Re: VB 6 compilation on Linux for execution on Windows and Linux

On Thu, 12 Apr 2007 20:18:28 GMT, mayayana wrote:

I'm finding these comparisons quite interesting.
I've never even heard of XBasic. If you, or someone,
cares to take the time, it would be interesting to
hear a more detailed comparison of differences.
I'm especially interested easy API usage and in
avoiding java/dotnet style OO coding. (Though I
suppose that aspect probably gets more prevalent
with cross-platform coding, since the APIs wouldn't
be directly usable.)


XBasic is at http://www.xbasic.org/
It was originally written by Max Reason (with QB as I recall) and creates
fast .exe's but still requires a runtime module. I includes a GUI designer
and isn't a huge step from VB as much of the language is reminiscent of QB.
For the most part the applications created by XBasic have a fairly distinct
look, I think it uses it's own embedded fonts and such for the screens and
labels. It is free and complete though and has great community support. You
should be aware though that calling a WIN32API function does immediately
make the result windows only. XBasic does include compiler directives that
inform the compiler that compile this way for Windows and the other way for
Linux, but if you do something that is Windows API, then you also need to
do that for the Linux libs otherwise it will not be cross platform.

Another really interesting point about XB is that it is actually written in
XB, so once you know the language you can change it or add to it as you see
fit. At one time this was the true measure of a compiler in that the
compiler can actually compile itself. I have no idea who decided to measure
compilers this way, personally for me, if it works, that's good enough for
me.

Really the only way to get a feel for this animal is to download it and try
it. Try some tutorials and read the docs, you should be off. It's been a
long time since I've played with XBasic, but it seemed none too difficult
at the time for me.

Have fun.

--
HK
.

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