110790     BLASIC: Block Structured BASIC Pre-Processor  Version:
V1.0, February 1985
 
Submitted by: Michel D. Bartholome, University of Liege, Liege,
Belgium
 
Operating System: RSTS/E V7.2 and 8.0, RSX-11M V4.1  Source Language:
BASIC, BASIC-PLUS  Memory Required: 28KW  Keywords: BASIC, Tools -
Software Development
 
Abstract: BLASIC (conjunction of 'BL'aise PASCAL and B'ASIC') is a
preprocessor for BASIC-PLUS and BASIC-PLUS-2. It allows
for all the features of normal BASIC-PLUS or BASIC-PLUS-2
(with FMS, RMS ...) and makes available packaging statements
and declarations such that the scope of statements is clearly
specified and controlled.
 
Its primary purpose is to encourage readable and
well-structured code while taking advantage of the simplicity
and efficiency of Digital Equipment Corporation's BASIC. With
modest effort, BASIC-trained programmers can increase their
productivity by using a language that provides them with
control structures and cosmetic features essential for
structured programming design.  Debugging and updating are
easier and faster than in BASIC, mainly because the code
can be easily read (line numbering is no longer necessary).
 
Because the first goal is readability, BLASIC has block
structured statements, each of which is delimited by a pair
of keywords.  For instance:  If ... Endif, For ... Endfor,
Onerror ... Endonerror.  In addition, BLASIC provides certain
languages extentions to facilitate handling collections of
modules, functions and instructions by means of directives
(%include, %page, %msg ...).  Its design
has been influenced by the languages PRAXIS, C, RATFOR,
PASCAL and ADA.  A special effort was made to produce a very
well documented and readable BASIC code (BLASIC' output), if
somebody still needs to consult it.
 
BLASIC compiler is written itself in BLASIC and BASIC.  It
can be easily modified to include other statements more
suitable for special software developments.  BLASIC can be
implemented on RSTS and RSX.
 
 
Documentation not available.
 
Media (Service Charge Code): 600' Magnetic Tape (MA)  Format: DOS-11