# "BASIC" programming under XP **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 17, 2006, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-programming-under-xp/380877 "2006-11-17T20:03:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2006, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-programming-under-xp/380877/1 "2006-11-17T20:03:18Z")
About 20 years ago, I used to have great fun writing and using simple programs of my own creation on my old Apple IIe and the early Macs. I used BASIC exclusively since I knew the language (somewhat) and found it pretty easy to use. Alas, that has not been something that I’ve done ever since I switched sides and became a Windows guy. So, my question is, using my current system and its XP operating system, are there any programs available that would let me program (and run) in BASIC? The type of program that might even be ideal for me would be one that makes my current machine seem like an old Mac (or IIe) if such a thing exists. But, even if not, I’d still be very interested. Any ideas? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2006, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-programming-under-xp/380877/2 "2006-11-17T20:16:52Z")
You could always try [Visual Basic.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_Basic) It’s simple like its predecessor, and it can easily handle Windows style graphical interfaces. If you’re just interested in nostalgia, then you can get an old school emulator to run BASIC. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2006, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-programming-under-xp/380877/3 "2006-11-17T20:20:00Z")
I recommend [freeBASIC](http://www.freebasic.net/), a freeware quickBASIC clone. It’ll run fine under your XP. The interface will be familiar to you from about 20 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2006, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-programming-under-xp/380877/4 "2006-11-17T21:48:17Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] I recommend [freeBASIC](http://www.freebasic.net/), a freeware quickBASIC clone. It’ll run fine under your XP. The interface will be familiar to you from about 20 years ago. [/QUOTE] OK for we clueless, which one of all those possible downloads is the progaram that I can call up and use to solve problems? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2006, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-programming-under-xp/380877/5 "2006-11-17T21:57:17Z")
Google ‘apple iie emulator’ and you’ll have plenty of options to explore. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-programming-under-xp/380877/6 "2006-11-17T22:00:35Z")
[QUOTE=KarlGauss] So, my question is, using my current system and its XP operating system, are there any programs available that would let me program (and run) in BASIC? The type of program that might even be ideal for me would be one that makes my current machine seem like an old Mac (or IIe) if such a thing exists. But, even if not, I’d still be very interested. [/QUOTE] Googling for “apple emulator” brings up [a page on Apple II emulators](http://www.wbwip.com/a2web/a2emul.html), some of which work with Microsoft Windows. A few more seconds of Googling reveals [a page on free BASIC compilers](http://www.thefreecountry.com/compilers/basic.shtml). Again, many of them work with Microsoft Windows. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2006, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-programming-under-xp/380877/7 "2006-11-17T22:11:24Z")
[QUOTE=David Simmons] OK for we clueless, which one of all those possible downloads is the progaram that I can call up and use to solve problems? [/QUOTE] Only you can answer that question. I assume from the way you’ve worded your question that you want the ready-to-run **binary** (executable) program, but don’t want the **source code** of the compiler so that you can read it or compile it yourself. There are thus two questions you need to ask yourself. First, are you running **DOS** , **Linux** , or **Windows**? (If you don’t know the answer to that question, then you may want to reconsider your decision to download a BASIC compiler.) Second, do you want the **stable** , production release of the program, or do you want the latest bleeding-edge version which may contain bugs and should probably be used only for the purposes of **testing** it to find and report said bugs to the author? Find the line in the list of “Binaries” downloads which matches your platform and chosen release (stable vs. testing), and follow either of the corresponding image links. (The left link appears to be a direct-download link, whereas the right link brings up a screen with more details about the package and a download link.) ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2006, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-programming-under-xp/380877/8 "2006-11-18T00:05:11Z")
I’m going to pop in and recommend [Visual Basic Express](http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/vb/). A lot of functionality, and free. Can’t really do better than that for getting started on XP. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2006, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-programming-under-xp/380877/9 "2006-11-18T01:18:26Z")
Thinks to everyone! This is very helpful. And, “emulator” - that was the word I was getting at (and would have made my attempts at googling much more relevant). Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-programming-under-xp/380877/10 "2006-11-18T02:00:28Z")
[QUOTE=psychonaut] Only you can answer that question. I assume from the way you’ve worded your question that you want the ready-to-run **binary** (executable) program, [/quote] Bingo and had the site said “executable” I’d have understood. Binary with respect to a program doesn’t mean a thing to me. > [@](#): > > Second, do you want the **stable** , production release of the program, Bingo. All I do is use the program to solve problems or do simulations for my own amusement. I have zero interest in debugging someone’s program. > [@](#): > > Find the line in the list of “Binaries” downloads which matches your platform and chosen release (stable vs. testing), and follow either of the corresponding image links. (The left link appears to be a direct-download link, whereas the right link brings up a screen with more details about the package and a download link.) Thanks for all the data on the latest lingo of the trade and the help in zeroing in on what I’m after. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2006, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-programming-under-xp/380877/11 "2006-11-18T21:11:51Z")
[QUOTE=Dervorin] I’m going to pop in and recommend [Visual Basic Express](http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/vb/). A lot of functionality, and free. Can’t really do better than that for getting started on XP. [/QUOTE] I didn’t even know that and the others on the page existed. They could come in handy. Thanks a lot! ---
**Author:** ![FRDE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e68b1a/32.png) [@FRDE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FRDE)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2006, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-programming-under-xp/380877/12 "2006-11-19T09:24:11Z")
You could be in for a bit of a shock moving from Apple IIe BASIC to [VB.NET](http://VB.NET) Amongst Visual Basic programmers, there is some debate as to whether [VB.NET](http://VB.NET) is really BASIC - and Visual Basic is pretty different from the BASIC on the old Apples. You should find a copy of QBASIC on your machine, which will be a lot more familiar. ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2006, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-programming-under-xp/380877/13 "2006-11-19T10:38:56Z")
[QUOTE=FRDE] You could be in for a bit of a shock moving from Apple IIe BASIC to [VB.NET](http://VB.NET) Amongst Visual Basic programmers, there is some debate as to whether [VB.NET](http://VB.NET) is really BASIC - and Visual Basic is pretty different from the BASIC on the old Apples. You should find a copy of QBASIC on your machine, which will be a lot more familiar. [/QUOTE] That is true; but since the OP wants to program under Windows, I thought it would be a good place to start - there are lots of wizards and tutorials for [VB.NET](http://VB.NET) available. I’ve used both VB and [VB.NET](http://VB.NET), and while there are some changes, many of the familiar program structures remain. QBASIC would definitely be a lot easier and more familiar, but is naturally much more limited in terms of what you can do interface-wise. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2006, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-programming-under-xp/380877/14 "2006-11-19T11:32:12Z")
[QUOTE=FRDE] You should find a copy of QBASIC on your machine, which will be a lot more familiar. [/QUOTE] QBasic was available only with MS-DOS. (It is found on some Windows 95 and Windows 98 CD-ROMs, but there’s no way to install it short of manually copying it from the CD-ROM to your hard drive.) It’s not shipped with Windows XP as far as I know. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2006, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-programming-under-xp/380877/15 "2006-11-19T11:56:18Z")
Like **David** , I left programming years ago. Can someone please explain: if I were to install one of those programs, and wrote a Basic program, would I then be able to compile my program as an executable (and if so, how), or would I only be able to run the program within the confines of the emulator? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2006, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-programming-under-xp/380877/16 "2006-11-19T12:43:35Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] Like **David** , I left programming years ago. Can someone please explain: if I were to install one of those programs, and wrote a Basic program, would I then be able to compile my program as an executable (and if so, how), or would I only be able to run the program within the confines of the emulator? [/QUOTE] VB Express allows you to publish your program to CD, or the net. It packages in a setup program which will check if the target machine has the prerequisites installed (typically the .Net framework) and will download them if necessary. It’s pretty good for free. I’m mucking about with Visual C++ Express at the mo, and it’s making my head hurt a little. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2006, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-programming-under-xp/380877/17 "2006-11-19T14:37:04Z")
[QUOTE=psychonaut] QBasic was available only with MS-DOS. (It is found on some Windows 95 and Windows 98 CD-ROMs, but there’s no way to install it short of manually copying it from the CD-ROM to your hard drive.) It’s not shipped with Windows XP as far as I know. [/QUOTE] Does this mean that if I can locate the discs that came with my old Windows95-based machine, that I’ll find a copy of QBasic there and that I can copy it onto my current XP-based machine? And safely run it? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2006, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-programming-under-xp/380877/18 "2006-11-19T14:41:28Z")
[QUOTE=KarlGauss] Does this mean that if I can locate the discs that came with my old Windows95-based machine, that I’ll find a copy of QBasic there and that I can copy it onto my current XP-based machine? And safely run it? Thanks. [/QUOTE] I should have noted way back in my OP that what I want to do is actually _very_ simple stuff. Things like writing a program to find all primes less than ‘N’ or finding all factors of all numbers less than ‘N’ (I’m hoping to have a little fun while interesting/intriguing my daughter in programming at the same time). ---
**Author:** ![FRDE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e68b1a/32.png) [@FRDE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FRDE)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2006, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-programming-under-xp/380877/19 "2006-11-19T15:46:12Z")
[QUOTE=KarlGauss] Does this mean that if I can locate the discs that came with my old Windows95-based machine, that I’ll find a copy of QBasic there and that I can copy it onto my current XP-based machine? And safely run it? Thanks. [/QUOTE] Yes, you can. You can also download QBasic from the Microsoft Website (I believe) but to be sure you might be wise to ask in a BASIC newsgroup, preferably with a real but temporary Email address. Someone mentioned compilers, I suspect that in the early 1980’s I was one of very few people who used a compiler for the Apple II, it made the thing fly. Windows programming is very different from what you did 25 years ago, it is possible to make it feel the same, but that is something of a Black Art. [VB.NET](http://VB.NET) is actually very little to do with Microsoft, there is a product called Delphi that is based on Pascal - and is designed for a programmer who hates C but is Ok with a more rigid form of BASIC - Microsoft bought him - and he produced a hybrid which is probably Ok for new programmers and for large corporates but is nothing like the ‘Boy I have an idea, no computer knowledge, can I write a solution between now (7pm) and dawn’ Of course MS conveniently forgot that PCs were made valued by people who were not programmers, but had a problem to automate - yet MS wrote the BASIC for the PET, the Apple and just about everything else. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2006, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-programming-under-xp/380877/20 "2006-11-19T16:14:15Z")
I’ve downloaded and installed VB Express and I’m really impressed; I have used VB5 and VB6 and I can’t tell what features have actually been pruned back to make these free versions ‘express’ - Admittedly, I haven’t dug very deep, but I can’t see what’s missing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-programming-under-xp/380877.md?page=2)