John Schettino's Review of NS BASIC

[Note: This is a review of version 1.01. As such, it doesn't reflect many of the enhancements that have been done to NS BASIC since then. However, it does do a nice job of explaining NS BASIC]

Hello, list!

I was a beta tester for NS Basic, and (after getting the OK from George W.P. Henne) I thought I'd give the net a review of it. The following disclaimers apply:

- I was a beta tester
- I was not paid, and am not being paid for an endorsement
- I'm a Newton Toolkit Demo owner/user/NewtonScript Programmer
In other words, this review is worth what you paid for it!

The Review:

It's Basic

NS Basic works! If you are a Basic fan, you'll love it. It works as advertised, providing a dialect of Basic that will look very familiar to users of MS Basic on DOS (yech!) or CP/M (wow - showing his age!). This means you have line-numbered statements, line-oriented editing, and gosub/goto flow control. This is *not* structured Basic. What can you do with NS Basic? For one thing, you can go out and buy a book like "Basic Basic", and type in any program, and it will work. All you folks that are waiting for a programming language for the Newton can stop waiting.

It's Newton Basic

If this were just simple Basic, ported to the Newton, I'd pass on it. It's not. NS Basic knows all about the Newton's way of storing information. Using it, you can read and write information to files (called soups on the Newton). You can access the built in soups on your Newton. You'll want to get a soup browser (Stew-Pot, shareware, on newton.uiowa.edu works well) so you can figure out the internal structure of the built-in soups.

NS Basic also knows NewtonScript, sort of. You can use NewtonScript constructs to call built-in Newton functions, access information in other applications, pass information to other apps on your Newton, and start (or quit) applications via NS Basic. It's like a scripting language for your Newton.

It Does Windows

There are a suite of commands that let you build simple window based programs with buttons that can be tapped, and handwritten input fields with popup pick lists. You're not going to write apps using NS Basic, but you can make a more Newton-like interface to your Basic programs.

It's Usable

NS Basic opens to a text window that shows your program in a tiny font. Not really tiny, but at 9 points, not very readable for us old folks (remember that CP/M reference?) The keyboard is opened for you. You can peck away while at the park, on the plane, etc. There are two pop-up lists that act as short cuts (pasting in the commands or statements) as well as an on-line manual of sorts, since they include the parameters that each command or statement expects. You can edit a line by tapping on it in the display window. You can also edit a line by entering a new line with the same line number.

There is a very useful "serial mode" where you can hook your Newton to any serial device (Mac or PC running a communications program, or even a terminal!) Once you've entered this mode, that tiny text display is disabled, and everything you type on the PC/Terminal is routed to NS Basic, while all its output goes to your terminal. Heaven! Editing in this mode is reduced to retyping lines, but using cut&paste you can use the editor of your choice.

Love it, Warts and All

This is the initial release of what will evolve into the MS Basic of the Newton - maybe! But, like the first release of any product, there are some problems. First, the speed is not what I would call breathtaking. Considering that this is a threaded interpreter running on a threaded interpreter, I'm impressed at the speed. You may not be. The NS BASIC press release says "up to 20 lines per second" are executed, and that may be true. The reality of 20 lps is that most programs feel slow. Many of the user interactions are also slow, such as entering programs (it takes a moment for each line to be processed.) Hang in there, because this is one app that will really benefit from that native-mode NewtonScript Compiler, due out "real soon now" from Apple.

Another problem is that there is no way to stop a run-away program short of a reboot. Many users are not comfortable rebooting their Newtons (it reminds them that it *is* a computer!). I've found that sleep-aid (shareware, on newton.uiowa.edu) will still pop-up and let you reboot the Newton even if a program is running wild, avoiding the reset button in the battery compartment.

Recommendation

Buy it, if you love Basic. Buy it, if you want to program your Newton, and you are not an "Ace Programmer". If you are "Ace", have a look at the book and Newton Tool Kit Demo bundle "Programming for the Newton" by McKeehan and Rhodes. You may find that Newton Script is a big hammer for small jobs. If so, reconsider NS Basic. If you have a desire to write yourself some simple programs, this is the language for you.

NS Basic contact information

NS BASIC is available directly for $99.00 from NS BASIC Corporation (416 265-5999) or through its distributors. Visa and Mastercard are accepted. NS BASIC Corporation can also be reached at 77 Hill Crescent, Toronto, Canada M1M 1J3, fax (416) 264-5888, or through the internet at Copyright 1994, John Schettino - js12© gte.com GTE Laboratories, Inc

Last modified: April 1, 1995