My idea for my program (which I am already currently working on) is, of course, written in BASIC. However, it will be implementing Celtic 3 heavily, as I will be working with AppVars and creating programs. Let me explain what VisualTI is exactly:
VisualTI (or VTI) will allow a user to create a design for their program (similar to what one can find in Microsoft's Visual Studio.) Once the design is complete, you move on to the other aspect of Visual Studio- the code. The user will create a program with the name of their choice and write the code their. I'm hoping that, as in Visual Studio, the user will be able to put in the code as they please, and not in action-order sequence like regular BASIC. Here is an example of what I think I may make the syntax:
PROGRAM:SYNTAX
:^APPLE [A description] ;this will let me know to write to program APPLE (the ^ is necessary) and description is optional for shell support
:SUB(PIC1.CLICK) ;the designer can have up to (I believe) 4 pictures (20x20) in it and this will happen when Pic1 is "clicked"
:_PIC1.VIS=0 ;make the picture invisible if clicked
:End(SUB)
:SUB(BTN1.CLICK) ;when button1 is clicked (a max of buttons? maybe)
:_MSGBX("Hello World!") ;show a messagebox of "Hello World!"
:End(SUB)
:StopAPPLE ;this is the end of the programOf course I will allow the user to utilize Celtic 3 within their program, but I may change the syntax in the program I read just a tad.
Now, as this is going to be written in BASIC, I can guarantee that it will run slowly (unless someone can come up with something to execute BASIC faster. Perhaps if I port it to an app with Basic Builder? Not sure… I would like to incorporate these items into the designer: picture-boxes (20x20 pixels with a max of four per program), labels (just for displaying information), text-boxes (for inputs), buttons (for clicking, of course), and possibly timers. Of course, since this is only the beginning there isn't much to work with, but I hope to add more items (if possible.)
This project will remain 100% open-source, with maybe some periods of closed-source-ness. I want people to be able to look at the source and understand high level BASIC so that better things will be created.
Whew! That was a lot! If you made it this far, give yourself a pat on the back! Now comes my call to you. if you feel at the least proficient with your BASIC programming skills, let me know if you are interested in working on this project with me. I can guarantee that if I do this alone, I'm not saying I'm not content to do so, it will take at least 4 months to complete. If enough people (2 or 3) wish to work on this with me, I'll be happy to open up a site (possibly) for us to communicate with each other and host the program, along with it being available here on TIBD and TI-Calc.
Projects: BexIDE (hold), Hadean.NET, Legend of Zelda: Link to the Future