CompuServe Messages

Mike, If I can step in here. You're quite right. Unfortunately, many don't realize that there are some alternatives to AmigaBasic which are much better. In particular I like HiSoft Basic, which is essentially compatible with AmigaBasic yet offers many nice extensions, especially in control statements. F-Basic is quite interesting, also. It is less a traditional Basic than is HiSoft or Amigabasic, yet provides outstanding string manipulation, a RECORD structure like Pascal, heavy typing, global and local subroutines, etc. It is also the fastest compiled language around for single precision math. F-Basic uses an extended single precision real which provides greater accuracy than that of other Basics yet is extremely quick, faster than C for a single precision real. It also offers double precision reals which are also much faster than other Basics. Lastly, there's GFA Basic, which apparently will disappear soon, according to Betty. GFA is also an extended Basic with many features far beyond that of mortal Basics! Unfortunately, it often suffers from reliability problems. An add-on product for Basic, Extend by SunSmile Software, provides access to gadgets, requestors, etc. It is a nice product, well thought out with a simple interface and works as a shared library. I think that Basic on the Amiga can do many things, one just needs to find the right one, and AmigaBasic isn't the best available. BTW are you getting lots of rain in Lauderdale? Tampa is finally getting wet after 5 years of dry summers. Steve