Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

FreeBASIC VS B4J

Compare FreeBASIC VS B4J and see what are their differences

FreeBASIC logo FreeBASIC

FreeBASIC is a completely free, open-source, 32-bit BASIC compiler, with syntax similar to...

B4J logo B4J

100% free development tool for cross platform desktop and server apps.
  • FreeBASIC Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-23
  • B4J Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-14

FreeBASIC features and specs

  • Open Source
    FreeBASIC is open source, which means users can access the source code, contribute to the project, and customize it according to their needs.
  • BASIC Language Support
    FreeBASIC offers support for the BASIC programming language, attracting programmers who prefer or are familiar with this language, while also providing modern programming capabilities.
  • Cross-Platform
    It supports multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, and DOS, which allows developers to write programs that can run on different operating systems without significant changes.
  • Compatibility
    FreeBASIC is compatible with Microsoft QuickBASIC and other older BASIC dialects, making it easier for developers to port legacy BASIC code.
  • Strong Community
    The FreeBASIC community is active, providing forums, documentation, and support that can be beneficial for both beginners and advanced users.

Possible disadvantages of FreeBASIC

  • Limited Library Support
    Compared to more popular languages like Python or C++, FreeBASIC has fewer libraries and third-party resources, which can limit functionality and ease of development.
  • Learning Curve for Beginners
    Although BASIC is traditionally seen as beginner-friendly, some aspects of FreeBASIC, especially its more advanced features, might present a learning curve.
  • Less Market Demand
    There is less market demand for FreeBASIC developers compared to more mainstream languages, which might limit job prospects for those who specialize in it.
  • Manual Memory Management
    FreeBASIC requires manual memory management, which can lead to potential errors like memory leaks if not handled properly, particularly for new programmers.
  • Outdated Perception
    BASIC languages, including FreeBASIC, sometimes suffer from an outdated perception that might lead to skepticism about its use for modern applications.

B4J features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Development
    B4J allows for the development of cross-platform applications, which can run on Windows, Mac, and Linux without any modification. This makes it easier to reach a broader audience with a single codebase.
  • Free and Open Source
    B4J is completely free to use with an open-source license, which makes it an attractive option for both small-scale individual developers and larger organizations looking to keep development costs low.
  • Java-Based Framework
    B4J is built on Java, which is a well-established, versatile, and widely-used programming language. This provides access to a large number of libraries and tools available in the Java ecosystem.
  • Easy UI Design
    The B4J framework includes a visual designer tool that simplifies the process of creating user interfaces, particularly beneficial for developers who are not design-oriented.
  • Larger Community Support
    B4J is part of the B4X suite, which has a supportive and active community. This can be helpful for troubleshooting, sharing ideas, and finding resources.

Possible disadvantages of B4J

  • Limited Mobile Support
    While B4J is great for desktop and server applications, it is not designed for mobile app development. Users targeting mobile platforms need to use other tools like B4A (for Android) or B4i (for iOS).
  • Steeper Learning Curve for Non-Java Developers
    Developers who do not have experience with Java may have a steeper learning curve when using B4J, as it requires understanding of Java concepts and integration.
  • Limited Documentation
    Although there is a community and some resources available, the official documentation of B4J might not be as comprehensive as more established frameworks, which could lead to difficulties in finding answers to specific questions.
  • Niche Tool
    B4J is not as widely adopted as some other programming environments, which might make it a niche choice. This could potentially limit career or collaborative opportunities.
  • Potential Performance Overhead
    As B4J applications run on the Java Virtual Machine, there could be performance overheads compared to native applications, especially in resource-constrained environments.

FreeBASIC videos

No FreeBASIC videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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B4J videos

B4J - Foundation

More videos:

  • Review - B4J Linux Mint
  • Review - Review de B4J; Compilador Moderno Para Nostรกlgicos de Visual Basic 6

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to FreeBASIC and B4J)
IDE
62 62%
38% 38
Text Editors
62 62%
38% 38
Programming Language
57 57%
43% 43
OOP
58 58%
42% 42

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare FreeBASIC and B4J

FreeBASIC Reviews

  1. Jose Galeno
    Can Not to Comapre FREEBASIC is a COMPILER NOT AN IDE

    HAS IDE AS FBEdit, FBNP,WINFBE, VisualFB, etc

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Visual Basic
    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Compiler|32|64|Windows linux mac|Mingw32 and mingw64|Free to use|Binding to c, c++

B4J Reviews

Frameworks & Tools to Develop Cross-Platform Desktop Apps โ€“ Best of
B4J is more of an IDE than a cross-platform framework for developing applications that run on Windows, Mac OS & Linux systems and ARM boards (like Pi) as well. This solution lets you write code in B4X language, a modern version of Visual Basic. Your application is built for all the supported platforms and per peopleโ€™s remarks, they work pretty well on the popular desktop...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, FreeBASIC seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 5 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

FreeBASIC mentions (5)

  • Microsoft's Growing Control of Linux
    Outside of Microsoft created QB64: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QB64 - https://lunduke.substack.com/p/the-wild-events-that-nearly-took Outside of Microsoft created Visual Basic IDE: - http://gambas.sourceforge.net/en/main.html - https://github.com/wekan/hx/tree/main/prototypes/ui/gambas Outside of Microsoft created FreeBasic: - https://freebasic.net. - Source: Hacker News / about 4 years ago
  • qb.js: An implementation of QBASIC in Javascript
    If you have linux or windows, you can try freebasic. I believe it has a qbasic compatibility mode. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Ask HN: What are your opinions on modern BASIC dialects?
    Have you looked at https://freebasic.net/ and https://www.qb64.org/portal/ ? It's been ages since I actually wrote code in BASIC, but there do appear to be nice open-source options in the modern world. - Source: Hacker News / almost 5 years ago
  • How to compile a BASIC code in linux ?
    I used https://freebasic.net/ ages ago. Works fine. Source: over 5 years ago
  • Blank Projects - Then And Now
    And here you can live though that pain again: https://freebasic.net/. Source: over 5 years ago

B4J mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of B4J yet. Tracking of B4J recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing FreeBASIC and B4J, you can also consider the following products

PureBasic - Fantaisie Software Official WebSite. PureBasic - Feel The Pure Power. PureBasic is a programming language based on established BASIC rules.

Xojo - Real Software and Real Studio are now Xojo.

Liberty BASIC - Easy Programming for Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, 8 and 10

PowerBASIC - PowerBASIC, formerly Turbo Basic, is the brand of several commercial compilers by PowerBASIC Inc.

QB64 - Development

thinBasic - thinBasic is a simple, flexible, and easy-to-learn interpreted programming language.