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Join Date: Dec 2004
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Yes. I've written in a number of languages and QuickBASIC (NOT the same as QBASIC) is my favorite for ease of use and intuitive structure.
Originally I needed to write some assembly code for moving data to/from the screen in real time, but that was back when CPU speeds were less than one-tenth of what they are now; with the faster processors I suspect that even word processors can be written using only BASIC functions and still run smoothly.
Especially for beginning programmers, I strongly recommend getting a copy of QuickBASIC 4.5 and one of the OLD "how to program in BASIC" books. With just those two items and few free days you can produce some remarkable stand-alone programs.
Originally I needed to write some assembly code for moving data to/from the screen in real time, but that was back when CPU speeds were less than one-tenth of what they are now; with the faster processors I suspect that even word processors can be written using only BASIC functions and still run smoothly.
Especially for beginning programmers, I strongly recommend getting a copy of QuickBASIC 4.5 and one of the OLD "how to program in BASIC" books. With just those two items and few free days you can produce some remarkable stand-alone programs.
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Join Date: Aug 2005
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All Windows CDs and floppys before the Win XP version have QBasic hidden on them. Simply do a Search for QBasic -- don't forget to copy the Help files too.
The only problem I've had with running QuickBasic/QBasic on XP, is that is causes 100% CPU usage, due to some graphics management process that is activated by running QB, either version.
Very scarey to watch. :-|
The only problem I've had with running QuickBasic/QBasic on XP, is that is causes 100% CPU usage, due to some graphics management process that is activated by running QB, either version.
Very scarey to watch. :-|
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Join Date: Mar 2005
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QBasic is o.k for learning most of the modern VB code, but the help side is rubbish. Quickbasic 4.5 is better by far because of the fantastic syntax and other help. In fact in my opinion it was far better than the help you get with VB 5, which is what I use at the moment. When the compiled program is run the processor does go to 100%. I think all DOS programs have this effect when running under Windows. I don't know why. The trouble is it will cause other problems when run on a network. If your computer on the network is used to connect up a network printer for instance. If you are running your DOS program when someone tries to print through your computer they will have a very, very long wait (we are talking many hours if it prints at all). As soon as you close the DOS program the "bottleneck" is cleared and the print is done. Another problem is the 640K memory thing. When I wrote my program in Quickbasic 4.5 ten years ago just as I was about to finish it I hit the "out of memory" message. This was because the programming language plus my code was too much. Luckily you could unload some forms to get round it, but it was a real pain as lots of things were dependant on each other... Once compiled and run (so the prog. language was not using up it's 400K or so) there was no problem.
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Dundee, Scotland
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I have 5 old msdos 3.1 disks . QBASIC is on the 5th. It came with an old Win 3.1 machine from late 80's / 90's. I could send it to you..
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Join Date: Aug 2005
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The 100% usage while running QBasic under Windows XP is caused by a program that is activated to handle old 16-bit DOS programs:
NT Virtual DOS Machine - ntvdm.exe
The NTVDM process simulates a 16-bit Windows environment complete with all of the DLLs called by 16-bit Windows applications.
This program supposedly gets removed by Win XP SP2, and Qbasic won't run at all, without it.
For those who like the ease of use of old QBasic, there is a modern 32-bit version called FreeBasic.
http://www.freebasic.net/
FB is a bit tricky to install and set up, but it is about 99% compatible with old programs written in any Qbasic version. Some of my QB programs, I simply cut-N-pasted into the FreeBasic IDE and they compiled and ran with no problem.
There ARE some differences to learn with FreeBasic over QBasic, but nothing too difficult. FreeBasic is a great alternative to trying to get QB programs created and running under Windows XP.
And the great thing is, FB is a 32-bit program and WILL NOT cause 100% CPU usage ! Free & Highly recommended ! :cheesy:
NT Virtual DOS Machine - ntvdm.exe
The NTVDM process simulates a 16-bit Windows environment complete with all of the DLLs called by 16-bit Windows applications.
This program supposedly gets removed by Win XP SP2, and Qbasic won't run at all, without it.
For those who like the ease of use of old QBasic, there is a modern 32-bit version called FreeBasic.
http://www.freebasic.net/
FB is a bit tricky to install and set up, but it is about 99% compatible with old programs written in any Qbasic version. Some of my QB programs, I simply cut-N-pasted into the FreeBasic IDE and they compiled and ran with no problem.
There ARE some differences to learn with FreeBasic over QBasic, but nothing too difficult. FreeBasic is a great alternative to trying to get QB programs created and running under Windows XP.
And the great thing is, FB is a 32-bit program and WILL NOT cause 100% CPU usage ! Free & Highly recommended ! :cheesy:
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Join Date: Sep 2005
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I found in the documentation this:
********************************************
Why doesn't the QB GUI open when I start FreeBASIC ?
Where'd the blue screen go?
I double-click on fbc.exe and it doesn't open!
FreeBASIC is only a compiler, not a complete QuickBASIC clone. It is a
console mode application. It will accept a BAS file on the command line, and
spit out an EXE file.
There are a numbers of IDEs available for FreeBASIC , however. The easiest
way to get started with a full programming environment is to download the
excellent fbIDE+FreeBASIC package from This site--->
http://fbide.sourceforge.net/
*******************************************
and IT WORKS ON WINXP!!! , it seems like in the tutorial of Qbasic....
********************************************
Why doesn't the QB GUI open when I start FreeBASIC ?
Where'd the blue screen go?
I double-click on fbc.exe and it doesn't open!
FreeBASIC is only a compiler, not a complete QuickBASIC clone. It is a
console mode application. It will accept a BAS file on the command line, and
spit out an EXE file.
There are a numbers of IDEs available for FreeBASIC , however. The easiest
way to get started with a full programming environment is to download the
excellent fbIDE+FreeBASIC package from This site--->
http://fbide.sourceforge.net/
*******************************************
and IT WORKS ON WINXP!!! , it seems like in the tutorial of Qbasic....
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