BBC BASIC for SDL 2.0 version 1.02a released

[Richard Russell]

I have released version 1.02a 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: F10 now displays the context menu at the position of the text caret; this enhances keyboard control (e.g. without a mouse).
  
  touchide: Fixed a bug which caused deleting an empty directory/folder to fail.

• BASIC Interpreter / Run Time Engine:
  
  The ARM and 64-bit editions now buffer files locally (as the 32-bit x86 editions always have) which can result in a large speed improvement.
  
  Fixed scrolling and double-height text occasionally misbehaving with some Windows graphics cards.

• Libraries:
  
  The dlglib library now includes support for a simple horizontal trackbar.

• Example Programs:
  
  polydots.bbc: A new graphics demo based on a popular animated GIF.
  
  recorder.bbc (desktop editions only): The 'Audio recorder' utility, ported from BB4W to BBCSDL. In Windows you may want to enable recording from 'Stereo Mix' (Control Panel... Sound... Recording... Right-click... Show Disabled Devices). On other platforms a similar capability may be available, or you can simply loop the headphone output back to the microphone input.
  
  telstar.bbc: Now includes Teefax in the menu of services, plus a couple of minor tweaks.

Android users: Please note that the Code Signing Certificate has been renewed.

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).

[RobMcK]

Hi Richard,

Thank you for your continued efforts with BBC BASIC for SDL 2.0

Regards,

Rob

[dhg2]

Thanks Richard.

[Richard Russell]

Thank you for your continued efforts with BBC BASIC for SDL 2.0

BBCSDL has reached something of a plateau, in that the only items currently remaining on the 'wish list' are things I don't know how to do! Is there anything you would like to be added that might enhance its appeal or usefulness?

[Soruk]

Thank you for your continued efforts with BBC BASIC for SDL 2.0

BBCSDL has reached something of a plateau, in that the only items currently remaining on the 'wish list' are things I don't know how to do! Is there anything you would like to be added that might enhance its appeal or usefulness?

Since you've open-sourced it, can you say what your wish list is? Who knows, someone else reading this might be able to do it.

[Richard Russell]

can you say what your wish list is?

The main outstanding items are:

1. Floating point and SIMD instructions (NEON) in the ARM assembler. Currently I can't adapt the 'mandel.bbc' example to run on the Raspberry Pi or (ARM) Android because of this omission.

2. Plot filled segment (PLOT 168-175), which is the only 2D graphics primitive not supported by the SDL2_gfx module. Admittedly I've never needed it over a 37-year period!

3. VDU 2 (enable printer) and related 'hardcopy' features, which in practice probably means creating a PDF file (there is no 'cross platform' support for hardcopy output in SDL 2). Incorporating the libHaru' library is a possibility, but it's big and unsupported.