"Q: Where comes the Name Great Cow Basic from?
I found same Question in the Forum, but no answer from the Origin Author"
I asked that also.
I am surprised the old programmers are still used. The parallel ones I used once are not supported.
As Anobium said, some programmers and software are not simple. Maybe I was lucky only using pk2 and a UNO and it's been fine and a beginner could do it easy. Not everyone is modern pc literate and using pk3 seems complicated to me as does the info for using GCB demos and folder usage in latest 0.98 rc6.
I'm the type of windows user that does everything with a mouse and types with one finger.
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I'm a linuxer, buying pickit was done without much experience for PIC, in the past I did use the famous http://sprut.de/electronic/pic/brenner/index.htm#brenner8) from sprut. I find the usage of pickit3 is reasonable. But I love command lines anyway, as I feel to get the full control ;-)
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I wish I could use the linux terminal easily. As you say "control".
It is good that GCB is usable for a pc novice.
GCB making just flashing the hex with only changes to programming batch files is so easy compared to the parallel port programmers I built and dos software years ago.
I was flashing a led on a uno in less than an hour, first time use, so simple, no soldering.
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Q: Why are my ports floating at start up, neither inputs or outputs? I've set the direction in my header file, but this doesn't seem to work. Why?
A: If the port direction is attempted to be set from within a header file, it may not be set correctly leaving the port in an ambiguous state. If the port direction is set from within a SubRoutine then called with the 'StartUp' directive within the header file, this will work.
Is it 1,2,3 or 4? Press your buzzers now!
1- 42
2_ It's the little people.
3- The compiler is being optimistic.
4- The line's in an include file.
As for linux, I got a rpi using last debian after jessie. Ironic if it worked...could it?
If anyone requests..I'll try, but I'm rubbish with linux..and windows.
GCB linux that is.
Last edit: stan cartwright 2017-10-12
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If the first element of an array is the length off the array..I think it is then
for ptr=1 to array(0) should work but I forgot and used
dim array (432) as byte
Had to rearrange code. Wonder what happened.to array(0)
Is dim array(432) 432 bytes + 1 ie len which overflows past 255?
I'm reading tables into an array and tables I found are 255 elements long max.
lots of fun and working but thought reading data from an array would be faster than from a table.
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This works fairly well (I use it in this way at home and at work) but the context sensitive help doesn't work as expected and WINE doesn't seem to recognise a PicKit3 in this way. I use MPLAB IPE to program my chips (a Mac version of this is available from MicroChip).
I have installed SumatraPDF to open the help files. Sumatra PDF works almost as well as the original help system, with context sensitive results displayed when F1 is pressed. Installing this requires a little work, I have detailed some of the steps required on the forum.
I find that nothing about minimum Hardware requirements is annonced for Great Cow BASIC.
As I've found in another trhead, there is one user at least with an old Pentium III Pc on the road.
So who has experience how low can RAM go, before something stops to work properly?
Of course the GCB@SYN takes much more than a commandline Version...
We should give a Hint.
I.e. Win 2000 2GB is working, or is not working
Pentium III takes about x Minutes to compile https://sourceforge.net/p/gcbasic/discussion/579126/thread/614b8880/#d0bb
My wish is not to compare a discussion Windows XP; Win 10 or others, but to express a minimum requirement or better a minimum recommendation, how much memory, disk space and which processor is needed to use the system wisely.
Any suggestions an experience?
Last edit: bed 2017-12-05
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The Installation section of the FAQ regarding the Apple Operating System (OS X, now known as macOS) is out of date. The GCB compiler now runs natively on OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) onwards.
The precompiled version of the GCB compiler available with the graphical installer is a 64 bit application that has been tested on High Sierra 10.13 and Mohave 10.14. The Help contains comprehensive instructions for compiling your own version of the GCB compiler.
The native compiler is much faster than running the Windows version under WINE or Virtual Box or Parallels or VMware. The Windows Graphical GCB compiler and Windows IDE is not available, but there are many macOS IDE alternatives (eg Geany, Emacs, etc).
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Q: Why the hell is the rar File for Linux (and Mac?) encrypted? A: There are software portals that do nothing other than catalog and provide free software for download. That's not really a big deal, but they are often out of date and offer ancient versions. In addition, they earn advertising revenue that does not benefit the project.
Is this ok?
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"Q: Where comes the Name Great Cow Basic from?
I found same Question in the Forum, but no answer from the Origin Author"
I asked that also.
I am surprised the old programmers are still used. The parallel ones I used once are not supported.
As Anobium said, some programmers and software are not simple. Maybe I was lucky only using pk2 and a UNO and it's been fine and a beginner could do it easy. Not everyone is modern pc literate and using pk3 seems complicated to me as does the info for using GCB demos and folder usage in latest 0.98 rc6.
I'm the type of windows user that does everything with a mouse and types with one finger.
I'm a linuxer, buying pickit was done without much experience for PIC, in the past I did use the famous http://sprut.de/electronic/pic/brenner/index.htm#brenner8) from sprut. I find the usage of pickit3 is reasonable. But I love command lines anyway, as I feel to get the full control ;-)
I wish I could use the linux terminal easily. As you say "control".
It is good that GCB is usable for a pc novice.
GCB making just flashing the hex with only changes to programming batch files is so easy compared to the parallel port programmers I built and dos software years ago.
I was flashing a led on a uno in less than an hour, first time use, so simple, no soldering.
Yes with Windows and using the delievered IDE it it is very comfortable, I tihnk.
But let's turn to Topic.
Any further FAQ Entry suggestions?
Q: Why are my ports floating at start up, neither inputs or outputs? I've set the direction in my header file, but this doesn't seem to work. Why?
A: If the port direction is attempted to be set from within a header file, it may not be set correctly leaving the port in an ambiguous state. If the port direction is set from within a SubRoutine then called with the 'StartUp' directive within the header file, this will work.
This won't work:
This will work:
Last edit: mkstevo 2017-10-02
Entry commited. Thank you!
Rumors are in te air that the relaunch of the New Homepage is near ;-)
Any Questions and Solutions from / for Apple/ MACOS Users?
Why do I get error in line 350 when my program is only 30 lines long?
@Stan. And the answer is?
Is it 1,2,3 or 4? Press your buzzers now!
1- 42
2_ It's the little people.
3- The compiler is being optimistic.
4- The line's in an include file.
As for linux, I got a rpi using last debian after jessie. Ironic if it worked...could it?
If anyone requests..I'll try, but I'm rubbish with linux..and windows.
GCB linux that is.
Last edit: stan cartwright 2017-10-12
If the first element of an array is the length off the array..I think it is then
for ptr=1 to array(0) should work but I forgot and used
dim array (432) as byte
Had to rearrange code. Wonder what happened.to array(0)
Is dim array(432) 432 bytes + 1 ie len which overflows past 255?
I'm reading tables into an array and tables I found are 255 elements long max.
lots of fun and working but thought reading data from an array would be faster than from a table.
Q.Can I use GCB on a Mac?
A.Yes, GCB and the IDE (SynWrite) can be run on a Mac, with some qualification. GCB, the IDE and Compiler can be installed into a 'WINE' environment.
Some more detailed instructions here:
https://sourceforge.net/p/gcbasic/discussion/629990/thread/2dc2255b/#4985
This works fairly well (I use it in this way at home and at work) but the context sensitive help doesn't work as expected and WINE doesn't seem to recognise a PicKit3 in this way. I use MPLAB IPE to program my chips (a Mac version of this is available from MicroChip).
I have installed SumatraPDF to open the help files. Sumatra PDF works almost as well as the original help system, with context sensitive results displayed when F1 is pressed. Installing this requires a little work, I have detailed some of the steps required on the forum.
https://sourceforge.net/p/gcbasic/discussion/579125/thread/764409f8/#8c40
I also detailed some changes I made to the compile time which I found to be very slow under WINE, details here:
https://sourceforge.net/p/gcbasic/discussion/629990/thread/2dc2255b/#4985
Nice, took over. Ps: the relaunch of the new Homepage is very near, I promise!
As the FAQ is now published, see https://sourceforge.net/p/gcbasic/discussion/579125/thread/a2bc4617/ I consider the Qs and As until today are all migrated.
If you still have concerns, new FAQ Entries, whatever, this Thread is the right place for it.
I find that nothing about minimum Hardware requirements is annonced for Great Cow BASIC.
As I've found in another trhead, there is one user at least with an old Pentium III Pc on the road.
So who has experience how low can RAM go, before something stops to work properly?
Of course the GCB@SYN takes much more than a commandline Version...
We should give a Hint.
I.e. Win 2000 2GB is working, or is not working
Pentium III takes about x Minutes to compile https://sourceforge.net/p/gcbasic/discussion/579126/thread/614b8880/#d0bb
My wish is not to compare a discussion Windows XP; Win 10 or others, but to express a minimum requirement or better a minimum recommendation, how much memory, disk space and which processor is needed to use the system wisely.
Any suggestions an experience?
Last edit: bed 2017-12-05
The Installation section of the FAQ regarding the Apple Operating System (OS X, now known as macOS) is out of date. The GCB compiler now runs natively on OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) onwards.
The precompiled version of the GCB compiler available with the graphical installer is a 64 bit application that has been tested on High Sierra 10.13 and Mohave 10.14. The Help contains comprehensive instructions for compiling your own version of the GCB compiler.
The native compiler is much faster than running the Windows version under WINE or Virtual Box or Parallels or VMware. The Windows Graphical GCB compiler and Windows IDE is not available, but there are many macOS IDE alternatives (eg Geany, Emacs, etc).
@Trev. Any of this good information missing from the Help?
Maybe :)
@Trev: If you like tell me your new FAQ Text and I'm happy to put it on place.
Done!
I updated the FAQ. @ All: let me know if you do have concerns, or improvements
http://gcbasic.sourceforge.net/Typesetter/index.php/FAQ
Q: Why the hell is the rar File for Linux (and Mac?) encrypted?
A: There are software portals that do nothing other than catalog and provide free software for download. That's not really a big deal, but they are often out of date and offer ancient versions. In addition, they earn advertising revenue that does not benefit the project.
Is this ok?
@Bed. Perfect. Well apart from the 'hell' word.
Why the heck is the rar File encrypted.
Better?
OK. :-)