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JosephusMinimus

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Apr 16, 2011, 8:21 am

I've never written a program but I'd like to try learn how to write simple ones and use them. I see these codes posted by JadeLottery, RL and others on the threads and I have no idea how to make any use of them or run them on my computer.

I know just enough to create macros to do some of what I want to do on EXCEL and text editors.

What software do I need to acquire to run the codes you post here? What software do you recommend for a beginner to learn to write code to analyze, compile and whatever else it is you do?

Are there elementary books you'd recommend?
JosephusMinimus

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Apr 16, 2011, 8:57 am

I should probably add that I thought I could figure this out on my own, which is how I usually do things. But the more I've read on the recent threads about how people learned to program, what they use for compiling, what programs they used when they were learning and what they try to do now the more clear it becomes to me that I'd save myself a lot of effort by asking directly for advice from people who know what they're talking about.
garyo1954

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Apr 16, 2011, 11:53 am

Quote: Originally posted by JosephusMinimus on Apr 16, 2011
I should probably add that I thought I could figure this out on my own, which is how I usually do things. But the more I've read on the recent threads about how people learned to program, what they use for compiling, what programs they used when they were learning and what they try to do now the more clear it becomes to me that I'd save myself a lot of effort by asking directly for advice from people who know what they're talking about.

Josephus,

Download QB64. It's a 32/64 bit version of the original BASIC reworked by an internet poster named Galleon. It will run on XP/VISTA/Win7.

The home page will point you to the forums where you can download it and the wiki documentation. Almost all the original BASIC language has been implemented.

It looks and performs the same as QB4.5 or QBASIC 7.1, which you could still get. But don't bother. You would have to install a program called DOSBOX to run those. Not worth it.
JosephusMinimus

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Apr 16, 2011, 12:47 pm

Quote: Originally posted by garyo1954 on Apr 16, 2011
Josephus,

Download QB64. It's a 32/64 bit version of the original BASIC reworked by an internet poster named Galleon. It will run on XP/VISTA/Win7.

The home page will point you to the forums where you can download it and the wiki documentation. Almost all the original BASIC language has been implemented.

It looks and performs the same as QB4.5 or QBASIC 7.1, which you could still get. But don't bother. You would have to install a program called DOSBOX to run those. Not worth it.

Thanks Gary. I'll do it.
Ramijami

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Apr 16, 2011, 3:26 pm

Josephus,

I use JustBasic, found it to be the easiest to learn, very good tutorial to get you started, and extremely helpful members in the forum should you have any programming specific related queries.....you can google justbasic.
time*treat

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Apr 16, 2011, 3:33 pm

If you are writing macros, you are already programming in a flavor of BASIC.

There are a number of other languages that have come along since then -- the differences being their ease of use and best purposes.

There's plenty of free example code online, for you to see which language(s) you prefer.

When you are ready to move on to books, I'd start with "Learn ___ in 24 Hours" or "Learn ___ in 21 Days".

If you go with an edition older than the current one, you can also save a buck or two.

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JADELottery

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Apr 16, 2011, 4:00 pm

QuickBASIC is a good place to start.

It's what I use to do my first programming.

But, if you have Windows, it may be better to go with Visual Basic.

You can download the free version at http://www.microsoft.com/express/Downloads/#2010-Visual-Basic

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JosephusMinimus

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Apr 16, 2011, 4:22 pm

Ramijami, Time*treat and JadeLottery: Thanks to all of you. I just spent 2 hours downloading QB as per Gary's suggestion [dialup and 23 mg download]. I haven't loaded it yet so I don't know if it came through uncorrupted. Long downloads and a lousy phone line here have a way of getting corrupted on a windy or wet day.

[Probably not the fault of the phone company - one night I shot the phone line in two by accident running off cows gathered around the house. Spliced it back together with 12/2 Romax and electrical tape and it's never been quite the same.]

I'll probably try all your suggestions and especially thanks for mentioning the book titles.
JosephusMinimus

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Apr 16, 2011, 4:46 pm

QB 64 loaded fine. Reminds me of looking at an old MSDOS startup screen. I'm going to copy/paste the wheel program JadeLottery posted on his thread into it and see what happens.

I feel like a kid with a new toy. Thanks a bunch, all of you.
jimmy4164

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Apr 17, 2011, 12:31 am

Quote: Originally posted by JosephusMinimus on Apr 16, 2011
I should probably add that I thought I could figure this out on my own, which is how I usually do things. But the more I've read on the recent threads about how people learned to program, what they use for compiling, what programs they used when they were learning and what they try to do now the more clear it becomes to me that I'd save myself a lot of effort by asking directly for advice from people who know what they're talking about.

For a beginner, I would second Ramijami's motion for JustBasic.

It runs under Windows independent of DOS/CMD considerations, and they make it very easy to output graphs and charts.

http://www.justbasic.com

Have fun!
LANTERN

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Apr 17, 2011, 2:19 pm

Quote: Originally posted by JosephusMinimus on Apr 16, 2011
I've never written a program but I'd like to try learn how to write simple ones and use them. I see these codes posted by JadeLottery, RL and others on the threads and I have no idea how to make any use of them or run them on my computer.

I know just enough to create macros to do some of what I want to do on EXCEL and text editors.

What software do I need to acquire to run the codes you post here? What software do you recommend for a beginner to learn to write code to analyze, compile and whatever else it is you do?

Are there elementary books you'd recommend?

Why don't you take a good look at my blog, I wrote some beginners stuff there, I know next to nothing about BASIC, but after reading and posting about it for a few short days I just finished making this, the download link is only good for 7 days:

http://wikisend.com/download/601206/Fernando%27sCalculator1.00.exe

That is very old basic like it was used on the Altair's computers, those computers that were bigger than a refrigerator, but is the same old basic as also used on the Commodore 64 and the Vic 20 and other Pcs of the 80s, it still works just as it did back then.

I only used a few BASIC commands, you would do well to first learn Commodore Basic and then from there move on to GW Basic, which can do a hell of a lot more, once there that is more than enough really, but you could then move on to Quick Basic and then to Visual Basic if you wanted to, but I believe that GW Basic might be more than good enough if you are good at it.

You know, some programmers are not so good.

I just began to learn this week, I have had a few hours of instruction, I teach myself, reading from texts.

-------------------------

I quit making the BASIC tutorial due to lack of interest from people, but a good portion is already there, on my blog.

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JosephusMinimus

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Apr 17, 2011, 3:16 pm

Quote: Originally posted by LANTERN on Apr 17, 2011
Why don't you take a good look at my blog, I wrote some beginners stuff there, I know next to nothing about BASIC, but after reading and posting about it for a few short days I just finished making this, the download link is only good for 7 days:

http://wikisend.com/download/601206/Fernando%27sCalculator1.00.exe

That is very old basic like it was used on the Altair's computers, those computers that were bigger than a refrigerator, but is the same old basic as also used on the Commodore 64 and the Vic 20 and other Pcs of the 80s, it still works just as it did back then.

I only used a few BASIC commands, you would do well to first learn Commodore Basic and then from there move on to GW Basic, which can do a hell of a lot more, once there that is more than enough really, but you could then move on to Quick Basic and then to Visual Basic if you wanted to, but I believe that GW Basic might be more than good enough if you are good at it.

You know, some programmers are not so good.

I just began to learn this week, I have had a few hours of instruction, I teach myself, reading from texts.

-------------------------

I quit making the BASIC tutorial due to lack of interest from people, but a good portion is already there, on my blog.

Thanks a bunch Lantern. Good to see you posting. I haven't noticed any posts by you for a while.

I'll do the download.

But I'm also figuring to download the others people suggested. I got the QB 64 but haven't set the world on fire with it yet. Shortly after I successfully downloaded it I decided to take another shot downloading Expert Lotto and it came through uncorrupted also, so I'll probably play around with it some before I try writing programs.

I noticed a few minutes ago the electrical tape wrapped around my phone line is coming unwrapped and hanging down a few feet blowing in the wind [anecdote about the circumstances of my shooting it in two somewhere above]. Maybe after I re-tape it downloading will go better.

Thanks again for the suggestions.
RL-RANDOMLOGIC

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Apr 17, 2011, 4:22 pm

Quote: Originally posted by JosephusMinimus on Apr 16, 2011
I've never written a program but I'd like to try learn how to write simple ones and use them. I see these codes posted by JadeLottery, RL and others on the threads and I have no idea how to make any use of them or run them on my computer.

I know just enough to create macros to do some of what I want to do on EXCEL and text editors.

What software do I need to acquire to run the codes you post here? What software do you recommend for a beginner to learn to write code to analyze, compile and whatever else it is you do?

Are there elementary books you'd recommend?

Josephus

When using QB64 the first thing to do is set the display size. Click "options" then "display" then set the width and

hight to set the size of the IDE window. I set mine to Width =140 Hight = 46

COPY AND PASTE THIS CODE INTO THE PROGRAM AND CLICK "RUN" THEN CLICK "MAKE EXE ONLY"

YOU NOW HAVE YOUR FIRST qb64 PROGRAM

SCREEN _NEWIMAGE(960, 648, 256): 'SET PROGRAM WINDOW SIZE IN PIXELS
_TITLE "MY FIRST PROGRAM IN QB64" 'ADD A TITLE
COLOR 79, 79 'SET FORGROUND BACKGROUND COLOR
CLS 'CLEAR SCREEN
COLOR 0, 79 'SET COLOR TO PRINT BLACK TEXT ON LIGHT BLUE BACKGROUND
LOCATE 1, 2: PRINT "HELLO WORLD" ' PRINT HELLO ON LINE 1 SECOND CHARACTER

LOCATE 2, 2: PRINT "PRESS Q TO EXIT"

DO 'LOOP UNTIL Q KEY IS PRESSED

_LIMIT 200 'CONTROLS THE LOOPS PER SECOND TO TAKE LOAD OFF CPU

CMD1$ = RIGHT$(INKEY$, 1) 'LOAD KEYPRESS INTO STRING VARIBLE CMD1$
CMD1$ = UCASE$(CMD1$) 'CHANGE KEY TO UPPER CASE
IF CMD1$ = "Q" THEN EXIT DO 'EXITS DO / LOOP WHEN Q OR q IS PRESSED
LOOP

SYSTEM ' EXITS PROGRAM
RL-RANDOMLOGIC

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Apr 17, 2011, 4:35 pm

Same code without annotation

SCREEN _NEWIMAGE(960, 648, 256):
_TITLE "MY FIRST PROGRAM IN QB64"

COLOR 79, 79
CLS
COLOR 0, 79
LOCATE 1, 2: PRINT "HELLO"
LOCATE 2, 2: PRINT "PRESS Q TO EXIT"

DO
_LIMIT 200
CMD1$ = RIGHT$(INKEY$, 1)
CMD1$ = UCASE$(CMD1$)
IF CMD1$ = "Q" THEN EXIT DO
LOOP

SYSTEM

RL
RL-RANDOMLOGIC

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Apr 17, 2011, 4:50 pm

another quick program to calculate the sq-root of a number

SCREEN _NEWIMAGE(960, 648, 256):
_TITLE "MY FIRST PROGRAM IN QB64"
COLOR 79, 79

CALCSQR:
CLS
COLOR 0, 79
LOCATE 1, 2: INPUT "ENTER NUMBER TO CALCULATE SQ-ROOT ", SQROOT
LOCATE 2, 2: PRINT "THE SQUARE ROOT OF"; SQROOT; "="; SQROOT ^ .5

LOCATE 4, 2: PRINT "PRESS (E) TO EXIT OR (N) FOR NEXT "
DO
_LIMIT 200
CMD1$ = RIGHT$(INKEY$, 1)
CMD1$ = UCASE$(CMD1$)
IF CMD1$ = "E" THEN EXIT DO
IF CMD1$ = "N" THEN GOTO CALCSQR
LOOP
SYSTEM ' EXITS PROGRAM