CompuServe Messages

To partially answer your question, you could produce that program in CanDo pretty easily. The numeric string gadgets can be created along with a display gadget or, if you like, window, in a matter of minutes. Depending upon the sophistication of the arithmetic, the script to read the numeric data from the string gadgets, compute or prepare for display, and display would take from a few minutes to more. You have total control over the appearance of gadgets, screens, windows, etc. and can produce a 2.0 appearing display quickly. I haven't worked wiht visual basic, so I cannot comment on the degree of similarity or difference from CanDo, but the CanDo programming language is much richer than any of the Basics available for the Amiga. It provides for database programming, complex arrays and record variables, simple production of list or text displays and control. Built-in functions and commands make possible the development of a rudimentary text editor in no time at all. However, CanDo is not a programming environment designed for linear program development. Once the graphical interface is designed, you must then attach scripts to each graphic element that must respond to a user interaction. In other words, it is an event-driven program, so scripts must be individually attached to each "event", rather than a linear program development common to traditional programming languages. The CanDo screen is not like the visual basic screen from what I've seen in the reviews of VB.