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Makeself vs QB64

Professional comparison and analysis to help you choose the right software solution for your needs.

Makeself icon
Makeself
QB64 icon
QB64

Makeself vs QB64: The Verdict

⚡ Summary:

Makeself: Makeself is a small shell script that generates a self-extractable tarball for Unix. It packages software into a single executable file for easy distribution and installation.

QB64: QB64 is a modern extended BASIC language compiler that aims for compatibility with QBasic. It allows creating native executables for Windows, Linux and macOS. QB64 includes an integrated IDE, debugger and other development tools.

Both tools serve their respective audiences. Compare the features, pricing, and user ratings above to determine which best fits your needs.

Last updated: May 2026 · Comparison by Sugggest Editorial Team

Feature Makeself QB64
Sugggest Score — —
Category Os & Utilities Development
Pricing Open Source Open Source

Product Overview

Makeself
Makeself

Description: Makeself is a small shell script that generates a self-extractable tarball for Unix. It packages software into a single executable file for easy distribution and installation.

Type: software

Pricing: Open Source

QB64
QB64

Description: QB64 is a modern extended BASIC language compiler that aims for compatibility with QBasic. It allows creating native executables for Windows, Linux and macOS. QB64 includes an integrated IDE, debugger and other development tools.

Type: software

Pricing: Open Source

Key Features Comparison

Makeself
Makeself Features
  • Creates self-extracting shell scripts
  • Packages software into a single executable file
  • Works on Unix-like systems
  • Easy distribution and installation of software
  • Compression using gzip, bzip2, lzma or xz
  • MD5 checksum verification
  • Progress bar during extraction
  • Customizable messages, prompts and license agreement
QB64
QB64 Features
  • Supports most QBasic statements and functions
  • Can create native executables for Windows, Linux and macOS
  • Integrated IDE and debugger
  • Supports modern features like subroutines, enums and user types
  • Graphics and sound support
  • Can use most QBasic libraries and code with little to no modification

Pros & Cons Analysis

Makeself
Makeself

Pros

  • Simple and easy to use
  • Good for distributing software
  • Does not require root access or special permissions
  • Works across different Unix distributions
  • Lightweight and efficient

Cons

  • Limited to Unix-like systems
  • Not as full-featured as other packaging systems
  • No dependency handling
  • No uninstall capability
  • Lacks some advanced features
QB64
QB64

Pros

  • Free and open source
  • Familiar BASIC syntax
  • Cross-platform
  • Active community support
  • Allows creating distributable standalone apps

Cons

  • Limited adoption and popularity compared to other languages
  • Documentation could be more extensive
  • IDE is basic compared to full-featured IDEs
  • Some QBasic features are unsupported or work differently

Pricing Comparison

Makeself
Makeself
  • Open Source
QB64
QB64
  • Open Source

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Learn More About Each Product

Makeself
Makeself
Reviews, pricing & alternatives →
QB64
QB64
Reviews, pricing & alternatives →

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