home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Loadstar 15
/
015.d81
/
r.basic-64
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
2022-08-26
|
2KB
|
125 lines
REVIEW
(BASIC-64)
Reviewed by: John E. Hautzenroeder
You have a BASIC program that you
just finished. You run it and it's
TOO S-L-O-W. For some utility type
programs, a slow program might be
tolerable, but for an arcade type
game, it can be totally BORING!! Your
only hope would be to either write it
in ML code or to buy a BASIC Compiler.
If you are like me, ML is like trying
to comprehend Greek. Luckily, there
are BASIC Compilers available that
will greatly speed up your Model-T
BASIC program.
Abacus Software, Grand Rapids, MI.
has such a BASIC Compiler (BASIC-64).
BASIC-64 can take your BASIC program
as is and compile it into a psuedo-
machine code which executes anywhere
from two to five times faster than
the original. The speed depends on
what the program is doing. BASIC-64
will also compile the BASIC program
into 6502/6510 machine code or a
faster psuedo-code, but the program
must be structured in that all
variables that must be floating-point
must be declared and all FOR-NEXT
loops must be INCREASING (with no
STEP function). The only drawback is
that a RUN TIME MODULE must be used
even with a program compiled in ML
code which prevents the novice
programmer from using the ML code by
itself. The ML code compiled-program
is longer then the psuedo-code
version. For a very long BASIC
program, this could cause an OUT-OF-
MEMORY error. However, a compiled
program does not need the BASIC ROM
in memory locations 40960-49151 which
frees up an additional 8k continous
memory for your compiled programs.
BASIC-64 can be compiled with some
BASIC extensions included in the
original program. There are some
limitations to using extensions, but
they are not serious enough to
prevent you from using them. However,
the program extension cartridge must
still be used which will prevent
others from using your program
without the same BASIC extensions.
The compiler cost $39.95 (plus
shipping and taxes) which makes
BASIC-64 a low cost alternative to
having to learn machine code.
----------< end of article >----------