Introduction
BBC BASIC for Windows (BB4W) is a new take on a language that has been around since the very early days of home computing. Originally designed as an educational programming platform, the BBC (yes, the establishment more closely associated with broadcasting) was an inexpensive computer created around the 8-bit 6502 processor.
The acronym BASIC stands for Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code, of which the important components are 'Beginners' and 'All-purpose'. BASIC is designed to be easy and flexible.
The original BBC BASIC was also interpreted and restrictive, in that the platform supported neither compilation or extended functionality such as loadable libraries. In addition, the operating system was a simple command line affair, meaning that any WIMP (Windows Icon Mouse Pointer) shell had to be built on top of it, rather like early DOS bolt-on shells such as Norton Commander.
Assembler, however, was supported, which made game programming and high-end computing possible. For it's time, it was a sophisticated machine, and the key to that sophistication lay largely in the power of BBC BASIC to bring hobby programming to the masses.
What is BBC BASIC for Windows?
BB4W is a quiet revolution in programming. Those who have discovered it almost unanimously endorse it. Ex-BBC BASIC hobby (bedroom) programmers will find that it is rather like slipping into an old pair of slippers and then finding that they have been given jet engines and wheels on the bottom, but remain familiar, yet more useful.
The fact is that, unlike other 'ports' of languages, BB4W re-invents BBC BASIC to the extent that it is an 'up-teched' version of it's former self. For a start, it makes Windows programming a breeze, and part of that is thanks to the excellent programming environment and documentation.
It's also been powered up by the additional of loadable libraries, allowing anyone to extend the BBC BASIC language. On top of that, it's been given a compiler, to build very compact native Windows executables. In short, it's a revolution for home, hobby, and bedroom programmers.
Alternative #1 : BBC Emulators
BB4W is not an emulator. It will not 'run' old games that the user has knocking about in their attic. Neither will it support the various emulator formatted ROM copies.
Emulators are great if that is what the user wants to do. However, they are entirely restricted to the capabilities of the original machine and language. They share the same constraints, and are usually less efficient than the systems they're trying to emulate.
Alternative #2 : BBC Interpreters
Neither is BB4W an interpreter. An interpreter is also constrained by the original language definition, and is much less efficient than a compiled language.
However, BB4W does include an 'immediate' mode, which acts like an interpreter. This can be useful to check programming nuggets along side the main program. It's a feature that, as a programmer, I would really like to have in my next C environment.
The immediate mode is like having a restricted environment in which the programmer can test bits and pieces of code in an interactive fashion, without having to build an entire program around them. The code can then be cut'n'pasted back into the main development window.
Why BBC BASIC for Windows?
BB4W is perfect for beginning programmers, those familiar with BBC BASIC (obviously), and those involved in Rapid Application Development and prototyping. Anyone can get started, and become proficient programmers faster than with a traditional language such as C.
Windows development becomes very easy, and BB4W can be deployed as a programming language without being worried about the constraints of the original environment. It is, however, faithfully represented (and extended), to ease porting of existing programs and help reuse of all those old BBC BASIC books that many hobby coders have in their garages.
Why not BBC BASIC for Windows?
Despite its obvious power, BB4W is not in danger of being accepted as a heavyweight commercial programming environment. It has too much of the hobbyist in it for that. Put another way, commercial investment in C, C++, and Java means that, for the time being, BB4W is likely to remain in the shadows.
It is also not so good for high performance programming, such as video games and simulations. This is not so much that the language is incapable of standing alongside others (such as C/C++), but more that the proficiency required to equal the efficiency of C/C++ in BBC BASIC is that much higher.
Conclusion
BB4W has a free edition (here), so there is nothing to stop the budding programmer taking it for a spin. As an exercise in getting started with Windows programming (and programming in general) BB4W is as good an introduction as one will ever get. The tutorials help, of course, even if the language itself is remarkably easy to pick up.
Guy Lecky-Thompson - Guy W. Lecky-Thompson is the author of several technical and non-technical books, and writer at large. He has written for Dr. Dobbs ...
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