BASIC programming in Linux

[Tom_ZeCat]

I've programmed in Visual BASIC 6 for about 5 years now. As you know, that language is on its way out, and it doesn't compile for Linux or Mac anyway. So I started learning REALbasic, which is very VB-like with some added advantages such as the ability to program with no dependency files. I completed one project in RB and therefore developed some skill in that language, though I'm still not as skilled in it as I am in VB.

Turns out the personal edition of RB for Linux is free. Cool. It therefore seems to make sense to use that language if I want to write anything for Linux. However, are there any other BASIC Linux tools I should check out?

I also originally learned a little C++ stuff when I first started programming. The original plan was to learn VB for creating the GUI and the simpler stuff and then to use C++ if I needed more extensive or faster code -- then create a DLL in C++ and access that with the main VB project. However, I ended up never doing that. I was always able to create what I needed in VB. On rare occassions I used third-party DLLs or accessed functions via the Windows API, but I didn't need to do that very often. Hence, I never really developed much C++ skill. So what I'm wondering is if it's worth the effort to develop C++ skill for Linux programming.

I never did any programming in VB.Net. It was VB 6 only. In fact dot net (or dot NOT) was my biggest reason for dumping VB for RB. I do not like what Microsoft has done with that language.

In any event, if you know of Linux programming tools I ought to check out, I'm all ears. Also, if there's some kind of primer I should check out for people used to programming for Windows, I'd like to read such a thing. Also, is there a Linux equivalent to the Windows API where you can, instead of reinventing the wheel, access various functions built into the OS?

[tpl]

> Linux programming tools I ought to check out

save a small amount of asssembler, the kernel is
written in C--it is the standard language for
*nix. Not C++, just plain C.

> access various functions built into the OS?

Suggest you get a copy of K&R and work your way
thru to Chapter 8 "The Unix System Interface."

"The UNIX operating system provides its services
through a set of system calls, which are in effect
functions within the operating system that may be
called by user programs." (p.169)

[ghostdog74]

In any event, if you know of Linux programming tools I ought to check out, I'm all ears. Also, if there's some kind of primer I should check out for people used to programming for Windows, I'd like to read such a thing. Also, is there a Linux equivalent to the Windows API where you can, instead of reinventing the wheel, access various functions built into the OS?

if you want to get into systems programming, C/C++ might be the tools you need. However if you just wish to do general programming, you can check out any of these scripting/programming languages like Python/Perl/Ruby. They work on windows/unix (cross platform) and if you are programming GUIs, they come with GUI toolkits too.

[Tom_ZeCat]

Thanks for the info. I'm gonna go check out all that stuff tonight.