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OS/2 Shareware BBS: 10 Tools
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BROCHURE
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1997-05-19
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***********************
* Product Description *
***********************
Portability
-----------
OmniBasic is currently available for Linux, MS-DOS, OS/2, OS-9000, OS9/68000,
and OS9/68020. Other ports are in the works including WinNT/95. OmniBasic
source code written for any of these may be compiled and run on any or all of
them without modification making it the ONLY truly portable BASIC compiler
in the world!
Simplicity
----------
OmniBasic is a structured dialect of BASIC which is inherently easier to
learn and use than C.
Structure
---------
OmniBasic incorporates Pascal style control structures including:
IF/THEN/ELSE/IENDIF
WHILE/DO/ENDWHILE
REPEAT/UNTIL
LOOP/EXITIF/ENDLOOP
FOR/TO/NEXT
Power
-----
In addition to the features of an extended BASIC, OmniBasic has the advanced
features normally associated with systems languages such as C and some
features unique to OmniBasic. These include:
Pointers
Dynamic Memory Allocation
Vectors( Based Variables)
C Function Compatibility
Command Line Interface
Stream I/O
Features
--------
The features of the compiler are what you would expect in an advanced systems
program language and include:
Macros
Conditional Compile
Use (include)
Named Labels
Named Variables
Named Constants
User-Defined Data Types
User-Defined Functions
Built-In Functions
Intermixed C Code
Accurate Error Reporting
Data Types
----------
Full string capability including all the standard string functions and
operators is included in the language. All of the listed data types may also
be declared as one, two or three dimensional arrays. Data types include:
Byte
Short
Long
Real
String
Boolean
User-Defined
Full Spectrum Usage
-------------------
OmniBasic is well suited for usage in a wide range of environments running
the gamut from I/O drivers to systems to utilities to applications. OmniBasic
is a higher level language than C but includes all the handles and features
to perform lower level tasks as well. OmniBasic is written in OmniBasic!
Easy To Learn
-------------
There is no need to learn all of advanced features in order to write useful
programs right away. You can start out with a basic BASIC program and move
into the advanced features as your learning progresses. Even the advanced
features which often parallel similar features in C are much easier to learn
and use than the corresponding features in C.
Based Variables
---------------
Vectors (based variables) are a powerful feature of OmniBasic and essentially
allow the programmer to treat data in a dynamically declared memory buffer as
if they were ordinary variables instead of being forced into pointer notation
as in C. Pointers may also be used if you prefer. Vectors may also be used to
refer to ordinary variables as a different type.
Macros
------
Macros allow the programmer to define complex operations in a manner similar
to a function but with the performance of in-line code. Macros can also be
used to modularize code. Macros may be used to effectively extend the
language.
Readability
-----------
Many programmers overlook the importance of readability until they have to
look at code they wrote 6 months ago or train another person to take over the
project. With the named labels, named variables, named constants and the near
English syntax of the language, the clarity is inherently there. Of course
you can be as generous as you wish in adding comments throughout the program
with no penalty in execution speed or code size.
Performance
-----------
OmniBasic compiles your BASIC program to C, calls the C compiler for you
resulting in a free standing executable with the same performance as a
comparable program written in C. You can benchmark OmniBasic against any
BASIC or C!
Test Drive It
-------------
You can experience the performance and utility of OmniBasic at no risk by
requesting a fully functional free demo. These are available for all
operating systems supported and may be obtained by downloading from various
ftp sites, or on a diskette through the mail. The demo versions are identical
to the purchased versions except for a limited symbol table size (which in
turn limits program size).
There You Have it
-----------------
The Simplicity of Basic...
The Structure of Pascal...
The Power of C...
OmniBasic
Call, Write, or Email
Computer Design Lab
Hwy 94 at Bluffton
Rhineland, MO 65069
(573) 236-4644
mlsmith@vax2.rainis.net
CompuServe: 72762,3375