BASIC ON MAC

[Xcoder]

Ok, I recently went through a problem when my Windows laptop died on me for no reason and a few months later the only computer I could get my hands on to replace it was a Mac Os X. My problem was that all my QB programs were lost, my collection destroyed, but worse I could no longer attempt to even program on Mac because it was a Mac and Qb cannot run on it...So I went on a vigorous hunt on ways to be able to program. I tried learning C but it didnt go to well and I downloaded Chipmunk Basic but it completly sucks so I was in a period of loss. But then one day I realized that Qbasic is a dos program and if I could get someway for my computer to emulate Dos then it would be ok. So I found Dosbox which is a cross platform Dos emulator for computers which functions and handles just like dos. So I was now able to run my Qbasic and able to sort of collect back what I lost. Then on my quest for a better way to use Basic I found a programming language called MetaL which is a Basic that functions just like Qbasic with the same exact comands on Mac and Linux, with extra commands to support advanced sound and graphics usage such as playing Mp3's/Movies. This is absolutely the modern descendant of Qbasic on Mac/Linux and runs most Qbasic programs. I think that anyone who runs a site about Qbasic should post up a guide to running Qbasic on Mac/Linux to seriously help these users and to increase the Qb community to other platforms.

[Mikrondel]

Well, there's another alternative: freebasic. This is a teriffic new community project that compiles on both Windows and UNIX. It's also very extendable and has a growing number of libraries for doing things like you suggest and more. I've never used this MetaL so I cannot really compare.

Now, your old laptop, may not be as dead as you think. (You can probably ignore this if you took it to a service place and they said it really is completely unsalvagable. But I suppose you haven't, because after this you should usually have a better idea than "died on me for no reason")
For one thing, the cause of it not running has not necessarily destroyed all of it. For example, the files on your hard disk may be completely intact. In which case it's just a matter of taking it out and extracting them through another, working, system (which a repair shop should do for you fairly quickly and cheaply). It's even possible that a replacable part has failed, in which case you can fix it and bring it back to life.


And onto programming in C ... learn how! It's my favourite language in terms of how it works. (I think it looks ugly but that's a different issue.)

I'd suggest deepening your BASIC understanding, then dabbling in C by making small but effective programs. I can provide some help with this, if you want.

For now you can have a look at my QB tutorial, notably the first section on Machine language, and the bits about expressions, and anything else that you find interesting.
www.autopack.com/aleks/host/QB_A_1.TXT

[Xcoder]

Hey, thanks a lot about the laptop thing. I'll have it looked at when I have the time to go in. Also about learning C my goal is to get good enough so that I can build my own OS but I have no idea where to start in learning it. I mean I think I have dyslexia or something when it comes to learning C. I have looked at like a dozen tutorials and usually C tutorials are either explaining something really really simple or there explaining something really really complicated, there isn't a real in the middle. By the way, on the XtoolCs C compiler that Apple sticks onto their Os would you happen to know why I write for example the hello world program and then I try to compile or run the program and the option for it would be blank? I still haven't figured it out

[Ildûrest]

"why I write for example the hello world program and then I try to compile or run the program and the option for it would be blank" -- This could mean a host of things... You'll need to be more clear. Screenshots help.

If it doesn't reckon the file's a C file, maybe you need to do some weird file type conversion. Or rename it to programname.c

A good place to start off with in C is to talk to me ^_^
One thing I'd suggest is get a trashy old computer that can hardly even run Windows, and put a low-end distro of linux on it. Then program a network program on it. (With me to walk you through, of course. Although I managed it by myself, albeit not all at once.)

Of course writing C programs anywhere else is perfectly fine, but my "method" has a lot of direct and side benefits.

Anyway, I've added you to my MSN list, so perhaps this will resolve itself outside of the forum.

[Xcoder]

Yea, I actually have a beat up old computer that can barely run with Red Hat Linux on it. I did it because my friend gave me the disks to it and I figured what the heck I won't need this. I barely even use the thing because it's linux lol I just go on it just to mess around and also I have a Mac Ubuntu live disk and I have Virtual PC on my Mac to which I run Puppy. So I guess i'll talk to you on Msn or something and i'll send you some screen shots so you can check it out

[Ildûrest]

Red hat is thinking too high. Think old skool system.

Think no GUI. Think switch it on, and you get a whole lot of cryptic text dumped, some slightly less cryptic text, and then a lovely little prompt.

Think so much text it's painful. And then think, running web servers and FTP servers on it. Sweet.

If you play with them enough, you'll soon realise that making a server of your own is not ALL that complicated. (I do mean a simple one)

Anyway, I'll try to catch you on MSN.

[Xcoder]

What distro is that and where can I find it?

[Morsul Quinthir]

an other way to go back to qbasic is Virtual PC, a MS program for mac that creates a virtual computer where you can just instal your OS, Windows Linux or wathever. Just install windows on it and than qbasic. works fine with me. It can even install an OS from *.iso