The Unique Features of the Small Basic Language

The Unique Features of the Small Basic Language

This article originates with the question in the  Small Basic FAQ. We wanted to give the community a chance to answer this question in depth.  

What are the unique features of the Small Basic language?

  • Imperative
    Just like the early variants of BASIC, Small Basic is imperative and doesn't use or expose beginners to concepts like scopes, types, object orientation, and more.
     
  • Size
    The Small Basic language consists of just 14 keywords
     
  • Ease of Use
    The language only uses text operators (AND, OR); not symbol operators like { } or & and |    
      
  • Easy to Share 
    Share programs easily with the "Publish" and "Import" buttons, which share programs to and from the Small Basic program share server (smallbasic.com). Example.
     
  • Type System
    There actually isn't one. You can create string and numeric constants and assign them to variables. Operations performed on these variables will be interpreted according to the content. 
     
  • Variables
    All variables are global and are always initialized. They can often be used before they're assigned. Even better, they are all of one type, rather than integers, strings, etc. 
     
  • Events
    You can create a sub-routine and assign it to an event. This will wire the it up to an the event. 
     
  • Libraries / Extensibility
    The libraries provide static "Objects" that group operations, properties and events. New libraries can be created using other .Net Languages and added to the Small Basic runtime. For example, anyone can write a library in C# or VB and copy the DLL into the Small Basic "lib" folder and use those functions in the Small Basic language!   
        
  • Graduate to Visual Basic 
    By clicking the "Graduate" button, you can move your program into Visual Basic and continue to learn programming, building the skills of a professional developer!
     

Add more unique features to this list!


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  • Fernando Lugão Veltem edited Revision 13. Comment: removed en-US from the title

  • Ed Price - MSFT edited Revision 9. Comment: Added "often"

  • Ed Price - MSFT edited Revision 8. Comment: Added "Easy to Share" and "Graduate to Visual Basic"

  • Ed Price - MSFT edited Revision 7. Comment: Adding white space between bullets. Great additions, Gungan!

  • gungan37 edited Revision 6. Comment: Edited libraries

  • gungan37 edited Revision 5. Comment: Edited type system

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Comments
  • gungan37 edited Revision 5. Comment: Edited type system

  • gungan37 edited Revision 6. Comment: Edited libraries

  • Ed Price - MSFT edited Revision 7. Comment: Adding white space between bullets. Great additions, Gungan!

  • Varaibles can not always be used befor assignment:  e.g.  a=3*b  gives an error   b has no value

  • Ed Price - MSFT edited Revision 8. Comment: Added "Easy to Share" and "Graduate to Visual Basic"

  • Ed Price - MSFT edited Revision 9. Comment: Added "often"

  • Thanks, WhTurner!

    I clarified that statement.

  • Fernando Lugão Veltem edited Revision 13. Comment: removed en-US from the title

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