[Coco] Re: Urbane pre-processor

[farna at att.net]

So Urbane needs to run on a PC, then the resulting executable transferred to a CoCo, or does the whole thing run on a CoCo? My understanding, from reading here on the list, is that you write your program in Urbane, and can use long variable and line label names, then Urbane transforms your source code into an executable program. Do you use any old word processor/editor to write the code, or a specific Urbane editor? 

Is the resulting program in DECB or machine code? That's assuming I'm correct. 

--
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Independent 
Magazine" (AIM)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AIM.html
(free download available!)

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sat, 4 Mar 2006 19:58:24 -0800
From: "Stephen H. Fischer" <SFischer1 at MindSpring.com>
Subject: Re: [Coco] Re: Coco Digest, Vol 31, Issue 12


Hi,

farna at att.net wrote:

>
> I agree with you on one thing whole heartedly -- DECB is easy to learn
> and use. It could use some extending, like being able to have longer
> programs (similar to 512 Basic) and using larger variable names (even
> three digits instead of two helps a lot!).

How about long unique variable names? (255 characters)

Would you like NO line numbers, long Line Label names? (255 characters)

Urbane is available right now! http://www.coco3.com/go.php?url=urbane

As the Comments are not included in the "Run" version and all the variables
are mapped to 2 character names, larger programs can be run.

All DECB commands and keywords are supported. Any CoCo platform can be the
target, 1, 2, 3 or emulator.

> At this point if you could make such a system and make it mostly CoCo3
> compatible, and forget about CoCo 1/2, you'd have made quite an
> achievement! The only problem would be the expanded BASIC wouldn't run on
> a CoCo3. If it can be made to run CoCo3 BASIC and M/L programs and at
> least most games, that would be enough.
>
> --
> Frank Swygert

If there is sufficient interest, DECB can be made much more attractive. I do
wonder how many people would use the new systems. I chose a preprocessor
path as a lot can be gained with less effort than trying to expand DECB.

There is a lot that can be done without rewriting DECB. With Urbane you can 
write routines that can be inserted into any program easily and you can 
share them with all of us. Unless you get silly and try and do something 
that is not reasonable on a CoCo there are very few limits.

I hear about things that are being worked on, but I hear very little about
people wanting to use them. The users need to speak up.

Stephen H. Fischer