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Revival - What programming languages do we need?

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Author

What programming languages do we need?

snout

msx legend
Posts: 4991
Posted: January 19 2003, 12:13   
Ok, one of the nice things of the old MSX system is that it is relatively easy to code for. I was wondering... do we still need BASIC (I think so), do we need PASCAL or C or C++? Do we need ASM (is it useful in the Linux environment?). I'd like to know how you feel about this.
GuyveR800
msx guru
Posts: 3048
Posted: January 19 2003, 12:34   
A BASIC is a necessity. But preferably an upgraded version, more like QBASIC (which also still allows linenumbers by the way). But, it should be 100% compatible with current MSX-BASIC programs, or at least come with a convertor.



Also, C++ is needed, because it's the most used Object Oriented programming language today (correct me if I'm wrong). But being a computer able to run Linux, the new MSX already has GCC to its disposal, allowing it to compile C, C++, Java, Pascal and (^^ Ada.



Assembler language is really needed, you really can't live without it. The ARM CPU with its assembly language which is soo nice and easy to understand (Thumb-mode is very much like Z80, and ARM-mode is just heaven ^_^) there's really no reason not to support it. It's not a MIPS architecture which are more painful to program.



Whether ASM is useful in Linux, well... It's useful for optimizing certain routines, but again.. Who says you have to run Linux? You don't have to run MSX-DOS on your current MSX either.
konamiman
msx freak
Posts: 132
Posted: January 19 2003, 13:32   
Quote:

A BASIC is a necessity. But preferably an upgraded version, more like QBASIC





I agree. Even if it is exactly same as MSX-BASIC, if it is compiled and overrides the 23K memory limit, it would be really great for simple game and applications development.



But what we really need is a C compiler (C++ is not estrictly necessary, I think) adapted to the MSX memory model. For example using 32 bit memory addresses, being the lowest two bytes a reference to the memory address, and the two upper bytes encoding the slot and segment number (of course this idea would need some workaround, for example what happens with memory addresses in the range #4000-#FFFF).



And of course, it should have a development environment in the Compass style!



Quote:

Assembler language is really needed, you really can't live without it.





This is always true, but even more in the case of MSX computers, in which optimization is critical.
GuyveR800
msx guru
Posts: 3048
Posted: January 19 2003, 13:38   
Quote:

But what we really need is a C compiler (C++ is not estrictly necessary, I think) adapted to the MSX memory model. For example using 32 bit memory addresses, being the lowest two bytes a reference to the memory address, and the two upper bytes encoding the slot and segment number (of course this idea would need some workaround, for example what happens with memory addresses in the range #4000-#FFFF).





I think Eric Boon was working on a C compiler that did this, or at least was playing with the idea.
DarQ
msx professional
Posts: 836
Posted: January 19 2003, 15:15   
well, you guys already mentioned all the required coding lang. Java would only be needed for internet programming. Java is for the rest a very slow lang and should not be used for purposes that have nothing to do with applets and internet.



I have programmed that lame lang for a while and it disgusts me. But for the internet, it ROCKS!
chaos
msx addict
Posts: 276
Posted: January 19 2003, 19:42   
I'd like to see some kind of object oriented version of (MSX) Basic.

Maybe with some nice libraries included, which will make the programming easier.



Java is also welcome


GuyveR800
msx guru
Posts: 3048
Posted: January 19 2003, 20:33   
You don't.... don't mean.... please no... you don't mean VISUAL BASIC do you?



hehehe, actually I have no clue if it's really as bad as people say it is.. Last time I tried (VB5) I couldn't get anything done but lame window-tricks...
DarQ
msx professional
Posts: 836
Posted: January 19 2003, 21:30   
VB is the lamest coding lang ever!!! Believe me, i have quite a few years exp with the garbage! The only good purpose is RAD (rapid application development)



If youre in need of a small app that you need real soon then VB can be used.
chaos
msx addict
Posts: 276
Posted: January 19 2003, 22:00   
I did not mean VB at all.. Yug.. the idea



nah.. I was thinking about MSX basic, but since OO seems to be the future, and "goto, gosub etc" are -not done- anymore I came up with some kind of OO MSX Basic.



I've heard about blitzbasic, don't know the details, but it seems to be interesting, and sort of OO iirc.




chaos
msx addict
Posts: 276
Posted: January 19 2003, 22:02   
Quote:

I've heard about blitzbasic, don't know the details, but it seems to be interesting, and sort of OO iirc.








Here's a link:

http://www.blitzbasic.com/
snout

msx legend
Posts: 4991
Posted: January 19 2003, 22:16   
Blitz basic looks really impressive! I don't mind the one-chip BASIC as easy and powerful as blitz
Latok
msx master
Posts: 1727
Posted: January 20 2003, 20:08   
/me wants LOGO!!
snout

msx legend
Posts: 4991
Posted: January 27 2003, 10:23   
How about JAVA?
sjoerd
msx addict
Posts: 449
Posted: January 27 2003, 16:53   
I will use C++ and ASM. Maybe Basic to get something done fast. The new msx webbrowser should support java, but that's about it.
DarQ
msx professional
Posts: 836
Posted: January 28 2003, 16:59   
sure, we need java! So we can use JavaMSX to emulate the MSX1 !! tstsheheh
 
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