Press Release – For Immediate Distribution
contact: Chris Stasny @ 800-348-2623
mailto:staz@stazsoftware.com
STAZ Software, Inc. releases FutureBASIC^3
January 10, 2000, Diamondhead, MS – STAZ Software, Inc. today announced the
release of FutureBASIC^3.
FutureBASIC^3 (FB^3) is a completely new development environment. It
creates clean, fast, double-clickable Macintosh applications from BASIC
source code. Applications can be compiled as PPC, 68K or FAT and may be as
small as 30K. The generated applications also benchmark at speeds more than
four times as fast as its nearest BASIC competitor.
FB^3’s new editor supports bookmarks, graphics in the editor, graphic lines
as source code dividers, and can place dated, customized remarks on every
line of code that is selected. There is a sliding tab to adjust the remark
column. Function names, subroutines, methods, and toolboxes are placed in a
pop-up menu which automatically converts to a hierarchical menu when the
number of entries gets too large to manage. You can command-double-click a
local function or toolbox name to be instantly transported to the place in
your code where it is defined. Examples can be dragged from the on-line
help system and dropped into the editor window. Hilighting and indenting
are automatically handled every time you type a character.
Our sample code shows how to handle animations, rotate text and graphics,
download URLs, write games, publish a serial number over a network, and
manage sprites. There is even a paint program complete with source code.
The new compiler is fast. On a G4/400 you can compile and sublaunch a
20,000 line program in less that 3 seconds. It features built-in assemblers
for both PPC and 68K. The correct math package (SANE or PPC) is
automatically used by the compiler without the need for special programming
and some math operations are moth than a thousand times as fast as FBII.
New commands allow authentic records, enumeration of constants, block
remarks, and the easy addition of toolbox calls. There is even a toolbox
alias command so that old toolbox commands can be accessed through their
new names. This great addition means that you don’t have to change your
entire application every time Apple changes the name of a toolbox call.
There’s a new source level debugger too.
The runtimes are open source. Even standard Macintosh BASIC statements like
WINDOW and BUTTON can be modified in source code. An FBII emulation runtime
maintains backward compatibility with older source code. The new Lite
runtime places output in a scrollable, saveable, printable, editable
window. This even works for graphic output. The object runtime shows off
our new OOP features. While this runtime is still in its infancy, more
classes are being added every day.
Other features include our long time GUI builder (Program Generator), a new
project manager that supports grouping of files, an editor scripting
utility, and full access to all documentation from a menu in the editor.
FutureBASIC II has a suggested retail price of $169 for individual copies
and is sold by subscription. Upgrades are shipped on CD for a period of one
year. Renewal price (and the upgrade price from FBII) is $99. Lab packs and
site licenses are also available. The software is distributed by STAZ
Software, Inc. (800) 348-2623.