What's the difference?

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How is TI-Basic different?

What's the difference?

Anonymous (75.21.144.x) 24 Jan 2008 13:21

I created a thread about this in Linux Forums.

Maybe some of you can answer it.
If possible, can any of you greatly expand on what I'm trying to figure out?
I mean, what would stop me from moving a TI-Basic program to something such as wxbasic?

Here is pretty much what I asked:

My first programming language was QBasic, but I haven't touched it since the 90s. However, I've noticed that some people are still programming in a type of BASIC called TI-Basic. What I've been wondering, and I haven't found a lot of information on Google, is how TI-Basic is different from the other BASIC programming languages.

I'm very interested in exporting TI-Basic programs to a computer with BASIC or GWBasic in order to execute and use them. However, I don't know how possible that is. I keep reading there are slight differences, but I'm not fully aware of all those differences.

I was hoping one or some of you might know those differences.
Also, do any of you know how possible it would be to import a TI-Basic program into something such as wxbasic?

Re: What's the difference?

DarkerLine 24 Jan 2008 15:31

TI-Basic is different from other BASIC programming languages in virtually everything except some points of syntax. It does not support subroutines with local variables, nor is there any object-oriented aspect at all. Pointers are also taboo because there is a fixed, limited number of most variable types.

Most TI-Basic programmers rely on the presence of powerful math-related commands to accomplish even non-math-related tasks. For this reason, I wouldn't consider TI-Basic to be a BASIC dialect at all; programming it is closer to programming Maple or Mathematica.

To execute a TI-Basic program on a computer, you would need to emulate most of the workings of the calculator. Also, the programs by and large rely on the 96x64 black-and-white screen parameters, which would look kind of silly on a computer.

Edit: …you were aware that it's a programming language on a calculator, right?

Last edited on 24 Jan 2008 15:47 by DarkerLine Show more

Re: What's the difference?

Anonymous (192.77.125.x) 24 Jan 2008 22:30

Yes, I'm aware it's a programming language of its own. I also understood that it's for the calculator. But what I couldn't understand is why it's using the term BASIC.

Re: What's the difference?

DarkerLine 24 Jan 2008 23:17

Oh. Well. I'm not entirely sure myself. It sounds nice?

Re: What's the difference?

Socks 25 Jan 2008 21:33

I beliee that it is because it is a pretty basic language, and the acronym fits (Beginners All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code).

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/Socks

Re: What's the difference?

burr 25 Jan 2008 21:41

From the FAQ page:

Q: Where did the TI-Basic name come from?
A: Back when the language was growing in popularity and use, people wanted a simple name to refer to it that was easy to remember and told you what it was. Because it is the built-in programming language of the TI graphing calculators, and it is a variant of BASIC, TI-Basic is what they called it. You should note that the name is unofficial, as TI has never actually given it a name (for example, try searching for TI-Basic in the calculator manual; you won't find it).