i just migrated my ancient (1995 or so) MS Basic Compiler 7 to DosBox in Slackware. i was poking around in it a bit with a video test pattern generator i wrote back in 1997. i was wondering if it would be easy or difficult to write linux binaries with it, and what i would need (such as libraries, etc) to do so. or is it SO linked to DOS that it would be more work than it's worth? or maybe just use it for writing programs for FreeDos and DosBox?

Hi -

Writing DOS programs in DOS MS-Basic to run under DOSBox - sure.

Modifying DOS BASIC to run under Linux instead of DOS ... then modifying it further so that it creates Linux executables instead of DOS ... then modifying all your BASIC programs so they work in a Linux environment instead of DOS .... I don't think so.

If you like BASIC, try Gambas:

http://gambas.sourceforge.net/en/main.html

The MS Basic Compiler 7 itself is definitely linked to only DOS and would be useful only for writing DosBos and FreeDOS programs. However, you have the source code. Maybe there is a Basic compiler for linux (I haven't looked)? If there is, that could be used to create linux binaries. Alternatively, you could also translate your source code over to C and there is definitely a C compiler for linux.

tnx, that was exactly what i was wondering about... i do still have all of the source code from my video test generator software. i know a lot of the test patterns are obsolete now that a huge majority of computer monitors are now flatscreens, and analog TV is no more. maybe somebody that specializes in old equipment could find it useful. i may just recompile it with all of the vendor blurbs left out (i had written it as commercial software back in the late 90's, and it sold enough copies to make several mortgage payments over the course of a couple of years), and re-release it as freeware. if i can also make a linux release of it that would be nice, but i seem to remember i had quite a few DOS interrupt calls in it, so that might not work so well...

You may be interested in this:
http://www.basic-converter.org/
bacon converts basic to C and compiles it. It has some nice extensions so you can even write gtk programs in basic. The executeable produced are tiny.

Why not? Simply look through the source code and replace all DOS interrupt calls with the corresponding linux system call. If you are converting the program over to C, my understanding is that C has a callable function for just about every linux system call.

that would mean digging some of my old DOS programming guide books out of storage......, either that or give converting the code to C a try and see what happens. i could put it on a bootable FreeDos CDrom and use it that way, or put it in a FreeDos .iso file.

even though most of the test patterns are obsolete with the influx of flatscreens, there are over 50 or so test patterns in the program for testing monochrome, CGA, EGA, VGA and SVGA monitors. with old XT style hardware, the software will autodetect the video card, and bring it to the mono, CGA, EGA, or VGA menu on startup. this was really handy with early VGA "combo" cards that could be set up for mono, CGA, EGA, or VGA with a set of DIP switches. so anybody out there that refurbs old legacy equipment or still works on CRT monitors, let me know and i will send you a copy of the software.

Oh cool, i want...even though it is in basic!!! DOS FOREVER!

Could you please send me a copy of the software.