[EDITED]
I am a registered user of BlitzBasic For some days, And i am very disapointed.
I regret that i have paid For something like this.
I'm sorry for you; as others have answered, you may try it a bit longer before to make your assumptions.
I've purchased Blitz2D since it has born, then Blitz3D and then the newest BlitzPlus, and I must say I'm more than satisfied with this language, and happy to support it.
For 2D games and applications, BlitzPlus gives me almost everything I need. And the language can also be expanded, using external DLLs, either the Windows standard or thirdy party created dlls.
The language is powerful and self explanatory, the exe is incredible fast, and the BlitzPlus exes run on any machine with win 9x, included NT. The newest Blitz3D update - which is FREE for all registered users, as the previous ones - includes also cubemapping capability, which opens the possibility of programming astonishing 3D commercial games.
I will explain why !
1) The IDE: This is a stupid IDE And the 'check error' is useless !
a) He give the error but Not the location of it.
Where can i found an error like "Too many parameters" Or
"Function xxxxxx not found".
Using the Function 'Find' of this stupid IDE is Not a solution, but only
a loosing of time.
You are partially right here. Bare in mind that the IDE, as far as I know, is still under development.
The offending error location is given by the debugger, which can be turned on from within the IDE menu. It would give you the statement where the error has occurred.
The search function works for me; it is also true, that the search string should be set for each source tab, though.
Anyway, the IDE is simple but yet an effective editor. And while you program, you may don't want to be distracted by all the whistles-and-bells options from other editors. It may be upgraded though; and you can also find other thirdy party editors
b) The list of Function created is Not classified by alphabetical order.
If you have a lot of functions, you are loosing time To search it.
That's true, and other users - included me - have already asked for that feature, and I hope too it will be implemented.
c) Some basic fonctions of any Text editor is Not there.
For best result And winning time i must use an external editor but
cannot compile.
As said, if you are not completely satisfied with the editor, you may use another free one available out there. The compiler can easily be linked to editors like ultraedit, and others.
The cursor is Not very visible, If you forget where he is, you can
loose time searching it on the screen.
The cursor shape, as well as other editor features, can be tailored to your needings by editing the .prefs file, which is located in the config directory of the blitzbasic main program. If you change the shape of the cursor from I-beam to block cursor, you will easily find it in the IDE.
d) The older technology of the 'Amos basic' (Amiga computers) whas a lot
better.
There whas an auto-help system (click on a command To see the docs of
this instruction) And create smaller executable (Amos basic whas
writed in assembly) And with a lot of tools And commands like a
Mod-Player, like an level editor And others.
As far as I know, the Blitz language is very closed to the Amiga style. You can also select a command and press F1 to obtain the command syntax. If you press F1 twice, you get an help page with a complete example of that command usage.
2) The source code from a simple BlitzPlus is Not compilable with a
registred version of Blitz3D.
I have no problem to compile a source of BlitzPlus with Blitz3D, unless I use commands that are expecially made for BlitzPlus - such canvas, buttons, and such - or the other way around - ex. using 3D commands which are expecially made for Blitz3D and not for BlitzPlus.
If you use the normal 2D command set to build up your source, it will be completely compatible with both versions of Blitz.
a) This will make For the futur a lot of probblems of standardisation of
BlitzBasic And previous Or older version of BlitzBasic.
BlitzBasic will Not be compilable with New versions without problems.
Are you ready To rewrite all Or part of your work in somes months/years ?
Some people have buy the packed version of BlitzBasic And these version
are Not supported anymore.
So they are now with an BlitzBasic product without any support And
(i suppose) the code source is totaly incompatible with an today release
of BlitzBasic (BlitzBasic3D Or BlitzBasicPlus).
I don't know from where you get this info, but I'm sorry to inform you that they are totally wrong. As said, one strong point of Blitz is his compatibility. Of course, you can't pretend that 3D commands are compiled by a 2D compiler, and that special 2D window commands - like already said, canvas, gadgets, windows,.. - are compatible with a 3D language which does not supports such commands. Do you ask for apples when you want to buy oranges ?
b) This will make a lot of BlitzBasic different versions like in the good
old time where all home computers had differents BASIC with the same
functions but incompatible because of the different syntax Or commands
name.
Again, I ignore the source of your informations, which IMHO are totally wrong.
3) There is NO SUPPORT FROM BLITZBASIC, i have send 2 e-mail with questions
about how To acces at the API of windows. It whas Not explained in
the downloaded full version (just installed After downloaded).
Now i know the answear because the upgrade explain a little about it.
There IS support for BlitzBasic, and this support is free for registered users. The support consists in:
- new updates of the language with new commands and eventually bug fixes;
- a very friendly forums where you may find the answers to your questions;
- the forum code archives, which is a repository of useful source code snippets, which covers several topics, in both 2D and 3D programming.
As in the real life, if you post a thread in a gentle and correct way, you may get help from lots of users. If you, instead, act like an immature and shoot nasty words at 360 degrees, then you can't complain if you get no help.
a) This is absolutly Not professional And Not serious.
This is just good For an amateur shareware company because If i
had asked something at Borland, i had already got an answear.
I personally have written already some professional game with Blitz, and so several other users. Some of the game have also been published. I suggest you to check and discover by yourself how many Blitz games are already published - you may be surprised.
And, if you ask Borland with the same unprofessional style you are using here, I bet you will only get banned.
b) When i will get a more problematic question about BB, i will never get
an answear.
This is Not professional And Not serious enterprise.
I will never buy another product Or upgrade, And will never recommand
BlitzBasic.
Again, the problem is not the language, is the way you act with the community. If you respect the others, then you'll get help and respect back.
4) There are a lot of things that is missing.
a) You cannot create Byte Or 16 bits sized variables.
If you need it For passing parameters To an external library, you can't.
If you need a array of byte, you have no other choice than use an array of
integer ! 4x the size of bytes, this is a lot of memory spoiled For nothing.
There is no pointer For memory acces Or For some algorithms that it can
need it. You can Not use external functions that need some pointers.
The integer of BB are Not unsigned: value above 2 Go is impossible.
I ignore the aim of your application, but what I can say from my personal experience, is that I am not limited at all by the byte variable fuss you are describing - and that I must confess, I don't get completely.
Instead, the Blitz language is so user friendly that you can concentrate on the pleasure of programming with it, and produce very nice and professional results, if only you are able to recognize and use its power, instead of complaining of the lack of this or that feature which exist only in your mind.
Look, if you turn your head around, and see the quality of the blitz games and application - make a tour in the gallery for example, or at www.blitzcoder.com - then you recognize that if other people can make such a nice looking games, that means that the language IS powerful.
b) You cannot get the Handle of your program ! How Then must you do To call
some WinAPI that it need it ?
Where are the basics 'dialog box' Or the 'Menu functions' in BB ?
There is'nt !
Again, you find the menu function and all the basic dialog box in the BlitzPlus command set. I guess you need read more documentation, before to post such a thread.
In fact, the BB is only a bad shaped BASIC with a very good DirectX wrapper.
It whas preferably To create a 'DirectX wrapper library' usable with most
Delphi, Turbo-Pascal, Or Borland C++ Builder than create another incompatible
programming language.
For serious games with optimized algorithms, BB is Not the better choice
And more, in fact when you have good programming use, BB is useless because
you are very limited without a lot of difficulties If you want access out of BB.
For optimised algorithms, BB is useless.
Seem that every Computer company want create his own programming language
than create adds-on For already exist compilers.
A human have a very short life, And learning a lot of language is useless.
It is better To talk one language good Or very good than speak 10 language badly.
A very disapointed REGISTRED user of BlitzBasic.
Dear Maverick357, I have some suggestion for you:
1) get a life !
2) read more about Blitz, try out the examples and the sources which you find in the Blitz documentation;
3) then come back and make your questions in a more gentle way. I'm sure you will change your mind about blitz.
A very happy Blitz user,
Sergio.
I am a registered user of BlitzBasic For some days, And i am very disapointed.
I regret that i have paid For something like this.
I'm sorry for you; as others have answered, you may try it a bit longer before to make your assumptions.
I've purchased Blitz2D since it has born, then Blitz3D and then the newest BlitzPlus, and I must say I'm more than satisfied with this language, and happy to support it.
For 2D games and applications, BlitzPlus gives me almost everything I need. And the language can also be expanded, using external DLLs, either the Windows standard or thirdy party created dlls.
The language is powerful and self explanatory, the exe is incredible fast, and the BlitzPlus exes run on any machine with win 9x, included NT. The newest Blitz3D update - which is FREE for all registered users, as the previous ones - includes also cubemapping capability, which opens the possibility of programming astonishing 3D commercial games.
I will explain why !
1) The IDE: This is a stupid IDE And the 'check error' is useless !
a) He give the error but Not the location of it.
Where can i found an error like "Too many parameters" Or
"Function xxxxxx not found".
Using the Function 'Find' of this stupid IDE is Not a solution, but only
a loosing of time.
You are partially right here. Bare in mind that the IDE, as far as I know, is still under development.
The offending error location is given by the debugger, which can be turned on from within the IDE menu. It would give you the statement where the error has occurred.
The search function works for me; it is also true, that the search string should be set for each source tab, though.
Anyway, the IDE is simple but yet an effective editor. And while you program, you may don't want to be distracted by all the whistles-and-bells options from other editors. It may be upgraded though; and you can also find other thirdy party editors
b) The list of Function created is Not classified by alphabetical order.
If you have a lot of functions, you are loosing time To search it.
That's true, and other users - included me - have already asked for that feature, and I hope too it will be implemented.
c) Some basic fonctions of any Text editor is Not there.
For best result And winning time i must use an external editor but
cannot compile.
As said, if you are not completely satisfied with the editor, you may use another free one available out there. The compiler can easily be linked to editors like ultraedit, and others.
The cursor is Not very visible, If you forget where he is, you can
loose time searching it on the screen.
The cursor shape, as well as other editor features, can be tailored to your needings by editing the .prefs file, which is located in the config directory of the blitzbasic main program. If you change the shape of the cursor from I-beam to block cursor, you will easily find it in the IDE.
d) The older technology of the 'Amos basic' (Amiga computers) whas a lot
better.
There whas an auto-help system (click on a command To see the docs of
this instruction) And create smaller executable (Amos basic whas
writed in assembly) And with a lot of tools And commands like a
Mod-Player, like an level editor And others.
As far as I know, the Blitz language is very closed to the Amiga style. You can also select a command and press F1 to obtain the command syntax. If you press F1 twice, you get an help page with a complete example of that command usage.
2) The source code from a simple BlitzPlus is Not compilable with a
registred version of Blitz3D.
I have no problem to compile a source of BlitzPlus with Blitz3D, unless I use commands that are expecially made for BlitzPlus - such canvas, buttons, and such - or the other way around - ex. using 3D commands which are expecially made for Blitz3D and not for BlitzPlus.
If you use the normal 2D command set to build up your source, it will be completely compatible with both versions of Blitz.
a) This will make For the futur a lot of probblems of standardisation of
BlitzBasic And previous Or older version of BlitzBasic.
BlitzBasic will Not be compilable with New versions without problems.
Are you ready To rewrite all Or part of your work in somes months/years ?
Some people have buy the packed version of BlitzBasic And these version
are Not supported anymore.
So they are now with an BlitzBasic product without any support And
(i suppose) the code source is totaly incompatible with an today release
of BlitzBasic (BlitzBasic3D Or BlitzBasicPlus).
I don't know from where you get this info, but I'm sorry to inform you that they are totally wrong. As said, one strong point of Blitz is his compatibility. Of course, you can't pretend that 3D commands are compiled by a 2D compiler, and that special 2D window commands - like already said, canvas, gadgets, windows,.. - are compatible with a 3D language which does not supports such commands. Do you ask for apples when you want to buy oranges ?
b) This will make a lot of BlitzBasic different versions like in the good
old time where all home computers had differents BASIC with the same
functions but incompatible because of the different syntax Or commands
name.
Again, I ignore the source of your informations, which IMHO are totally wrong.
3) There is NO SUPPORT FROM BLITZBASIC, i have send 2 e-mail with questions
about how To acces at the API of windows. It whas Not explained in
the downloaded full version (just installed After downloaded).
Now i know the answear because the upgrade explain a little about it.
There IS support for BlitzBasic, and this support is free for registered users. The support consists in:
- new updates of the language with new commands and eventually bug fixes;
- a very friendly forums where you may find the answers to your questions;
- the forum code archives, which is a repository of useful source code snippets, which covers several topics, in both 2D and 3D programming.
As in the real life, if you post a thread in a gentle and correct way, you may get help from lots of users. If you, instead, act like an immature and shoot nasty words at 360 degrees, then you can't complain if you get no help.
a) This is absolutly Not professional And Not serious.
This is just good For an amateur shareware company because If i
had asked something at Borland, i had already got an answear.
I personally have written already some professional game with Blitz, and so several other users. Some of the game have also been published. I suggest you to check and discover by yourself how many Blitz games are already published - you may be surprised.
And, if you ask Borland with the same unprofessional style you are using here, I bet you will only get banned.
b) When i will get a more problematic question about BB, i will never get
an answear.
This is Not professional And Not serious enterprise.
I will never buy another product Or upgrade, And will never recommand
BlitzBasic.
Again, the problem is not the language, is the way you act with the community. If you respect the others, then you'll get help and respect back.
4) There are a lot of things that is missing.
a) You cannot create Byte Or 16 bits sized variables.
If you need it For passing parameters To an external library, you can't.
If you need a array of byte, you have no other choice than use an array of
integer ! 4x the size of bytes, this is a lot of memory spoiled For nothing.
There is no pointer For memory acces Or For some algorithms that it can
need it. You can Not use external functions that need some pointers.
The integer of BB are Not unsigned: value above 2 Go is impossible.
I ignore the aim of your application, but what I can say from my personal experience, is that I am not limited at all by the byte variable fuss you are describing - and that I must confess, I don't get completely.
Instead, the Blitz language is so user friendly that you can concentrate on the pleasure of programming with it, and produce very nice and professional results, if only you are able to recognize and use its power, instead of complaining of the lack of this or that feature which exist only in your mind.
Look, if you turn your head around, and see the quality of the blitz games and application - make a tour in the gallery for example, or at www.blitzcoder.com - then you recognize that if other people can make such a nice looking games, that means that the language IS powerful.
b) You cannot get the Handle of your program ! How Then must you do To call
some WinAPI that it need it ?
Where are the basics 'dialog box' Or the 'Menu functions' in BB ?
There is'nt !
Again, you find the menu function and all the basic dialog box in the BlitzPlus command set. I guess you need read more documentation, before to post such a thread.
In fact, the BB is only a bad shaped BASIC with a very good DirectX wrapper.
It whas preferably To create a 'DirectX wrapper library' usable with most
Delphi, Turbo-Pascal, Or Borland C++ Builder than create another incompatible
programming language.
For serious games with optimized algorithms, BB is Not the better choice
And more, in fact when you have good programming use, BB is useless because
you are very limited without a lot of difficulties If you want access out of BB.
For optimised algorithms, BB is useless.
Seem that every Computer company want create his own programming language
than create adds-on For already exist compilers.
A human have a very short life, And learning a lot of language is useless.
It is better To talk one language good Or very good than speak 10 language badly.
A very disapointed REGISTRED user of BlitzBasic.
Dear Maverick357, I have some suggestion for you:
1) get a life !
2) read more about Blitz, try out the examples and the sources which you find in the Blitz documentation;
3) then come back and make your questions in a more gentle way. I'm sure you will change your mind about blitz.
A very happy Blitz user,
Sergio.