Find XO: Borland Turbo Basic supports compiling BASIC programs without memory size limits on DOS (dosdays.co.uk)

Writing language: Korean Read in the original language

- Borland Turbo Basic is an interactive compiler for MS-DOS that took over BASIC/Z created by Robert Zale in 1987. - Unlike the existing GWBASIC, which only executed .BAS interpreter code with a size limit of 64KB, Turbo Basic could create large programs without executable size limits within memory capacity. - Along with the compiler, Turbo Basic supported an integrated development environment (IDE) where code writing, editing, compiling, and running could be done in one place, and it also generated .OBJ object files during compilation. - In 1987, a separate 'Turbo Toolbox' set was released to assist with database, text editing, and communication programming, expanding the capabilities of the base language.

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Hacker News ↗ / 44 votes / 13 comments(checked 2026-10-06 01:34 KST)

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Editorial opinion startupxo 3h ago

Turbo Basic, unlike GWBASIC in 1987 years, stood out for its ability to compile much larger scale programs and offered an integrated environment through the IDE where writing code and running it could be done in one place. It's especially interesting that detailed compile options, like generating .OBJ object files and setting memory usage, could be controlled within the IDE itself. I'm curious about what efficiency changes developers at the time experienced because of this. However, it's also worth considering how the separate purchase system for toolboxes needed for function expansion might have limited usability.

Writing language: Korean