What is the right language to start programming ? ------------------------------------------------- That's a question that many people ask me when they want to learn to program the Amiga. It's a simple question but a hard answer. Look, I always say, when you have no experience whatsoever with programming then you must start with basic (or Pascal). It gives you the 'basic' experience you need. AND standard basic (not tied to specific computer capabilities) is compatible with most basic programs. The power of basic is not its speed nor structure but the simplicity and user friendly (well most of the time) sessions. BASIC works with an interpreter, that means that the actual instructions are converted to machine code real time. This takes a lot of time and thus explains the 'slowness' of basic. To the contrary, the HiSoft BASIC compiles the program. Compiling is converting the original typed program (source) to machine code. Taking away the process of real-time conversion it is certainly faster. When you already know BASIC or have some experience in programming it is better to ask yourself a question first. What do I want to program ? Demos and games are with a rare exception always programmed in ASSEMBLER. Assembler is the closest language to machine code. Machine code is the 'lowest' language possible and almost impossible to program, or can you imagine yourself typing only hexademimal digits or worse binairy digits ? Now, these digits make an machine code instruction and that instructions you can program in ASSEMBLER. The Amiga uses a processor from the Motorola 68000 series. Motorola sets a standard concerning these machine code instructions and thereby the standard for ASSEMBLER and for the Amiga. The best Assembler (program that 'assembles' the source code in real code, you know those digits) on the moment for Amiga is to my opinion the (again) HiSoft DevPac 2.x (about $75, all in). Altough it doesn't teach you assembler you still have one of the best tools. From good books and a lot of friends you can learn a lot. The disadvantage of assembler is that it is VERY machine specific and it needs a LOT of own input to come to a satisfactory result. The advantage is that is VERY fast, a small program (short code, we say) and also sqeezed to your own needs. Also you can control the computer more, meaning that you have access to several things that you can't do with e.g. BASIC. The conversion time from the source to execute code is acceptable. To return to my original question. What do I want to program ? If you don't want fancy fast programs, but more structural and easier to understand programs you have (on Amiga) the choice between, C and Modula-2. Both have a lot in common but also a lot in difference. (nice cryptic description !). Like I said the key-word here is structural programming. Most people on Amiga use the (Manx)-Aztec-C compiler (latest version V5.0a) or Lattice-C (both STARTING at $200!). Not a easy purchase I think, so think before you buy. These C-compilers work according to the ANSI-standard (for C) and are more or less compatible with other computers provided you don't computer specific capabilities. C is known for its rather wierd notation but when you get used to it, it's no point. For a 'high' level language C is very fast, slower than most M-C programs but relatively fast. The other option is MODULA-2, developed by the same professor who made PASCAL (Prof. Dr. Wirth, ETH Zürich) and has a lot in common. I see it as an 'update'. Again the price ($200 for starters !) is a great drawback. Modula-2 is gaining more and more supporters and seems to become good succes. Despite both Modula-2 and C are compatible to most other computers, you could also use machine specific routines here. For example you could use libraries in both C and Modula, so it is not that bad if you consider that programs like DPaint and your kickstart were written in C. My advice with learning such a language is that you learn more when you have some friends also familiar with it. You can learn each other and that works better for most people than a book. John 'Boil' van Dijk. Some addresses; Modula-2 Lattice-C and Manx-Aztec-C must be A+L soft available in any good software shop. Däderitz 61, CH-2540 Grenchen/SO +(0)1 65 - 52 03 11 HiSoft, The HiSoft products must also be available The Old School, in any good software shop. Greenfield, Bedford, MK45 5DE, England.