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This page was created on 08-Mar-2010 20:18 by Carsten Strotmann

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Version Date Modified Size Author Changes ... Change note
114 31-Oct-2023 21:23 18 KB Administrator to previous Improve wording, add TODO
113 31-Oct-2023 21:17 18 KB Administrator to previous | to last Fix wording and links
112 03-Feb-2023 15:21 18 KB Roland B. Wassenberg to previous | to last
111 20-Sep-2022 02:41 18 KB Roland B. Wassenberg to previous | to last
110 19-Sep-2022 19:39 17 KB Roland B. Wassenberg to previous | to last
109 19-Sep-2022 03:08 18 KB Roland B. Wassenberg to previous | to last
108 19-Sep-2022 02:13 18 KB Roland B. Wassenberg to previous | to last
107 19-Sep-2022 02:09 17 KB Roland B. Wassenberg to previous | to last
106 29-May-2022 12:24 17 KB Andreas Tartz to previous | to last
105 29-May-2022 12:17 17 KB Andreas Tartz to previous | to last
104 29-May-2022 12:10 17 KB Andreas Tartz to previous | to last
103 29-Jul-2020 22:26 17 KB Peter Dell to previous | to last
102 29-Jul-2020 21:57 17 KB Peter Dell to previous | to last TURBO-BASIC XL ==> Turbo-BASIC XL
101 29-Jul-2020 21:56 17 KB Peter Dell to previous | to last Consistently use "Turbo-BASIC" instead of "TURBO-BASIC", "Turbo Basic", ...

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Turbo-BASIC XL

Version management

Difference between version and

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!!!Turbo-BASIC XL by Frank Ostrowski 1985
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!!!TURBO-BASIC XL
!!Background
Turbo-BASIC XL 1.5 is a fast [BASIC|Basic] interpreter for the Atari XL and XE. It was written by Frank Ostrowski and first published in the German Happy Computer magazine in 1985. TURBO is fully compatible with [Atari BASIC], but fixes some of its well-known bugs and replaces its notoriously slow loops and math functions. The result is that TURBO will run any Atari BASIC program, but do so around three to five times as fast!
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TURBO-BASIC XL is a fast [Basic] Interpreter for the Atari 8bit XL/XE. Written by Frank Ostrowski and first published by German Happy Computer magazine. TURBO-BASIC XL is fully compatible to [Atari Basic] with an extended set of commands. There is also a TURBO-BASIC XL Compiler. A handbook (in German) can be found at [http://www.strotmann.de/~highland/bib/bibindex.html]\\
If that were not enough, TURBO also includes a suite of new keywords and functions to improve on the original. These include structured programming concepts like {{WHILE}} loops and similar, DOS commands that allow you to manipulate files without exiting to the DOS menu, {{DPOKE}} and {{DPEEK}} for working with 16-bit memory values, editing commands like {{RENUM}}, and debugging commands like {{TRACE}}. Yet, due to clever memory management, TURBO leaves 1,700 more bytes of RAM free, allowing you to write larger programs than Atari BASIC.
And if ''that'' wasn't enough, Ostrowski also released the Turbo-BASIC Compiler, which lets you take your completed programs and compile them so they run 15 to 20 times faster than Atari BASIC. The compiler comes with an associated runtime library, so the resulting programs run on machines without TURBO being loaded.
The original Turbo-BASIC XL ran only on the XL/XE machines, but Ostrowski later back-ported it to the original 400/800's as Frost BASIC 1.4, which was later named Turbo-BASIC 1.4. Other programmers have added their own extensions to the TURBO code, resulting in a profusion of minor versions.
Turbo-BASIC XL is compatible with Atari BASIC, but it runs three to four times faster when interpreted and has advanced program control and I/O commands. Using the Turbo-BASIC XL compiler makes programs run 15-20 times faster than Atari BASIC and it will compile Atari BASIC programs too!
Turbo-BASIC XL will only work on XL and XE computers with at least 64K. Ostrowski is also the author of GFA BASIC for the Atari ST, which is being distributed in the U.S. by MichTron.\\
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TURBO-BASIC XL is compatible with Atari BASIC, but it runs three to four times faster when interpreted and has advanced program control and I/O commands. Using the TURBO-BASIC XL compiler makes programs run 15-20 times faster than Atari BASIC and it will compile Atari BASIC programs too!\\
TUREX.COM is the enhancement for Turbo-BASIC XL you are looking for. So, load Turbo-BASIC XL, then BLOAD or BRUN the TUREX.COM file. You now have an extended version of Turbo-BASIC XL with various new commands. Take a look at the TUREX.TXT file, it is the german documentation which shows all available extra commands...\\
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TURBO-BASIC XL will only work on XL and XE computers with at least 64K. Ostrowski is also the author of GFA BASIC for the Atari ST, which is being distributed in the U.S. by MichTron.\\
As mentioned before, all *.XTB files are only examples for the Turbo-BASIC XL enhancement. (The "Extended Turbo-BASIC XL" was originally released as an *.ARC file, I also put this file on the disk together with Unarc.COM; but you already find all unarced files on the disk, so the ARC file is kinda redundant and just there for archiving purposes.)\\
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TUREX.COM is the enhancement for TURBO-BASIC XL you are looking for. So, load TURBO-BASIC XL, then BLOAD or BRUN the TUREX.COM file. You now have an extended version of TURBO-BASIC XL with various new commands. Take a look at the TUREX.TXT file, it is the german documentation which shows all available extra commands...\\
\\
As mentioned before, all *.XTB files are only examples for the TURBO-BASIC XL enhancement. (The "Extended TURBO-BASIC XL" was originally released as an *.ARC file, I also put this file on the disk together with Unarc.COM; but you already find all unarced files on the disk, so the ARC file is kinda redundant and just there for archiving purposes.)\\
\\
Afair, XTB had been created by Thorsten Karwoth, he is also the author of Atari Macro Assembler 4.32, Atari Macro Assembler XE 2.1, Power Packer, Packer and Linker, Megablast, MyDOS Batchfile Enhancement, Laser Duell, Soundmonitor Professional and a few other programs. Thank you so much Thorsten, for giving your work into PD. We really owe you very much. The community is deep in your debt!\\
\\
* [Wikipedia: Turbo Basic XL (english)|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbo_Basic_XL]
* [Wikipedia: Turbo Basic XL (deutsch)|http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbo-BASIC_XL]
Afair, XTB had been created by Thorsten Karwoth, he is also the author of Atari Macro Assembler 4.32, Atari Macro Assembler XE 2.1, Power Packer, Packer and Linker, Megablast, MyDOS Batchfile Enhancement, Laser Duell, Soundmonitor Professional and a few other programs. Thank you so much Thorsten, for giving your work into PD. We really owe you very much. The community is deep in your debt!
!!References
* [Wikipedia: Turbo-BASIC XL (english)|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbo-Basic_XL]
* [Wikipedia: Turbo-BASIC XL (deutsch)|http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbo-BASIC_XL]
At line 48 added 2 lines
[{Image src='Frank_Ostrowski_4.jpg' width=652 height=435 }]
Frank Ostrowski in the late 80's taken from ST World Magazine - Jan 1990 - Issue 47 scanned by Lonny Pursell
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After years of investigation and paying government fees in 3 digits amount, AtariWiki can disclose, that the author of TURBO-BASIC XL, Frank Ostrowski, has left us in 2011 at age 50 due to a severe disease. Deep investigations, regarding his brother, his sisters, his colleagues and so on, come to the conclusion, that the source code is lost in time. Even the enhanced version from Thorsten Karwoth is lost, because of a water damage in Thorsten's home, which destroyed all listings and diskettes. That is a very sad status, but there is still hope. If someone out there in the galaxy can build a source code out of this marvelous program from the original object code, like Lorenz did with Star Raiders [Star Raiders source code by Lorenz Wiest], we can rebuild it, we have the capability to build the best Basic for Atari ever, faster, stronger, better. We call the six million dollar Basic just simple Ultimate Basic. With all the source codes now in PD: [Source Codes|https://atariwiki.org/wiki/Wiki.jsp?page=Articles#section-Articles-ProgrammingLanguages] it should be possible. Stay tuned.\\
After years of investigation and paying government fees in 3 digits amount, AtariWiki can disclose, that the author of Turbo-BASIC XL, Frank Ostrowski, has left us in 2011 at age 50 due to a severe disease. Deep investigations, regarding his brother, his sisters, his colleagues and so on, come to the conclusion, that the source code is lost in time. Even the enhanced version from Thorsten Karwoth is lost, because of a water damage in Thorsten's home, which destroyed all listings and diskettes. That is a very sad status, but there is still hope. If someone out there in the galaxy can build a source code out of this marvelous program from the original object code, like Lorenz did with Star Raiders [Star Raiders source code by Lorenz Wiest], we can rebuild it, we have the capability to build the best Basic for Atari ever, faster, stronger, better. We call the six million dollar Basic just simple Ultimate Basic. With all the source codes now in PD: [Source Codes|https://atariwiki.org/wiki/Wiki.jsp?page=Articles#section-Articles-ProgrammingLanguages] it should be possible. Stay tuned.\\
At line 70 changed 4 lines
* [TurboBasic_XL_with_DOS_2.5_SD.atr] ; TURBO-BASIC XL with Compiler and Runtime on one single disk
* [Happy_Computer_1985b.atr]; TURBO-BASIC XL with helper program AMPEL for typing in from the original listing in the Happy Computer magazine
* [Turbo_Basic_1.4.atr] ; Turbo Basic 1.4 for the Atari 400/800 ; altered Frost Basic, which seems to be the first version for just the 400/800 machines
* [Turbo_Basic_1.4_HC.atr] ; Turbo Basic 1.4 for the Atari 400/800 with Happy Computer startup screen
* [TURBO-BASIC_XL_1.5_full.atr] ; complete Turbo-BASIC XL with Compiler and Runtime on one single disk with manuals in text files on the disk
* [TurboBasic_XL_with_DOS_2.5_SD.atr] ; Turbo-BASIC XL with Compiler and Runtime on one single disk
* [Happy_Computer_1985b.atr]; Turbo-BASIC XL with helper program AMPEL for typing in from the original listing in the Happy Computer magazine
* [Frost_Basic_1.4_cryptic.atr] ; Frost Basic 1.4 for the Atari 400/800 with 'cryptic info', which was released after the Turbo-BASIC XL 1.5 for the XL machines ; Copyright (C) 1985 Markt & Technik Software
* [Turbo_Basic_1.4.atr] ; Turbo-BASIC 1.4 for the Atari 400/800 ; altered Frost Basic, which seems to be the first version for just the 400/800 machines
* [Turbo_Basic_1.4_HC.atr] ; Turbo-BASIC 1.4 for the Atari 400/800 with Happy Computer startup screen
At line 79 changed 3 lines
* [TURBO-BASIC_XL-3.2q-SpartaDOS.atr] ; Thank you sooo much Tom Hunt for giving the community the [SpartaDOS suite for TURBO-BASIC XL|Turbo_Basic_XL_for_Sparta_DOS_3.2d.zip]! We really appreciate your help so much. Please go ahead! :-)))
* [TURBO-BASIC_XL_for_SpartaDOS_3.2d.atr]
* [TURBO-BASIC_XL-(NTSC)_with_DOS 2.5.atr]
* [Turbo-Basic XL 3.2q-SpartaDOS 3.2g.atr] ; Turbo-Basic XL 3.2q on a SpartaDOS 3.2g formatted SSSD disk
* [Turbo-Basic XL 3.2q-SpartaDOS 3.2g 720K.atr] ; Turbo-Basic XL 3.2q on a SpartaDOS 3.2g formatted 720 KiB disk
* [TURBO-BASIC_XL-3.2q-SpartaDOS.atr] ; file version of Turbo-BASIC XL 3.2q for SpartaDOS, but on a TURBO-DOS XE formatted diskette; Thank you sooo much Tom Hunt for giving the community the [SpartaDOS suite for TURBO-BASIC XL|Turbo_Basic_XL_for_Sparta_DOS_3.2d.zip]! We really appreciate your help so much. Please go ahead! :-)))
* [TURBO-BASIC_XL_for_SpartaDOS_3.2d.atr] ; file version of Turbo-BASIC XL 3.2q for SpartaDOS, but on a DOS 2.5 formatted diskette
* [TURBO-BASIC_XL-(NTSC)_with_DOS 2.5.atr] ; slightly adapted version for NTSC, see [Turbo-Basic XL 1.5-NTSC.txt] for the differences
At line 98 added one line
* [Turbo-Basic_XL_Versionen-komplett.zip] ; size: 576 KB ; same as above, but with version 1.6 from Thor
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* [Quck_Summery_of_TURBO-BASIC_XL_command_and_functions.pdf]
* [Quick Summary of TURBO-BASIC XL Commands and Functions|Quck_Summery_of_TURBO-BASIC_XL_command_and_functions.pdf]
At line 110 changed one line
Turbo-Basic XL 1.5-Handbuch by Marc Brings ; highly recommended by AtariWiki! :-)))\\
Turbo-Basic XL 1.5-Handbuch ; original first edition created by Wil Braakman, translated from Rolf A. Specht into German and complete re-edited and revised by Marc 'Sleepπ' Brings ; highly recommended by AtariWiki! :-)))\\
At line 112 changed one line
The above printed book includes everything you ever want to know about Turbo-Basic! It is in German language. Only few are available, orders are taken by: Wolfgang (at) abbuc.de via e-mail. The printed book is listed with 12.50 € and includes shipping inside Germany. International orders are possible, too. Please include your address when asking. Thank you very much.\\
The above printed book includes everything you ever want to know about Turbo-Basic! It is in German language. Only few are available, orders can be made via the [ABBUC shop|http://www.abbuc.de/mitgliedschaft/shop/literatur].\\
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Das neue Turbo-Basic XL 1.5 Handbuch. Das Buch wurde langjährigen Mitgliedern als Jahresgabe 2015 überreicht. Für alle, die dieses Buch nicht bekommen haben, gibt es jetzt die Möglichkeit eines der wenigen Restexemplare käuflich zu erwerben. Der Preis beträgt: 12,50 € inkl. Porto und Verpackung innerhalb Deutschlands. Eine Bestellung bitte mit Anschrift via E-Mail an: Wolfgang (at) abbuc.de schicken. Vielen Dank.
Das neue Turbo-Basic XL 1.5 Handbuch. Das Buch wurde langjährigen Mitgliedern als Jahresgabe 2015 überreicht. Für alle, die dieses Buch nicht bekommen haben, gibt es jetzt die Möglichkeit eines der wenigen Restexemplare käuflich vom [ABBUC shop|http://www.abbuc.de/mitgliedschaft/shop/literatur] zu erwerben.
At line 116 changed one line
!!Images
!!Abbreviations
|| Command || Abbreviation \\
| # | # \\
| %GET | %G. \\
| %PUT | %. \\
| *B | *B \\
| *F | *. \\
| *L | *L \\
| -- | -- \\
| -MOVE | -. \\
| ? | ? \\
| BGET | BG. \\
| BLOAD | BL. \\
| BPUT | BP. \\
| BRUN | BR. \\
| BYE | B. \\
| CIRCLE | CI. \\
| CLOAD | CLOA. \\
| CLOSE | CL. \\
| CLR | CLR \\
| CLS | CLS \\
| COLOR | C. \\
| COM | COM \\
| CONT | CON. \\
| CSAVE | CS. \\
| DATA | D. \\
| DEG | DE. \\
| DEL | DEL \\
| DELETE | DEL. \\
| DIM | DI. \\
| DIR | DIR \\
| DO | DO \\
| DOS | DO. \\
| DPOKE | DP. \\
| DRAWTO | DR. \\
| DSOUND | DS. \\
| DUMP | DU. \\
| ELSE | EL. \\
| END | END \\
| ENDIF | END. \\
| ENDPROC | ENDP. \\
| ENTER | E. \\
| EXEC | EXE. \\
| EXIT | EX. \\
| FCOLOR | FC. \\
| FILLTO | FI. \\
| FOR | F. \\
| GET | GE. \\
| GOTO | G. \\
| GO# | GO# \\
| GOSUB | GOS. \\
| GOTO | G. \\
| GRAPHICS | GR. \\
| IF | IF \\
| INPUT | I. \\
| LET | LE. \\
| LIST | L. \\
| LOAD | LO. \\
| LOCATE | LOC. \\
| LOCK | LOCK \\
| LOOP | LOO. \\
| LPRINT | LP. \\
| MOVE | M. \\
| NEW | NEW \\
| NEXT | N. \\
| NOTE | NO. \\
| ON | ON \\
| OPEN | O. \\
| PAINT | PAI. \\
| PAUSE | PA. \\
| PLOT | PL. \\
| POINT | P. \\
| POKE | POK. \\
| POP | POP \\
| POSITION | POS. \\
| PRINT | PR. \\
| PROC | PRO. \\
| PUT | PU. \\
| RAD | RA. \\
| READ | REA. \\
| REM | . \\
| RENAME | REN. \\
| RENUM | RENU. \\
| REPEAT | REP. \\
| RESTORE | RES. \\
| RETURN | RET. \\
| RUN | RU. \\
| SAVE | S. \\
| SETCOLOR | SE. \\
| SOUND | SO. \\
| STATUS | ST. \\
| STOP | STO. \\
| TEXT | TE. \\
| TIME$= | TI. \\
| TRACE | TRAC. \\
| TRAP | T. \\
| UNLOCK | UNL. \\
| UNTIL | U. \\
| WEND | WE. \\
| WHILE | W. \\
| XIO | X. \\
At line 233 added 4 lines
!!Images
[{Image src='Frost_Basic-MuT_Software.jpg' width=349 height=91 }]
Frost BASIC 1.4 - startscreen ; this was the predecessor of Turbo-BASIC XL 1.5 for the 400/800 machines, but was later published than Turbo-BASIC XL 1.5 itself. The characters after 1985 are by all means no mistake, indeed they match perfectly to: 'M&T SOFTWARE', which means: 'Markt und Technik Software'. Please look for yourself in the [Atari ATASCII Table]. :-)\\
\\
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TURBO-BASIC XL - startscreen\\
Turbo-BASIC XL - startscreen\\
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TURBO-BASIC XL - TURBO-BASIC XL 1.5, Compiler 1.1, Runtime and Linker in just one single cartridge\\
Turbo-BASIC XL - Turbo-BASIC XL 1.5, Compiler 1.1, Runtime and Linker in just one single cartridge\\
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TURBO-BASIC XL - TURBO-BASIC XL 1.6 ; thank you so much THOR! We really appreciate your help, especially with Basic++\\
Turbo-BASIC XL - Turbo-BASIC XL 1.6 ; thank you so much THOR! We really appreciate your help, especially with Basic++\\
At line 246 added 9 lines
[{Image src='TURBO-BASIC XL 2.0.jpg' width=344 height=79 }]
Turbo-BASIC XL - Turbo-BASIC XL 2.0 ; (C) 1990 LASER software\\
\\
[{Image src='TURBO-BASIC XL 2.1.jpg' width=353 height=122 }]
Turbo-BASIC XL - TT-BASIC XL 2.11 ; with TURBO 2000 SYSTEM; (C) 1988 J. Richter\\
\\
[{Image src='Turbo Basic Version 3.2q.jpg' width=660 height=100 }]
Turbo-BASIC XL 3.2q for SpartaDOS, Startscreen ; (C) 1992 Tom Hunt\\
\\
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TURBO-BASIC XL - TURBO-BASIC_XL Compiler Version 1.1 - intro\\
Turbo-BASIC XL - Turbo-BASIC XL Compiler Version 1.1 - intro\\
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TURBO-BASIC XL - TURBO-BASIC_XL Compiler Version 1.1 - main\\
Turbo-BASIC XL - Turbo-BASIC XL Compiler Version 1.1 - main\\