I'm pretty excited about techBASIC, a direct descendent of GSoft BASIC
for the Apple IIGS.
You may remember GSoft BASIC. It was the last programming language I
wrote for the Apple IIGS. While an interpreter, it works from the ORCA
environment and has complete access to the Apple IIGS toolbox. And
it's back--to help kick off the new implementation of techBASIC, I'm
releasing the full version of GSoft BASIC free. You can download it
from the Byte Works web site at www.byteworks.us.
GSoft BASIC went through two more generations. It became a compiler
when it was moved over for use as a scripting language in MediaBlender
(www.tech4learning.com/mediablender) and AVERT (http://
www.arescorporation.com/security/).
Now it's moved to iOS, running on the iPad, iPhone and iPod under iOS
5. This version adds advanced matrix commands that Bill Gates decided
to leave out of BASIC, so most people who use BASIC don't know they
were a part of the original language. You can, for example, add or
multiply a matrix the same way you add or multiply a number, and use
functions like INV, which returns the inverse of a matrix. techBASIC
also has methods to access the accelerometer, gyroscope and
magnetometer, and can return the location and heading. Think of all of
the cool things you can do with that--I'm getting ready to fasten my
iPhone to a stunt kite to see what the G forces and rotation rates
are!
techBASIC also has some really cool graphics built in. And, since they
re created on an iOS device, you can pan, zoom and rotate the results.
There are a lot of examples at www.byteworks.us.
I know a lot of you will be glad to play with a descendent of an Apple
IIGS programming language. If you have questions, or when Lubarsky's
Law of Cybernetic Entomology gets hold, you can reach me through the
support e-mail address on the web site. If you find issues or things
you'd like to see, be sure and drop me a note. If you find things you
like, I'd sure appreciate a thoughtful review on iTunes.
The Apple II crowd is a pretty creative group. I'm really looking
forward to seeing what you guys do with this program.
Mike Westerfield
www.byteworks.us