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+--- Thread: PBDOS -- Where The Love Affair Began (/showthread.php?tid=25)
PBDOS -- Where The Love Affair Began - Frank Ferrell - 01-29-2025
Greetings ....
The love affair with PowerBASIC began for me in the early 1990s, when I received my first PBDOS compiler program disk and manual (Version 2.1). It wasn't long before I moved up the cyber-ladder to Versions 3.0, 3.2 and finally the wonderful PBDOS 3-point-5.
I'm sure that many will agree that PBDOS and its IDE was a welcome change from Microsoft's QBasic/Quickbasic. The QB's were mmmmm, OK, but had several limitations, and at times produced a lot of frustrations.
With PBDOS in general, and V35 in particular, it was wonderful writing programs, aided by several statements and functions not found in the QB's.
If I could pick some statements/functions to add to PBDOS, which would later appear in the Console Compiler series, then these -- BUILD$, CHOOSE/CHOOSE$, WAITKEY$ and XPRINT -- would be at the top of the wish list.
So, that's my story. albeit a brief one. What's yours?
Thanx-A-Lotte, Frank.
RE: PBDOS -- Where The Love Affair Began - Dale Yarker - 01-29-2025
Never had QuickBASIC.
Had TurboBASIC but had a project needing access to MS Access so I bought VisualBASIC 5. Turned out that VisualBASIC Pro was required, and much more expensive (and I could not afford). Also, I absolutely hated the IDE! Cancel the project. Felt cheated (even if I missed some small print somewhere) ,Mm copy of VB basically went in the trash.
Somewhere about that time Mr. Z. got his baby back from Borland. I've used PB ever since.
Cheers,
RE: PBDOS -- Where The Love Affair Began - Frank Ferrell - 01-29-2025
Dale Yarker ---
You've aroused my curiosity regarding your mention of Bob Zale and Borland, and perhaps you can answer this -- When did Mr. Zale join Borland, and when did Borland first release TurboBasic?
Thanx-A-Lotte, Frank
RE: PBDOS -- Where The Love Affair Began - Johan Klassen - 01-29-2025
Quote:AI Overview
Mr. Zale, specifically Robert "Bob" Zale, did not join Borland; instead, Borland purchased his existing BASIC compiler, called "BASIC/Z", which later became known as Turbo Basic when released by Borland in 1987.
Key points about this situation:
Zale's creation: Bob Zale developed "BASIC/Z", the first interactive compiler for CP/M operating system.
Borland acquisition: Borland bought the rights to "BASIC/Z" and rebranded it as "Turbo Basic".
Release date: Turbo Basic was released by Borland in 1987.
RE: PBDOS -- Where The Love Affair Began - George Bleck - 01-29-2025
Can't exactly recall when I started but luckily the internet remembers a little more than I do. I do remember accessing PowerBASIC via CompuServe back many decades ago (long before AOL).
Even predating that I was using PowerBASIC on my BBS (no longer in existance so PLEASE do not call) but it was documented here...
http://bbslist.textfiles.com/516/
Look for "Bleck" (The Watering Hole) ---> Early 1990's, right around when Bob bought it back from Borland.
Prior to that I was cutting myself on Microsoft Extended Color BASIC on the Tandy Coco (1 and 3) as well as writing my own communications programs using assembly language for those chips.
RE: PBDOS -- Where The Love Affair Began - Dale Yarker - 01-29-2025
Thank you, Johan.
Frank, I never said Bob was part of Borland.
He sold them (or it was a work for hire) a compiler that Borland called TurboBASIC. When Borland lost interest in it he got it back from them and called it PowerBASIC.
"... when did Borland first release TurboBasic?" Johan says 1987. I don't remember, or care; all I do remember is was after Sidekick. As a Sidekick customer I got a letter announcing TurboBASIC and TurboPascal (and maybe a third).
RE: PBDOS -- Where The Love Affair Began - Frank Ferrell - 01-29-2025
Thanks to all who have replied so far.
Just for the record, I had no awareness of Bob Zale's exact relationship with Borland. Just knew that his version of BASIC was part of their product line for a time. Appreciate all the clarifications.
RE: PBDOS -- Where The Love Affair Began - Stuart McLachlan - 01-29-2025
FWIW, there's at least one site out there that discusses TurboBaasic in some detail including screen shots and which talks about different versions and support tools released by Borland in the 1987-1989 period.
It says:
For those unfamiliar with the history. the brilliant Bob Zale wrote BASIC/Z, then sold it to Borland where it would become TurboBasic, Bob also went to work at Borland. When Borland shelved TurboBasic Bob bought the rights back and renamed it to PowerBasic where he continued to develop it.
ISTM that it is logical that he worked for them during that time so that he was aware of their intention to drop it and could offer to buy it back.
See http://www.dosdays.co.uk/topics/Software/borland_turbo_basic.php
I'd rather trust that than an AI that is subject to hallucinations
There is also a copy of the TurboBASIC User Manual. Interestingly, the layout and language are almost identical to the PowerBASIC Help and latest Manuals
RE: PBDOS -- Where The Love Affair Began - Eric Pearson - 01-30-2025
I wrote a utility program for my job using GW-BASIC, and the first professional feedback I got was that an interpreted language would not be taken seriously. So I drove to CompUSA and bought the only BASIC compiler they had, Borland TurboBasic. I quit my job and started Perfect Sync in 1987, so I guess it must have been TB 1.x. Support was via phone at first, I remember talking to somebody named Erica. Then CompuServe became the primary support channel. There was a dedicated BBS for a long time, but it was mostly for downloads.