Forum - As for the BASIC compiler "Blast".

<b>Forum</b> - As for the BASIC compiler

(C) S. Galustyan, Cherkessk


  About the compiler BLAST


   Hello!

   You wrote your reader from
Cherkessk Galustian S.N.
(Cyberdyne Synthesis inc.). In ZX
REVIEW repeatedly written about the
poor quality of existing
programming languages. C compilers, ROM BASIC is the same 
situation. We can confidently say that to date

for ZX-Spectrum does not exist
compiler, one hundred percent compatible with standard 
BASIC'om. The fact that this problem important, says the 
conclusion of BA Kuritsyna (ZX-Revue 96 / 6, p.

2) that the programming
assembly language - this is not normal.
We must agree that the programming codes, time-consuming, 
requires even an experienced programmer a lot of time in 
deciding seemingly simple tasks.

This is explained by the fact that the assembler - 
computer-oriented language, and hence all the specifics

programming. Strictly speaking,
assembler - a lot of programmers, systems people. Computers, 
like known, are not in order

that they have programmed, and
in order that they help solve a variety of applications
problem.

   The foregoing shows
that the assembly - not the best tool in achieving this. For
solving similar problems exist the problem-oriented
languages, ie high-level languages. In general, the development 
of computer technology is the fact that programming languages, 
low levels will go into oblivion. Of course, Spectrum - not the 
platform on which it is destined to true. But our task is 
different. We need to squeeze everything possible out of the 
microcomputer. Now, in my opinion, really need an efficient 
compiler ROM BASIC. And why in the first place needs a standard 
BASIC compiler, rather than, say, BETA-BASIC or Pascal? Yes, 
because despite all his disadvantages, owns the largest number 
of users. For basis, I propose to take the most advanced 
compiler BLAST Company OCSS. He has several limitations, which 
have Vyacheslav Soldatov (Rensoft) (ZX-Review 95 / 1, p.41), 
and gaps, impede the promotion of this

software product.

   When working with BLAST'om I encountered the following 
problems. In some cases, when working

I compiled the program
received the message "3 Subscript
wrong "in the performance of operators, READ-DATA. wrote about 
this and Vyacheslav. In the description of BLAST'u

(I use the publications issued LLP Viroll LTD "System software 
for ZX-Spectrum", Volume 2) on page 103 says that

"Procedures, native,
extending BASIC interception
procedures for handling errors (or
any other methods),
will continue to work. "On
practice, this was not confirmed.
In compiled programs
procedure ON ERROR GO TO does not work properly. The explanation
is that the program, which took BLAST, when you try to "fill 
up" instead of issue error message, sometimes stops with the 
message "0 Ok ". This implies the inefficiency of this procedure

this case.

   If any error that happens, I could not figure out. The fact 
is that in the BASIC-interpreter ON ERROR GO TO works 
flawlessly under any circumstances (out of the program is 
possible only by RESET). In one of my program was

Line:

2100 IF N = 5 AND LEN STR $ XSIM> 3

     THEN LET XSIM = VAL ((STR $

     XSIM) (1 TO 3))


   During the compilation of the program, a transformed 
pre-TOOLKIT, mode TAPETAPE BLAST gave an error in this line and 
frozen. If you enter this line separately in BLAST and try to 
compile it in a mode of RAM-RAM, the compiler generates an 
error and asks to press key. After you will

message "Scroll?". If you refuse to scrolling, the
BLAST'a functioning is restored. Otherwise, the screen will be 
filled by machine code, and the computer freezes. The attentive 
reader will notice that the LET statement is superfluous 
brackets which in BASIC-interpreter

do not break the program.
For BLAST'a same lines:

10 LET A = VAL ((STR $ A) (1 TO 3))

   (Out error)
10 LET A = VAL (STR $ A) (1 TO 3)

   (Okay)

are not equivalent. Of course it's good that BLAST noticed the 
extra brackets, but I think it's not because he is such a 
"Smart". The response to this he unhealthy. In the same 
description on the p.99 states that if a compile-time (probably

mean compilation mode RAMRAM) BLAST'u not enough memory
He will ask you for permission
remove the original file. In practice in such cases, BLAST does 
not stand on ceremony and gave out "NO SPACE - PRESS ANY KEY TO 
EXIT ". 

   With regard to the compilation mode RAM-RAM, then 2869 BYTES
FREE seriously impossible to work. This mode of compilation has
sense only on computers with
128 kb and above. But for
This BLAST must still be made over. You can simplify the 
refinement, limited to at least adapted for TR-DOS commands 
work by replacing with mikrodrayvom. Compiling BASIC-program 
volumes of 20K and higher mode TAPETAPE very tedious and time 
consuming. Especially, that you compile your program

need to present a special
format using the tools
TOOLKIT. Thus, the compiled program in addition
has a highly fragmented
form, which causes difficulty with
adapted for TR-DOS. Therefore, to
TOOLKIT would not hurt to add
utility offering defragmentation object code is in the candy 
bar. It is also desirable BLAST has a built-directive

ON ERROR GO TO. That there was no
ambiguity, to report that I
use version 1.1 with undeleted Colour protection. The problem 
is that found an experienced programmer who is interested in 
this compiler and can eliminate the negative aspects found me 
and Vyacheslav Soldatov. I would like to have the views of 
other readers of this occasion.


   In conclusion, I have a big
Please print my address.
The fact that I am fond of music in the style of RAVE, but the 
information in this direction in its City can not find. I'm 
interested in everything: audio and video cassettes, CD with 
the RAVE-tracks, and well as any printed products, which 
discusses issues this genre. Are there RAVEdemos for AY? I 
would appreciate it anyone who can help me get

such information. Write to me
at:


   357100 KCR, Cherkessk-8

   st. Park, 1, kv.36,

   Galustyanu Sergei


           *


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          My answer to all!



           *


                WARNING!


     A book for ZX SPECTRUM on diskette


   Perhaps on a floppy disk (for the Spectrum!)
book will be published Fedin P. Yu "A complete description and 
full disassembler ROM TR-DOS 5.04t (5.03) ". At the same floppy 
disk as a reference, it is planned put files with the contents 
of ROM TR-DOS different versions. It is no secret that often

there are programs that do not work
on all versions of TR-DOS, and this is usually due to the fact 
that the author has no information about other versions.


   You can contribute to this noble cause, if you send a 
diskette with the contents of your ROM TR-DOS (except for 
standard versions 5.01, 5.03, 5.4, of course) at:



  121019, Moscow, POBox 16, Anfimova EV