10 Important questions re: Freebasic(answers to go in qbxl)

[VonGodric]

Oh sorry :oops: I thought you were another ... whose wannabe smart...

[MystikShadows]

2)Will FreeBasic have the syntax-checking features which make QB so easy to work on in the IDE?

Error reporting? Sure, same format used by M$' compilers like VC++, so any IDE will be able to jump to the line where the error occurred. FreeBASIC is a compiler only, there's no step by step execution, unless if using a debugger (being implemented yet).

Should the IDE be done in VB as is planned so far, I can bring live syntax checking to the IDE. Whereas when you press enter on a line of code, if an error is detected, it could be reported right then and there....likewise, I could also fix the error (like vb does when you forget a quote when typing in a string literal, vb adds the quote at the end of the line).

Using a grammatical tool with a compiled grammar table it's trivial to add this kind of feature. Speaking of, I'd like to know how grammar and syntaxic elements are evaluated/validated? what rules for the grammar are used? will there be a BNF or EBNF file for the grammar?

I need to talk to aetherfox and Nek (oh NEK...you gonna read your PM or am I gonna have to **************** <--- censored by message author ;-). lol.

[marzecTM]

fb is a decent recursive handwritten parser, there's a grammar file but its outdated, cause v1c is a lazy bastard if it comes to documentation. i agree on the thing that the qb habit of directly showing what will/was go/going wrong is great for beginners. but the ide creators would have to check that themselves the compiler can not help there, except for debugsymbols, but that's not syntax/grammar checking

[MystikShadows]

Well at least it's got the debug symbols ;-). But I'm saying that I can add that feature to the IDE. It's not that complicated, the tools are out there, it can be done and integrated. I don't need their compiler to do that either. All I need is the specifics of the command syntax and I can take care of the rest :-).

Those specifics of the command syntax can be anything. but a BNF file or a EBNF would save me a bit of time...not too much, Just a bit...I'll just build the grammar file myself ;-).

[Jofers]

As far as "automatic" goes, yes, it's cool to have syntax checking. But it's less cool for it to automatically do stuff for you. Showing a red squiggly underline as if you misspelled a word in Word, where you make syntax errors and miss quotes is cool. Automatically filling stuff in and showing popups for errors as you make them are not cool

Your "syntax checker" going to need to be able to read fb header files, as that's where all the statements are. The runtime is fairly small next to a lot of the things people will be working with (Win API, DX, OpenGL, SDL, Bass, etc). Other than that, you have the runtime library, which is something you're going to need documentation for and make a custom header file with or something. Probably be more efficient than trying to read a grammer file from FB.

Van Godric: I suppose you know not to judge a fellow's intelligence now But even if he was, don't lambast the poor boy, there are no stupid questions.

[relsoft]

fb is a decent recursive handwritten parser, there's a grammar file but its outdated, cause v1c is a lazy bastard if it comes to documentation.

Tell me about it. I just hope he remembers everything. :*)
As far as I can tell, FB reports my syntax errors when it compiles. Even tells me the line number.

[v3cz0r]

Ha, i just updated the grammar file, copy and pasted the comments i added to every parser routine :P

My code is easy to read, it needs no comments, heh..

[relsoft]

;*)

[Dr_Davenstein]

4)If FreeBasic is released(sorry, but after qcc, QuickPower, and the other leigons of QB compilers, we're waiting on this one), qbxl will definitely cover Freebasic and freebasic stuff. How is support in the rest of the community looking? Are we going to see a lot of users? A lot of QB websites covering FreeBasic programs?

Well, just look at the thread... or should I shout FORUM that's been created for it right here!

11)Any idea where we can get some free beer? the QBXL staff just finished our last warlteiner, and we're into our sleemans. Any ideas whose beer will we'll be sipping next?

When the first RPG comes out that was coded in FreeBasic, just GOTO the tavern and order yourself a brewsky while you wait for that dude at the blacksmith's shop to temper your sword.

[MystikShadows]

Well I think, for the sake of support to users, that the code base be released ASAP because in that case, others can get familiar with it good, and be able to answer support questions without waiting for the authors to hop online and happen to see the questions :-). Or, finish the fb website, throw in a forum there that we'll all join, crack our knuckles and start answering ;-).

See where I'm getting? ;-).