Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

FreeBASIC VS PureBasic

Compare FreeBASIC VS PureBasic and see what are their differences

FreeBASIC logo FreeBASIC

FreeBASIC is a completely free, open-source, 32-bit BASIC compiler, with syntax similar to...

PureBasic logo PureBasic

Fantaisie Software Official WebSite. PureBasic - Feel The Pure Power. PureBasic is a programming language based on established BASIC rules.
  • FreeBASIC Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-23
  • PureBasic Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-12-21

FreeBASIC features and specs

  • Open Source
    FreeBASIC is open source, which means users can access the source code, contribute to the project, and customize it according to their needs.
  • BASIC Language Support
    FreeBASIC offers support for the BASIC programming language, attracting programmers who prefer or are familiar with this language, while also providing modern programming capabilities.
  • Cross-Platform
    It supports multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, and DOS, which allows developers to write programs that can run on different operating systems without significant changes.
  • Compatibility
    FreeBASIC is compatible with Microsoft QuickBASIC and other older BASIC dialects, making it easier for developers to port legacy BASIC code.
  • Strong Community
    The FreeBASIC community is active, providing forums, documentation, and support that can be beneficial for both beginners and advanced users.

Possible disadvantages of FreeBASIC

  • Limited Library Support
    Compared to more popular languages like Python or C++, FreeBASIC has fewer libraries and third-party resources, which can limit functionality and ease of development.
  • Learning Curve for Beginners
    Although BASIC is traditionally seen as beginner-friendly, some aspects of FreeBASIC, especially its more advanced features, might present a learning curve.
  • Less Market Demand
    There is less market demand for FreeBASIC developers compared to more mainstream languages, which might limit job prospects for those who specialize in it.
  • Manual Memory Management
    FreeBASIC requires manual memory management, which can lead to potential errors like memory leaks if not handled properly, particularly for new programmers.
  • Outdated Perception
    BASIC languages, including FreeBASIC, sometimes suffer from an outdated perception that might lead to skepticism about its use for modern applications.

PureBasic features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    PureBasic supports Windows, Linux, and Mac OS, allowing developers to write code once and run it on multiple operating systems without modifications.
  • Simple Syntax
    The language has a straightforward and easy-to-learn syntax, making it accessible for beginners and enabling rapid development.
  • Fast Executables
    PureBasic compiles directly to native machine code, resulting in fast and efficient executables with minimal dependencies.
  • Comprehensive Standard Library
    The language provides a wide range of built-in libraries that simplify tasks like GUI creation, networking, and multimedia management.
  • Active Community
    PureBasic has an active and supportive community, offering forums, tutorials, and third-party resources that can help developers solve problems and enhance their projects.

Possible disadvantages of PureBasic

  • Limited Third-Party Libraries
    Compared to more popular languages, PureBasic has fewer third-party libraries and frameworks, which can limit functionality and integrations.
  • Niche Market
    PureBasic is not as widely used as other programming languages, which can result in fewer job opportunities and community resources.
  • Lack of Advanced Features
    The language is designed to be simple, which means it may lack some advanced programming constructs and paradigms found in other languages.
  • License Cost
    PureBasic is not free software; there is a one-time cost associated with obtaining a license, which may be a consideration for developers or small businesses with budget constraints.
  • Basic IDE
    The integrated development environment that comes with PureBasic is quite basic compared to modern IDEs, potentially impacting coding efficiency.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to FreeBASIC and PureBasic)
IDE
44 44%
56% 56
Programming Language
44 44%
56% 56
Text Editors
45 45%
55% 55
OOP
43 43%
57% 57

User comments

Share your experience with using FreeBASIC and PureBasic. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare FreeBASIC and PureBasic

FreeBASIC Reviews

  1. Can Not to Comapre FREEBASIC is a COMPILER NOT AN IDE

    HAS IDE AS FBEdit, FBNP,WINFBE, VisualFB, etc

    🏁 Competitors: Visual Basic
    👍 Pros:    Compiler|32|64|Windows linux mac|Mingw32 and mingw64|Free to use|Binding to c, c++

PureBasic Reviews

We have no reviews of PureBasic yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, FreeBASIC seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 5 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

FreeBASIC mentions (5)

  • Microsoft's Growing Control of Linux
    Outside of Microsoft created QB64: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QB64 - https://lunduke.substack.com/p/the-wild-events-that-nearly-took Outside of Microsoft created Visual Basic IDE: - http://gambas.sourceforge.net/en/main.html - https://github.com/wekan/hx/tree/main/prototypes/ui/gambas Outside of Microsoft created FreeBasic: - https://freebasic.net. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • qb.js: An implementation of QBASIC in Javascript
    If you have linux or windows, you can try freebasic. I believe it has a qbasic compatibility mode. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Ask HN: What are your opinions on modern BASIC dialects?
    Have you looked at https://freebasic.net/ and https://www.qb64.org/portal/ ? It's been ages since I actually wrote code in BASIC, but there do appear to be nice open-source options in the modern world. - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
  • How to compile a BASIC code in linux ?
    I used https://freebasic.net/ ages ago. Works fine. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Blank Projects - Then And Now
    And here you can live though that pain again: https://freebasic.net/. Source: over 3 years ago

PureBasic mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of PureBasic yet. Tracking of PureBasic recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing FreeBASIC and PureBasic, you can also consider the following products

Liberty BASIC - Easy Programming for Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, 8 and 10

Xojo - Real Software and Real Studio are now Xojo.

PowerBASIC - PowerBASIC, formerly Turbo Basic, is the brand of several commercial compilers by PowerBASIC Inc.

B4J - 100% free development tool for cross platform desktop and server apps.

QB64 - Development

thinBasic - thinBasic is a simple, flexible, and easy-to-learn interpreted programming language.