Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PowerBASIC VS GNU Compiler Collection

Compare PowerBASIC VS GNU Compiler Collection and see what are their differences

PowerBASIC logo PowerBASIC

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

GNU Compiler Collection logo GNU Compiler Collection

The GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) is a compiler system produced by the GNU Project supporting...
  • PowerBASIC Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-18
  • GNU Compiler Collection Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-12

PowerBASIC features and specs

  • Performance
    PowerBASIC compiles to highly optimized machine code, resulting in fast and efficient executables with minimal overhead.
  • Compact Executables
    The language is known for creating small and compact executables which are beneficial for performance and memory usage, especially in resource-constrained environments.
  • Legacy Support
    It is well-suited for maintaining and updating legacy BASIC applications, providing continuity for long-standing projects.
  • Low-Level Programming
    PowerBASIC offers direct access to system hardware and memory manipulation, which can be a significant advantage for system programmers.
  • Ease of Use
    The syntax is relatively straightforward, especially for those already familiar with BASIC, reducing the learning curve for new users.

Possible disadvantages of PowerBASIC

  • Limited Modern Features
    PowerBASIC lacks some of the modern programming constructs and libraries that are available in more contemporary programming languages.
  • Platform Limitations
    Primarily designed for Windows, PowerBASIC does not offer native support for other platforms, limiting cross-platform development capabilities.
  • Smaller User Community
    The user community for PowerBASIC is smaller compared to more popular languages, which can lead to fewer resources for support and collaboration.
  • Proprietary Nature
    As a proprietary product, PowerBASIC may involve licensing fees and does not offer the open-source flexibility that some developers prefer.
  • Less Frequent Updates
    The development and release of updates are less frequent compared to more mainstream programming environments, potentially impacting feature availability and bug fixes.

GNU Compiler Collection features and specs

  • Open Source
    GCC is free software and its source code is open to the public, allowing developers to contribute, modify, and distribute it.
  • Cross-Platform
    GCC supports a wide range of hardware architectures and operating systems, making it highly versatile for different development environments.
  • Multi-language Support
    It supports multiple programming languages, including C, C++, Fortran, Ada, Go, and more, providing flexibility for developers working in different contexts.
  • Optimization
    GCC provides powerful optimization capabilities that can improve the performance of the compiled code significantly.
  • Strong Community
    There is a large and active community of users and developers that contribute to the project's continuous improvement and provide extensive support.

Possible disadvantages of GNU Compiler Collection

  • Complexity
    GCC can be complex and somewhat daunting for beginners due to its wide array of command-line options and settings.
  • Compilation Speed
    In some cases, GCC can be slower to compile compared to some commercial compilers, particularly at high optimization levels.
  • Error Messages
    The error diagnostics can sometimes be cryptic or less user-friendly, which can make debugging difficult for less experienced programmers.
  • Default Settings
    GCC defaults might not always be the most optimized for every use case, requiring users to manually configure options for best performance.

PowerBASIC videos

PowerBasic demos - MSXturboR/GFX9000 - 1994

GNU Compiler Collection videos

The GNU Compiler Collection, Dr Jeremy Bennett at Manchester Free Software

More videos:

  • Review - What's New in the GNU Compiler Collection

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PowerBASIC and GNU Compiler Collection)
Programming Language
100 100%
0% 0
IDE
31 31%
69% 69
Email Marketing
0 0%
100% 100
Text Editors
43 43%
57% 57

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GNU Compiler Collection seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 41 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.

PowerBASIC mentions (0)

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

GNU Compiler Collection mentions (41)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing PowerBASIC and GNU Compiler Collection, 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.

clang - C, C++, Objective C and Objective C++ front-end for the LLVM compiler.

Xojo - Real Software and Real Studio are now Xojo.

Tiny C Compiler - The Tiny C Compiler is an x86, x86-64 and ARM processor C compiler created by Fabrice Bellard.

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

Portable C Compiler - pcc is a C99 compiler which aims to be small, simple, fast and understandable.