Expert to Expert: The Basics of SmallBasic

Posted By: Charles | Jan 20th @ 11:00 AM | 75,864 Views | 25 Comments
SmallBasic is a new programming language aimed at beginners. It was created as a side project of Vijaye Raji, a software developer on the Oslo team. SmallBasic is a very limited language with only a handful of keywords and a small set of concepts that should make builing an application on Windows very simple for beginners. However, don't let it's simplicity fool you into thinking that you can't build very compelling applications with it on Windows...

Here, programming language designer (and de facto Expert to Expert host) Erik Meijer, Oslo architect Chris Anderson, Vijaye Raji and I discuss the details behind, in between and in front of SmallBasic. Why was it created in the first place? Why the VB-like syntax? What's the goal of the language and runtime, anyway, given that there are already beginning languages out there that run on the Microsoft stack? Why is the language designed in the way that it is? Why is it so popular? How will it evolve? You know, typical Channel 9 questions. We go pretty deep here, but we don't touch bottom. It was a lot of fun taking part in this conversation and I am impressed with SmallBasic and the folks behind it.

Tune in. If you want to know the details behind (and in front of) SmallBasic, then this conversation is for you.

Enjoy
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#Jan 21st @ 6:07 PM
jlcard
jlcard
Would it be dificult to make "Small C#" ? or is it out there already? if not I would like to help creating the equivalent editor for such a thing Smiley
#Jan 21st @ 8:06 PM
dot_tom
dot_tom
While I have no particular love any more for BASIC (in all its forms) as a language per say, I think the goals of this project are utterly brilliant. When it comes to shipping this with Windows you'll need to be very careful that this doesn't end up being another attack vector. The reimaging of IntelliSense is also very fetching. It's going to be very interesting to watch this language since by its very nature it's going to be defined by what it doesn't include...

What I really want is the C# 4+ eval loop that Anders demoed at PDC 2008 in a SmallBasic-esc IDE, not for in-anger work but just for code doodles.
#Jan 21st @ 8:18 PM
Charles
Charles
Welcome Change
The simplicity of SmallBasic is truly cool.

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#Jan 22nd @ 2:20 AM
vesuvius
vesuvius
Das Glasperlenspiel
This is splendiferous. I love the fact that someone like Erik has his antennae towards SmallBasic. Vijaye does make his justifications well. Most people would just do what they were told if they were speaking with Chris and Erik.

I wonder what Anders or Paul Vick think of this?

With the regard to this being included in Windows, I for one would love it to be so. It is quite easy to SandBox a lot of the nefarious functionality anyway, so hopefully this can be included in Windows 8 or 9 if it matures well.
#Jan 22nd @ 3:45 AM
stevo_
stevo_
Human after all
Sorry but most of those ideas are pants, especially the first.. "I don't want my kids to waste their time in typing long words".. the hell?
#Jan 22nd @ 8:01 AM
dot_tom
dot_tom
Is there any chance we can get a version that install on the Windows 7 beta? Smiley
#Jan 22nd @ 9:09 AM
Charles
Charles
Welcome Change
I'm running it on Win7 Beta with no issues.
C
#Jan 22nd @ 11:09 AM
esoteric
esoteric
λ
It would be cool with a pure version of this environment for kids as well - where you can't in fact say x += 1. Something to prevent corruption of the mind Wink
#Jan 22nd @ 12:02 PM
finches
finches
This is an absolutely amazing idea.  When I was a kid I couldn't afford to have a PC, so the first thing I'd look for on everyone elses computer was qb45 and code away.  I almost wish I had a kid just to teach them Small Basic Smiley
Great work Vijaye!
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