They would probably get a lot more PIC programmers that want to do quicker small projects and even Stamp I people to get PBC if word was out that it had a current basic IF ELSE ENDIF to make programming cleaner and easier. Two new groups. Heck a Stamp II person might go, I will I will try the PIC chips.
It is just like Bart said it is sad. What is also sad nothing has been brought up about maybe until now? It has been around for years. Maybe that will be an enhancement in the next PBC, not because a couple people spoke up about it, but the new customers they could attract. There are probably more pic programmer out there that Stamp programmers, or close. I can program in assembler, but I really like BASIC, it is one everything electronic I have, down to my Treo 650 cellphone (and yep, has IF ELSE ENDIF).
If you want to get more non-Stamp programmers (I have never touched a Stamp and would never have thought this was normal, but do see their ads).
I was looking for a BASIC compiler for the PIC? I bought it in 1996 and never used it, Went the Atmel way. It is a new market for them for sure. Just because Parallax missed the boat, no reason for a good compiler to miss it as well. Just silly.
I bought it because it was a basic compiler for the PIC micro and I was going to try the new PICS (I still had 16C84 and 12C508 stored away), I usually use Atmel. I see this is a serious missing command for good code writing. I actually told someone a coulpe days ago to learn assembler (and he has start and doing pretty good) because otherwise he would have to spend $250 for a compiler to do/learn what he wants. This was after I received mine and went what the heck... I told him it was missing IF ENDIF, and told him I have PBC and would make it work, but could only recommend PBP for a beginner (does that not sound backwards). And he choose assembler on his own with other asm people mailing him too. And I went on about basic to him for days..
BTW, thanks for the history, I see why it is weird like that now. It is too bad they did not fix it, so they would have better product and be more like what BASIC programmers 1990s and 2000s and not BASIC Stamp programmers use. I would use it a lot if it worked like all the basic compilers I use. Hahaha.
Bookmarks