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1 '
2 '
3 ' ######################## Max Reason
4 ' ##### README.TXT ##### copyright 1988-2000
5 ' ######################## Linux XBasic introduction
6 '
7 ' http://www.xbasic.org
8 ' http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xbasic
9 ' maxreason@maxreason.com
10 '
11 ' for Linux XBasic
12 '
13 '
14 ' ##### introduction #####
15 '
16 ' XBasic is a integrated software development environment
17 ' including an advanced compiler, edit/run/debug environment,
18 ' and interactive GuiDesigner. Windows XBasic and Linux XBasic
19 ' are compatible implementations - even applications containing
20 ' extensive graphics and GUI functionality will run unmodified
21 ' on both operating systems without any source-code changes.
22 '
23 ' XBasic is "open-source freeware". The XBasic compiler and
24 ' edit/run/debug environment are subject to the GPL license
25 ' reproduced in file COPYING included in this distribution.
26 ' The general purpose XBasic function libraries are subject
27 ' to the LGPL license reproduced in file COPYING_LIB included
28 ' in this distribution. All sample programs included with
29 ' this distribution are public-domain unless otherwise
30 ' specified in the sample program itself.
31 '
32 ' Which license that applies each file is specified near
33 ' the top of the file.
34 '
35 '
36 ' ##### install XBasic #####
37 '
38 ' You must follow the installation instructions exactly,
39 ' or XBasic will not work properly, if at all.
40 '
41 ' - Installing from xbasic-$(VERSION)-linux-i386.tar.gz
42 ' (note: replace $(VERSION) with the correct version
43 ' number)
44 '
45 ' 1. Put the xbasic-$(VERSION)-linux-i386.tar.gz file in
46 ' your / root directory.
47 ' 2. Start an xterm window, then enter the following
48 ' lines:
49 ' cd /
50 ' tar xfz xbasic-$(VERSION)-linux-i386.tar.gz
51 '
52 ' - Install from xbasic-$(VERSION).i386.rpm
53 ' 1. Start an xterm window, then enter the following
54 ' lines:
55 ' rpm --install xbasic-$(VERSION).i386.rpm
56 ' If a previous version of xbasic was installed, remove it
57 ' first by running 'rpm --erase xbasic-$(VERSION)'.
58 '
59 ' All files are installed in the /usr/xb directory and
60 ' subdirectories of /usr/xb except a symbolic link to the
61 ' XBasic executable which is installed /usr/bin/xb ->
62 ' /usr/xb/bin/xb and a symbolic link to the XBasic library
63 ' which is installed as /usr/lib/libxb.a ->
64 ' /usr/xb/lib/libxb.a
65 '
66 ' To run XBasic, enter the following line:
67 ' xb
68 '
69 ' Previous releases of XBasic created a directory ~/xb and
70 ' copied some files into it. All versions from 6.1.0
71 ' onwards don't do that anymore and an existing ~/xb
72 ' directory is ignored.
73 ' Previous releases also had a 'master directory' (/usr/xb)
74 ' and a 'working directory' (~/xb). All versions from 6.1.0
75 ' onward ONLY have a 'master directory' which contains all
76 ' files needed by the XBasic compiler/PDE. You can now use
77 ' any directory as the working directory. Using ~/xb is
78 ' discouraged, using a seperate directory per project is
79 ' strongly encouraged.
80 '
81 '
82 ' ##### run XBasic #####
83 '
84 ' To run XBasic, simply enter "xb" on an xterm command line.
85 ' Better yet, put a link to /usr/bin/xb on your desktop.
86 ' Thereafter start XBasic by double-clicking the icon.
87 '
88 ' The first time you run XBasic, select "help+new" and
89 ' "help+notes" in the main window menu-bar and read them.
90 '
91 '
92 ' ##### documentation #####
93 '
94 ' The old XBasic documentation was in Microsoft Word format.
95 ' The new XBasic documentation is in HTML format, and will
96 ' henceforth be enhanced and improved by XBasic programmers.
97 ' See http://www.maxreason.com/software/xbasic/xbasic.html
98 ' for links to the HTML documentation that you can view
99 ' online and/or download into your computer.
100 '
101 '
102 ' ##### build XBasic #####
103 '
104 ' All XBasic source code and other files needed to modify
105 ' and rebuild XBasic are in a separate distribution:
106 ' xbasic-$(VERSION)-linux-src.tar.gz.
107 ' Note that because XBasic is written in XBasic you need
108 ' to have an XBasic compiler installed before you're able
109 ' to rebuild XBasic.
110 ' To rebuild XBasic do the following:
111 '
112 ' 1. Start an xterm window, then enter the following:
113 ' cd /usr/src (or any other directory you like)
114 ' tar xfz xbasic-$(VERSION)-linux-src.tar.gz
115 ' cd xbasic-$VERSION
116 ' make
117 ' make install
118 ' Note: make install installs the new XBasic in
119 ' /usr/xb-$(VERSION). This way you'll still have a
120 ' working XBasic (the one in /usr/xb) if your build
121 ' is faulty.
122 '
123 ' "make" builds a new XBasic executable. By default, "make"
124 ' finds instructions in the file called "makefile", and is
125 ' equivalent to "make -f makefile". A more secure way to
126 '
127 ' The files necessary to rebuild XBasic include (at least):
128 '
129 ' xcm.x ' complex number function library
130 ' xcol.x ' XBasic compiler
131 ' xdis.x ' 32-bit i486+ disassembler
132 ' xgr.x ' graphics function library
133 ' xin.x ' sockets/network/internet library
134 ' xit.x ' integrated development environment
135 ' xma.x ' mathematics function library
136 ' xrun.x ' standalone executable support
137 ' xst.x ' standard function library
138 ' xui.x ' GuiDesigner function library
139 '
140 ' appstart.s ' standalone executable support
141 ' xlib.s ' core/startup assembly library
142 ' xstart.s ' standalone executable support
143 ' ' many files in xxx subdirectory
144 '
145 '
146 ' You can run, modify, debug "xma.x", "xcm.x", "xui.x"
147 ' and possibly "xin.x" in the development environment.
148 ' You can do the same with "xcol.x" if you do what is
149 ' specified near the top of that source-file, but be
150 ' careful not to forget changing those /xxx/ fields
151 ' or you will have endless and unexplainable troubles!
152 '
153 ' You need to understand what ##WHOMASK and ##LOCKOUT
154 ' are for before you start adding or modifying XBasic.
155 ' Hint: ##WHOMASK self-implements a crude "two-thread"
156 ' scheme that distinguishes memory allocated for the
157 ' development environment from programs running in it.
158 ' And ##LOCKOUT prevents signal being processed inside
159 ' signals where that might cause problems.
160 '
161 '
162 ' ##### build executables #####
163 '
164 ' To build a standalone executables from applications
165 ' you already debugged in the development environment,
166 ' do the following (assume your program is "prog.x").
167 '
168 ' 1. Start an xterm window, then enter:
169 ' cd <source directory>
170 ' xb prog.x
171 ' make prog.mak
172 ' 2. To execute your application, enter:
173 ' ./prog
174 '
175 ' ##############################
176 ' ##### Compiling XBasic #####
177 ' ##############################
178 '
179 ' To be able to compile XBasic itself you need the following things
180 ' - A working XBasic compiler (note: XBasic is largely written in XBasic
181 ' itself)
182 '
183 ' To compile XBasic:
184 ' - unpack the sources into a separate directory (from the XBasic binary
185 ' directory)
186 ' - Goto that directory
187 ' - make
188 ' - make install
189 '
190 '
191 ' ##### status #####
192 '
193 ' This is the first release of XBasic in open-source.
194 ' The documentation included to support development
195 ' of the source-code is minimal at present. Join the
196 ' XBasic mail-list forum for receive and provide help.
197 ' Browse to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xbasic .
198 '
199 '
200 ' ##### always #####
201 '
202 ' I hope you enjoy XBasic.
203 '
204 '