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FreeBASIC VS Microsoft Small Basic

Compare FreeBASIC VS Microsoft Small Basic and see what are their differences

FreeBASIC logo FreeBASIC

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

Microsoft Small Basic logo Microsoft Small Basic

Microsoft Small Basic puts the fun back into computer programming.
  • FreeBASIC Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-23
  • Microsoft Small Basic Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-26

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  • Outdated Perception
    BASIC languages, including FreeBASIC, sometimes suffer from an outdated perception that might lead to skepticism about its use for modern applications.

Microsoft Small Basic features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Microsoft Small Basic is specifically designed for beginners and has a very simple and intuitive interface, making it accessible for those who are new to programming.
  • Simplified Syntax
    The language features a simplified syntax, which helps newcomers understand the basics of programming without getting overwhelmed by complex code structures.
  • Educational Tool
    It serves as an excellent educational tool for teaching programming to children and beginners, providing a gentle introduction to software development concepts.
  • Integration with Turtle Graphics
    The built-in Turtle Graphics support allows users to create simple drawings and animations, which is a fun and interactive way to learn programming concepts.
  • Strong Community Support
    The platform has a supportive community and ample learning resources available online, which can be very helpful for beginners.

Possible disadvantages of Microsoft Small Basic

  • Limited Functionality
    Microsoft Small Basic is not suitable for developing complex applications because it lacks advanced features and extensive libraries compared to more comprehensive programming languages.
  • Transition Challenge
    Moving from Small Basic to more advanced programming languages can be challenging as it lacks some fundamental programming concepts found in further-developed languages, like object-oriented programming.
  • Platform Dependence
    Small Basic is tightly integrated with Microsoft Windows, which can limit experimentation and usage on other operating systems.
  • No Real-World Application Development
    As primarily an educational tool, Small Basic isn't intended for real-world application development, which limits its use to mainly educational purposes.

FreeBASIC videos

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Microsoft Small Basic videos

Demonstration of Microsoft Small Basic

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to FreeBASIC and Microsoft Small Basic)
IDE
57 57%
43% 43
Text Editors
57 57%
43% 43
Programming Language
100 100%
0% 0
Website Design
0 0%
100% 100

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 Microsoft Small Basic

FreeBASIC Reviews

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

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

    Competitors: Visual Basic
    Pros:    Compiler|32|64|Windows linux mac|Mingw32 and mingw64|Free to use|Binding to c, c++

Microsoft Small Basic Reviews

We have no reviews of Microsoft Small Basic yet.
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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: almost 5 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

Microsoft Small Basic mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Microsoft Small Basic yet. Tracking of Microsoft Small Basic recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing FreeBASIC and Microsoft Small Basic, 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.

Adobe Dreamweaver - Adobe Dreamweaver is a proprietary web development tool developed by Adobe Systems.

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

Microsoft Visual Studio - Microsoft Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) from Microsoft.

Xojo - Real Software and Real Studio are now Xojo.

Pinegrow - A professional visual editor for Bootstrap 4 and 3, Foundation, responsive design, HTML, and CSS. Convert HTML to WordPress themes.