Converting MINI-BASIC in MASM over to C++?

Paul Panks · 03-09-2009, 04:26 PM

Is this an easy conversion? Converting MINI-BASIC, written in MASM, over to C++? The Yahoo group for MINI-BASIC is here:

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/minibasic/

Paul

Paul Panks · 03-09-2009, 05:10 PM

I should also note that MINI-BASIC uses the Windows API for display, keyboard and file I/O. This should be easy to convert to C or C++ using the stdlib.h

Paul

Paul Panks · 03-10-2009, 10:54 AM

The original Palo Alto Tiny BASIC appeared in 1976 in the pages of Dr. Dobbs Journal. MINI-BASIC is a modern variant of Palo Alto Tiny BASIC using Windows API calls for screen, keyboard and file I/O. It has 26 variables, A-Z, and 1 array, @(I).

Despite these limitations, MINI-BASIC is a robust programming language written in ASM. More commands can be added with ease.

Paul

matsp · 03-10-2009, 11:03 AM

Not having looked at it, I'd say that rewriting it in C++ is an "intermediate" difficultly - far from impossible, but not a "5 minutes whilst browsing the web" either.

--
Mats

Paul Panks · 03-10-2009, 12:57 PM

What should a person focus on when converting from one language to another?

Paul

matsp · 03-10-2009, 01:54 PM

First, you need to understand BOTH languages well. Next you need to have some way of testing the new code, to ensure that it still does the same thing as the old one.

I have looked a bit at the Mini-Basic code now, and it's using an awful lot of global variables and various naughty assembler tricks (like calls to the middle of a function), which makes the task a bit difficult.

--
Mats

Paul Panks · 03-10-2009, 02:00 PM

Calls to the middle of a function? Could that be causing the occasional (and strange) Windows API error?

Paul

matsp · 03-10-2009, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Panks

Calls to the middle of a function? Could that be causing the occasional (and strange) Windows API error?

Paul

Possibly, but I think that may be other problems. I have currently got it displaying the console window with a title. See attached picture.

Edit: That's with 278 lines of code.

--
Mats

Paul Panks · 03-10-2009, 05:41 PM

Looks good. Is that a mock screen, or the real thing?

Paul

matsp · 03-10-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Panks

Looks good. Is that a mock screen, or the real thing?

Paul

It's real in the sense that I copied the MASM code into C++ - although it is more "assembler written in C" than C++, if you see what I mean.

I'm currently trying to get the input going - it's a bit long-winded to try to translate back from assembler, but I'm getting there. Once I have basic input working, I'll go to bed for today. Don't know when I will continue (and I don't know if I'll EVER finish it).

I've got over 600 lines, but that includes a bit of "comments of work to be done with untranslated assembler code".

--
Mats

Paul Panks · 03-10-2009, 07:39 PM

Looks good. Keep up the good work.

Paul

Paul Panks · 03-11-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matsp

Not having looked at it, I'd say that rewriting it in C++ is an "intermediate" difficultly - far from impossible, but not a "5 minutes whilst browsing the web" either.

--
Mats

I think the easiest way to convert it is to study the assembly code and write a C++ program to interpret it in C.

Paul

Paul Panks · 03-11-2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matsp

Not having looked at it, I'd say that rewriting it in C++ is an "intermediate" difficultly - far from impossible, but not a "5 minutes whilst browsing the web" either.

--
Mats

True. It does require some patience to re-write in C/C++.

Paul

Paul Panks · 03-11-2009, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matsp

First, you need to understand BOTH languages well. Next you need to have some way of testing the new code, to ensure that it still does the same thing as the old one.

I have looked a bit at the Mini-Basic code now, and it's using an awful lot of global variables and various naughty assembler tricks (like calls to the middle of a function), which makes the task a bit difficult.

--
Mats

Global variables are fine, right? Aren't they useful in such a large program?

Paul

matsp · 03-12-2009, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Panks

Global variables are fine, right? Aren't they useful in such a large program?

Paul

Global variables are hard to keep track of, since it's hard to follow where such variables are being changed. I currently keep some global variables, but a lot of variables are passed around between functions.

And it's only 120KB of source code, so I wouldn't call it a "large" program.

How is your translation work going? Or are you waiting for me to do it for you?

--
Mats

03-09-2009, 04:26 PM	#1
Paul Panks Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 76	Converting MINI-BASIC in MASM over to C++? Is this an easy conversion? Converting MINI-BASIC, written in MASM, over to C++? The Yahoo group for MINI-BASIC is here: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/minibasic/ Paul
Paul Panks is offline

03-09-2009, 05:10 PM	#2
Paul Panks Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 76	I should also note that MINI-BASIC uses the Windows API for display, keyboard and file I/O. This should be easy to convert to C or C++ using the stdlib.h Paul
Paul Panks is offline

03-10-2009, 10:54 AM	#3
Paul Panks Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 76	The original Palo Alto Tiny BASIC appeared in 1976 in the pages of Dr. Dobbs Journal. MINI-BASIC is a modern variant of Palo Alto Tiny BASIC using Windows API calls for screen, keyboard and file I/O. It has 26 variables, A-Z, and 1 array, @(I). Despite these limitations, MINI-BASIC is a robust programming language written in ASM. More commands can be added with ease. Paul
Paul Panks is offline

03-10-2009, 11:03 AM	#4
matsp Kernel hacker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Farncombe, Surrey, England Posts: 15,686	Not having looked at it, I'd say that rewriting it in C++ is an "intermediate" difficultly - far from impossible, but not a "5 minutes whilst browsing the web" either. -- Mats __________________ Compilers can produce warnings - make the compiler programmers happy: Use them! Please don't PM me for help - and no, I don't do help over instant messengers.
matsp is offline

03-10-2009, 12:57 PM	#5
Paul Panks Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 76	What should a person focus on when converting from one language to another? Paul
Paul Panks is offline

03-10-2009, 01:54 PM	#6
matsp Kernel hacker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Farncombe, Surrey, England Posts: 15,686	First, you need to understand BOTH languages well. Next you need to have some way of testing the new code, to ensure that it still does the same thing as the old one. I have looked a bit at the Mini-Basic code now, and it's using an awful lot of global variables and various naughty assembler tricks (like calls to the middle of a function), which makes the task a bit difficult. -- Mats __________________ Compilers can produce warnings - make the compiler programmers happy: Use them! Please don't PM me for help - and no, I don't do help over instant messengers.
matsp is offline

03-10-2009, 02:00 PM	#7
Paul Panks Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 76	Calls to the middle of a function? Could that be causing the occasional (and strange) Windows API error? Paul
Paul Panks is offline

03-10-2009, 05:41 PM	#9
Paul Panks Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 76	Looks good. Is that a mock screen, or the real thing? Paul
Paul Panks is offline

03-10-2009, 07:39 PM	#11
Paul Panks Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 76	Looks good. Keep up the good work. Paul
Paul Panks is offline

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