PowerBASIC vs QB64

Struggling to choose between PowerBASIC and QB64? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

PowerBASIC is a Development solution with tags like basic, windows, linux, macos, dos.

It boasts features such as Rapid application development environment, Compile to native, optimized executables and DLLs, Integrated debugger, GUI designer and controls, Database access and reporting tools, File I/O, networking, serial, printing, and multimedia support, Inline assembly language support, Royalty-free runtime libraries and pros including Very fast compile and execution speeds, Small executable sizes, Powerful language features, Backwards compatibility with older versions, Active user community and support.

On the other hand, QB64 is a Development product tagged with basic, compiler, ide, qbasic, windows, linux, macos.

Its standout features include 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, and it shines with pros like Free and open source, Familiar BASIC syntax, Cross-platform, Active community support, Allows creating distributable standalone apps.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

PowerBASIC

PowerBASIC

PowerBASIC is a commercial programming language for developing Windows, Linux, macOS, and DOS applications. It provides a BASIC-like syntax that compiles to native code for high performance.

Categories:
basic windows linux macos dos

PowerBASIC Features

  1. Rapid application development environment
  2. Compile to native, optimized executables and DLLs
  3. Integrated debugger
  4. GUI designer and controls
  5. Database access and reporting tools
  6. File I/O, networking, serial, printing, and multimedia support
  7. Inline assembly language support
  8. Royalty-free runtime libraries

Pricing

  • One-time Purchase

Pros

Very fast compile and execution speeds

Small executable sizes

Powerful language features

Backwards compatibility with older versions

Active user community and support

Cons

Windows-only (no cross-platform support)

Steep learning curve compared to other BASICs

Limited adoption outside niche user base

No major updates in recent years


QB64

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.

Categories:
basic compiler ide qbasic windows linux macos

QB64 Features

  1. Supports most QBasic statements and functions
  2. Can create native executables for Windows, Linux and macOS
  3. Integrated IDE and debugger
  4. Supports modern features like subroutines, enums and user types
  5. Graphics and sound support
  6. Can use most QBasic libraries and code with little to no modification

Pricing

  • Free
  • Open Source

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