> > Years ago I'd write apps for people using either QuickC or QuickBasic (acually
> > PDS which could do overlays).  If they didn't get the source code I'd do it in
> > Basic, otherwise they got to choose.  Many insisted on C, even though I then
> > charged at least twice as much and took twice the time to do it.
> >
> > The joke was, of course, that once compiled you couldn't tell the difference as
> > to whether it was in C or Basic.  (I wasn't writing ray-tracers or such things
> > where C would have been a better choice).
> >
> > Microsoft wised up with Windows C & Basic, so VB didn't get a compiler, thus
> > letting the 'Real Men' (TM) get on with the job of doing whatever it is they
> > do.  Probably telling the VB weenies their language of choice sucks - "Pfft, it
> > doesn't even compile".
> 
> 
> I was under the impression that QuickBASIC "compiled" the ASCII source
> code to byte-code and included an interpreter in the EXE?
> This is sort of what compiled Perl does now - though there is a real
> Perl -> C translator back-end. (B::C) - not that I would compare QB to
> Perl.


VB did the byte-code & interpreter, as do the .Net languages now.  QB always compiled to a real .exe file.  Or at least a a.com that pretended to be a .exe.  I know some Basics did store source files like that, but we're back in the days of the Apple ][ now.  

Dropping the compiler from VB meant Microsoft got to sell both you VB & C, VB for the UI, and C for the hard stuff.  That was the theory, but most people picked one or the other, causing themselves all sorts of grief.

The PDS variant (Professional Development System) of QuickBasic did a few things QB didn't, but I've forgotten exactly what.  It optimised code better, could create .obj files and did overlays, so you'd have trouble convincing people that yes, that 4mb exe was in fact written in Basic.  Everyone knew only C could do that, Basic had to CHAIN stuff together.

PDS became VB-DOS, and you could use its compiler on your existing stuff.  I think it moved strings from near to far memory, which was helpful.

Tony


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