coding has such a small footprint

Small if you ignore the files you need to have installed to run a python script.

[Michael Mattias]

IMNSHO you should only invest in learning a new language if you plan on becoming a professional programmer.

Because, in your own words, "I can easily write basic code to do whatever I want the program to accomplish."

Um, that and make one extra backup of your PB compiler installation!

You can reconsider at such time as you can no longer easily write the programs you need.