' ' ' ######################## Max Reason ' ##### README.TXT ##### copyright 1988-2000 ' ######################## Linux XBasic introduction ' ' http://www.xbasic.org ' http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xbasic ' maxreason@maxreason.com ' ' for Linux XBasic ' ' ' ##### introduction ##### ' ' XBasic is a integrated software development environment ' including an advanced compiler, edit/run/debug environment, ' and interactive GuiDesigner. Windows XBasic and Linux XBasic ' are compatible implementations - even applications containing ' extensive graphics and GUI functionality will run unmodified ' on both operating systems without any source-code changes. ' ' XBasic is "open-source freeware". The XBasic compiler and ' edit/run/debug environment are subject to the GPL license ' reproduced in file COPYING included in this distribution. ' The general purpose XBasic function libraries are subject ' to the LGPL license reproduced in file COPYING_LIB included ' in this distribution. All sample programs included with ' this distribution are public-domain unless otherwise ' specified in the sample program itself. ' ' Which license that applies each file is specified near ' the top of the file. ' ' ' ##### install XBasic ##### ' ' You must follow the installation instructions exactly, ' or XBasic will not work properly, if at all. ' ' - Installing from xbasic-$(VERSION)-linux-i386.tar.gz ' (note: replace $(VERSION) with the correct version ' number) ' ' 1. Put the xbasic-$(VERSION)-linux-i386.tar.gz file in ' your / root directory. ' 2. Start an xterm window, then enter the following ' lines: ' cd / ' tar xfz xbasic-$(VERSION)-linux-i386.tar.gz ' ' - Install from xbasic-$(VERSION).i386.rpm ' 1. Start an xterm window, then enter the following ' lines: ' rpm --install xbasic-$(VERSION).i386.rpm ' If a previous version of xbasic was installed, remove it ' first by running 'rpm --erase xbasic-$(VERSION)'. ' ' All files are installed in the /usr/xb directory and ' subdirectories of /usr/xb except a symbolic link to the ' XBasic executable which is installed /usr/bin/xb -> ' /usr/xb/bin/xb and a symbolic link to the XBasic library ' which is installed as /usr/lib/libxb.a -> ' /usr/xb/lib/libxb.a ' ' To run XBasic, enter the following line: ' xb ' ' Previous releases of XBasic created a directory ~/xb and ' copied some files into it. All versions from 6.1.0 ' onwards don't do that anymore and an existing ~/xb ' directory is ignored. ' Previous releases also had a 'master directory' (/usr/xb) ' and a 'working directory' (~/xb). All versions from 6.1.0 ' onward ONLY have a 'master directory' which contains all ' files needed by the XBasic compiler/PDE. You can now use ' any directory as the working directory. Using ~/xb is ' discouraged, using a seperate directory per project is ' strongly encouraged. ' ' ' ##### run XBasic ##### ' ' To run XBasic, simply enter "xb" on an xterm command line. ' Better yet, put a link to /usr/bin/xb on your desktop. ' Thereafter start XBasic by double-clicking the icon. ' ' The first time you run XBasic, select "help+new" and ' "help+notes" in the main window menu-bar and read them. ' ' ' ##### documentation ##### ' ' The old XBasic documentation was in Microsoft Word format. ' The new XBasic documentation is in HTML format, and will ' henceforth be enhanced and improved by XBasic programmers. ' See http://www.maxreason.com/software/xbasic/xbasic.html ' for links to the HTML documentation that you can view ' online and/or download into your computer. ' ' ' ##### build XBasic ##### ' ' All XBasic source code and other files needed to modify ' and rebuild XBasic are in a separate distribution: ' xbasic-$(VERSION)-linux-src.tar.gz. ' Note that because XBasic is written in XBasic you need ' to have an XBasic compiler installed before you're able ' to rebuild XBasic. ' To rebuild XBasic do the following: ' ' 1. Start an xterm window, then enter the following: ' cd /usr/src (or any other directory you like) ' tar xfz xbasic-$(VERSION)-linux-src.tar.gz ' cd xbasic-$VERSION ' make ' make install ' Note: make install installs the new XBasic in ' /usr/xb-$(VERSION). This way you'll still have a ' working XBasic (the one in /usr/xb) if your build ' is faulty. ' ' "make" builds a new XBasic executable. By default, "make" ' finds instructions in the file called "makefile", and is ' equivalent to "make -f makefile". A more secure way to ' ' The files necessary to rebuild XBasic include (at least): ' ' xcm.x ' complex number function library ' xcol.x ' XBasic compiler ' xdis.x ' 32-bit i486+ disassembler ' xgr.x ' graphics function library ' xin.x ' sockets/network/internet library ' xit.x ' integrated development environment ' xma.x ' mathematics function library ' xrun.x ' standalone executable support ' xst.x ' standard function library ' xui.x ' GuiDesigner function library ' ' appstart.s ' standalone executable support ' xlib.s ' core/startup assembly library ' xstart.s ' standalone executable support ' ' many files in xxx subdirectory ' ' ' You can run, modify, debug "xma.x", "xcm.x", "xui.x" ' and possibly "xin.x" in the development environment. ' You can do the same with "xcol.x" if you do what is ' specified near the top of that source-file, but be ' careful not to forget changing those /xxx/ fields ' or you will have endless and unexplainable troubles! ' ' You need to understand what ##WHOMASK and ##LOCKOUT ' are for before you start adding or modifying XBasic. ' Hint: ##WHOMASK self-implements a crude "two-thread" ' scheme that distinguishes memory allocated for the ' development environment from programs running in it. ' And ##LOCKOUT prevents signal being processed inside ' signals where that might cause problems. ' ' ' ##### build executables ##### ' ' To build a standalone executables from applications ' you already debugged in the development environment, ' do the following (assume your program is "prog.x"). ' ' 1. Start an xterm window, then enter: ' cd ' xb prog.x ' make prog.mak ' 2. To execute your application, enter: ' ./prog ' ' ############################## ' ##### Compiling XBasic ##### ' ############################## ' ' To be able to compile XBasic itself you need the following things ' - A working XBasic compiler (note: XBasic is largely written in XBasic ' itself) ' ' To compile XBasic: ' - unpack the sources into a separate directory (from the XBasic binary ' directory) ' - Goto that directory ' - make ' - make install ' ' ' ##### status ##### ' ' This is the first release of XBasic in open-source. ' The documentation included to support development ' of the source-code is minimal at present. Join the ' XBasic mail-list forum for receive and provide help. ' Browse to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xbasic . ' ' ' ##### always ##### ' ' I hope you enjoy XBasic. ' '