FreeBASIC for Windows

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FreeBASIC is an open source (GPL} BASIC programming language and compiler for Microsoft Windows, licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL). As of this writing, FreeBASIC can be used to run a variety of Windows-based applications. As is the case with most languages, there are many extensions that support different programming languages, allowing users the ability to write one application and have it run on Windows, Unix, Mac OS X, Linux or other platforms. As is the case with most other languages, though, those same extensions will also likely require that you adapt the relevant C++ code for your Windows application in order for it to run properly. This results in a large number of common coding errors that occur in the final build, leading to a large number of bugs that are rarely noticed and often remain unnoticed by programmers who are not experienced with the intricacies of the C/C++ coding.

FreeBASIC was developed by Bill Atkinson and Robert Barber, two long-time hobbyists with a strong commitment to usability and programmability. While working on an internet accelerator project, Bill and Robert discovered that there were many limitations with their current BIS technology and ultimately decided to develop FreeBASIC as an open source programming language. While it has only been in the past few years that the product has seen significant development, it already possesses a large following among developers and is used in hundreds of applications. As a result, the number of people looking for a free B BASIC program has significantly increased since the product was first released.

The primary goal of FreeBASIC was to provide a high level of portability while maintaining full compatibility between the B BASIC programming language code and any other computer languages which may be used. Since its release, many new versions of FreeBASIC have been released for both Windows and Apple Macintosh computers. While no changes have been made to the basic code, many new features such as support for a large number of languages (including HTML), support for multiple device drivers, support for a large number of databases, and an extensive database support and error reporting tool have been added. Because of its simplicity, FreeBASIC runs quickly and is easy to learn. In addition, because many of the new features require no changes to the software, the language mode of FreeBASIC can be kept as is, and users do not need to be concerned with compatibility issues that often arise with other programs written using the C++ programming language.