Benefits of BASIC programming language

Aggie99 · Post by **Aggie99** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 7:08 pm

I wonder if anyone here has extensive usage of DS BASIC...

My questions are:
1) I try to get my head around why someone uses BASIC in the first place.
2) What are the major benefits of using BASIC.
3) How it has been used and applied from your experience.

Basically, I try to understand:
When to use, why to use, how it's been used for (what?), what value does the language offer, etc

thanks for contributing...

Aggie99

kduke · Post by **kduke** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:57 pm

We came from the server world. It is very powerful in a server job. Otherwise you are correct. Why use it?

eostic · Post by **eostic** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:11 pm

Outside of just being a "Server thing," consider also:

a) it has a TON of powerful, flexible string functions...based a lot on its history...that are great for tearing apart strings of any length and doing creative manipulation.

b) it's "fairly"easy to use for the less-hard-core programmer and doesn't require any other resources, additional compilers, etc.

c) it's solid as a rock. like any software it may have it's moments, but it has been beaten up good for years and has few kinks.

d) it's wonderfully datatype agnostic. Some would say that is a detraction....but when you can finish the solution in minutes instead of hours, that's $$$.

e) you can go crazy in it if you "want" to.... arrays, looping constructs, etc. are all available.

f) it's available in both canvas' and is appropriate at many times for many reasons and should always be considered as another special tool in your toolbox.

Ernie

ray.wurlod · Post by **ray.wurlod** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:56 pm

As well as everywhere in server jobs and server routines, the language can (must) be used in:

parallel job before/after subroutines

job sequence Routine activities

job sequence user variable definitions

job sequence parameter/argument definitions

BASIC Transformer constraint expressions (parallel jobs)

BASIC Transformer column derivation expressions (parallel jobs)

A training class exists, also available as a DVD from the DSXchange Learning Center.

kduke · Post by **kduke** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:14 pm

There are lots of server jobs and routines you can download on my tips page.