I have today released version 1.01a of BBC BASIC for SDL 2.0, the cross-platform programming language for Windows, MacOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi, Android and iOS. The changes in this version are as follows:
- IDEs / Compiler:
SDLIDE's 'Immediate Mode' has been modified so that it opens with the current program (if any) loaded, so for example a PROC can be run from the command prompt.
SDLIDE's 'Save As' command opens the file selector in the directory containing the most recently loaded or saved program.
The SDLIDE GUI has received minor cosmetic improvements, including PgUp and PgDn working more conventionally.
Fixed a bug in the cross-reference utility causing it to misbehave if the current program has no procedures or no functions.
- BASIC Interpreter / Run Time Engine:
VDU 23,23... sets the line thickness used for plotting outline circles, ellipses and arcs (as well as straight lines).
The RECTANGLE SWAP statement has been implemented, compatible with that in BB4W.
Blitting operations such as scrolling, RECTANGLE .. TO and MODE 7 double-height characters have been speeded up.
Fixed a bug in the ARM and 64-bit editions (only) causing them not to accept a unary '+' before the exponent in E-notation numeric constants (d'oh!).
- Libraries:
The angled-ellipse library has been updated so that it does not leave BBCSDL in an unstable state if interrupted with ESCape.
The treeview library has been updated to fix a minor bug which allowed 'navigation' beyond the end of the tree.
The dlglib library has received minor cosmetic improvements, and supports Ctrl+Home and Ctrl+End in a List Box.
- Example Programs:
The following example programs have been added:
slitscan.bbc: A demonstration of how GPU shaders can be used to mimic an effect traditionally achieved optically, in this case one used in the opening titles of Doctor Who and also in 2001 A Space Odyssey.
disco.bbc, surks.bbc and swirl.bbc (with thanks to David Williams): Colourful demos making use of RECTANGLE SWAP and 'thick' circles/ellipses and arcs respectively.
iOS users: Please update BBCBasic to this version because the certificate used for the previous release is about to expire and the app will stop working when it does. Apple Ad Hoc iOS distribution certificates last for a year.
This new version may be downloaded, for all the supported platforms, from the usual location. The GitHub repository has been updated (used to build the MacOS, Raspberry Pi, iOS and 64-bit Linux editions, currently).