The HP 95LX is fast becoming a miniature programming environment in spite of its obvious limitations. Several programmers are using such standard languages as C, Pascal, Forth, and assembler on this small machine. Other programmers have found derived languages, such as BUILDER and POWERBAT to be useful for getting the 95LX to go beyond its built-in applications. The only standard language that is missing from this collection is BASIC. That niche is soon to be filled by SWIFT!BASIC.
SWIFT!BASIC has all the elements of a modern, structured, programming language. It features local and global variables, several different looping structures, and a complete graphics library. Beyond this, SWIFT!BASIC contains all the routines necessary to let you create System-Manager compliant applications without having to dig into the System Developer's Kit.
SWIFT!BASIC is the work of an Austrian software firm, Zemanek and Van Zaanen, OEG. As of this writing SWIFT!BASIC is still undergoing extensive testing before being released in the United States. The Users' Guide needs to be polished and the program needs further testing to make sure it will work on all versions of the HP 95LX. But, even in its earliest release, it appears to be a landmark piece of programming. It will set the pace for other language developers. Stay tuned for further news of this fine product. In the meantime, dig out your old BASIC code and see how it works on the 95LX.
[Editor's note: Swift!Basic has been released and is being marketed in the U.S. by Sparcom (see advertisement, page 7 , for contact information). For more information on Swift!Basic see page 47 in the Mar/ Apr 92 issue.]