#quick basic

[basic-retro-programming]

Microsoft QuickBasic advertisment ...

Source: vintage_pc_ads on Twitter

Post #223: Microsoft, Advertisment for MS QuickBasic, 1985-1988.

[swarmik]

50-line text mode on a gas-plasma screen

I took this photo while working on the MS QuickBasic version of our benchmark (previously written in C and Assembly). The goal was to compare speed of different languages and compilers. This required me to relearn BASIC so I always needed to see online help, my BASIC code and the original C code on a single screen. Switching a screen into the VGA 80x50-character mode is invaluable in these situations.

Regarding the results: I tested all versions of our benchmark, which is mostly about integer performance and memory access (similar to compiling and XML parsing), on this IBM PS/2 P70 with a 20-MHz 386 (DX). Interpreted QuickBasic 4.5 version was used as a baseline (1x). These are the speed-ups:

Compiled QuickBasic = 3x

Borland C++ (8086 instructions) = 15x

Borland C++ (386 instructions) = 33x

Hand-tuned Assembly (386 protected mode) = 70x

Metaware High C/C++ (386 protected mode) = 70x

[steal-this-idea]

Various ASCII animations I made back in the mid-1990s using GW-BASIC. I finally got a respectable frame capture program so I thought I'd share before they're lost forever when dedicated souls stop making Quick BASIC compatible with the latest operating systems...

Various PHI-fighters, THETA-wings, Asterisk fighters, Gunships, ZETA-boats, and even a UFO and their struggles against an "evil" red drop and even each other, some more successful than others :-)