The fractal sample
Microsoft has released an update of its modern IDE for BASIC programming. No relation with Visual Basic, this new IDE is intended for beginners:
Microsoft Small Basic is a project that is aimed at making computer programming accessible to beginners. The project comprises a simple programming language that gathers inspiration from the original BASIC programming language; a modern and attractive programming environment; and rich, extensible libraries. Together they make programming fun for kids and adults alike Learn how to program with this simple and easy to follow 60-page tutorial.
Download and documentation
The fractal demo in action
I like this friendly IDE, it’s really simple to start with programming with such kind of tool. As you can see in the picture of the fractal code sample, the interactive help displays the function prototype (here SetPixel) when you need it. Handy!
cool… i remember Locomotive BASIC from my Amstrad CPC464 days and have been looking for something just as easy to use… gonna have to check this out
WOW! I didn’t know about it, I thought MS have only VS and Visual Basic. I have been impressed 😉
BTW VS2010 has hew language – F#
Very nice 😀
I love the “Graduate” button with a Visual Studio logo inside the screenshot 🙂
+1 for MSFT
had a play with this lastnight..its not to bad for basic apps..and it has a great import/publish function..you just put a code it and it downloads the code and displays it..
i found this http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/eu/smallbasic/thread/f88b5a73-c588-47c0-81cb-7a73c2a93782 containing alot of programs that are 25 lines or less..
i tryed a Mandelbrot set..but small basic is too slow to bother..was taking a few minuites to draw a 600*400px window!
Very good. I remember myself playing with C64 basic, Amiga basic long time ago and… BASCOM AVR more recently 😉 While not pure basic it is similar.
Another new book covering the basics: Programming From Scratch by Gary Crandall available here http://www.perfscipress.com/programming-from-scratch/