The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 3 (of 5) - BASIC interpreter for mobile phones

BASIC interpreter for mobile phones

Since I was a geeky kid playing with computers, I dreamed of having a small, portable, programable computer.

A programable computer so small, I could carry it with me at all times.

Now I found.. BASIC for mobile phones!

http://www.mobilebasic.com/

The interpreter is developed for Nokia, but they claim that it works on many mobile phones.

:) I haven't tried it yet, but I will try to download it to my mobile phone as soon as I get my connection cable!

I'm also searching for a Forth interpretor to run on my Siemens M55.

I have no connection with that site or with their interpreter, other than being an enthusiast. :)

MX
Wednesday, January 7, 2004

I know "classic" BASIC has line numbers but even on a cell phone those things shouldn't be necessary!

Almost Anonymous
Wednesday, January 7, 2004

Also, GOSUB instead of normal functions sucks.

But, what do you want - it's a mobile phone interpretor.

MX
Wednesday, January 7, 2004

I wrote a BASIC interpreter (ok, it was compiler and byte-code interpreter) but it was damn small and simple. It had regular functions and no line numbers.

Almost Anonymous
Wednesday, January 7, 2004

Good for you! Does it run on mobile phones?

George
Wednesday, January 7, 2004

It could. Any money in it?

Almost Anonymous
Thursday, January 8, 2004

Nope.

Not with Java available, .NET blah, blah, blah

Simon Lucy
Thursday, January 8, 2004

Perl on mobiles would be cool. Okay, you'd need a very loose interpretation of "cool", but I think it would be interesting.

Thursday, January 8, 2004

I don't think a Basic interpreter would be competing with Java or .NET.

For knocking out a quick program to test something or for a bit of fun programming on the move, a Basic interpreter would be great. Even better, a Python interpreter (it might be possible with Jython already!) or even Scheme or Smalltalk.

I wouldn't expect to make any money though.

Dominic Fitzpatrick
Thursday, January 8, 2004

Let me know when you have Star Trek or Hammurabi running on your phone. I can't imagine typing it in throught the phones keypad.

pdq
Thursday, January 8, 2004

I have dug deeper into the BASIC interpreter for mobile phones.

Works well on my Siemens phone.

It's a 40 KB applet which can be installed using WAP.

However, entering programs from the mobile keyboard is extremely painful. Add this to dealing with line numbers and GOSUB... :(

MX
Friday, January 9, 2004

Probaby the best way to handle a programming language on a cell phone would be use something like Intellisence on steriods.

Have all the programming language operations and existing variables (in scope) be selectable with menus. They only thing you'd have to enter is the first instance of a variable or procedure name.

Almost Anonymous
Friday, January 9, 2004