Overview - FreeBSD Great Cow BASIC

Introduction

The Great Cow BASIC compiler can be used with the FreeBSD operating system.

Instructions for using the Great Cow BASIC install.sh script

Complete the following steps to compile and install the Great Cow BASIC compiler for FreeBSD:

  1. Download one of the nightly builds of FreeBASIC 1.06 for the FreeBSD 32 bit or 64 bit binary compilation from: http://users.freebasic-portal.de/stw/builds/freebsd32/ (32 bit) or http://users.freebasic-portal.de/stw/builds/freebsd64/ (64 bit) The filenames are in the format fbc_freebsd[32|64]_[BuildNumber]_[Date].zip.
  2. Download the Great Cow BASIC UNIX Source Distribution from SourceForge at https://gcbasic.sourceforge.net/Typesetter/index.php/Download
  3. Move the FreeBASIC ZIP file from your download directory to your home directory.
  4. Unzip the FreeBASIC ZIP file which will produce a new directory called fbc_freebsd[32|64]. The FreeBASIC compiler fbc is in the bin subdirectory. You should add the path to fbc to your path so that the installation script can find it.
  5. Move the Great Cow BASIC compressed tar file from your download directory to your home directory.
  6. Unpack the Great Cow BASIC compressed tar file by typing the command below. Note: the version number (v0_98_05) in the filename may change before these instructions are updated - adjust depending on the version number of the file you downloaded. 
   unrar x GreatCowBASIC-UNIX-v0_98_05.rar

This will produce a new directory called GreatCowBasic. Note: If you do not already have the unrar program installed you can either compile it from the ports collection or use the pkg command to install the binary and any required dependancies.

  1. Change to the GreatCowBasic/Sources directory.
  2. Execute the FreeBSDBuild/install.sh shell script from the Sources directory.
  sh FreeBSDBuild/install.sh [all | build | install]

The build script arguments are:

  • all - will compile and install the Great Cow BASIC compiler and its support files.
  • build - will just compile the binary for the Great Cow BASIC compiler.
  • install - will install the Great Cow BASIC compiler and its support files.

When choosing all or install you will be prompted for an installation directory. The default is /usr/local/gcb-[version] for which you will need to run the installation script as root. Alternatively, you can choose to install in your home directory (eg `~/bin/gcb). The installation script will automatically append the Great Cow BASIC version so that directory would become ~/bin/gcb-[version]

  1. Add the directory where you installed gcbasic to your path, or use the full path to the gcbasic installation directory and confirm the proper execution, and the version, of Great Cow BASIC by executing gcbasic.

Now you should be able create GCB source files with your favourite editor and compile those files with the Great Cow BASIC compiler.

Programming microcontrollers

To program your microcontroller with your Great Cow BASIC-created hex file, you will need additional hardware and software.

  1. For Microchip PIC microcontroller programming, you might find what you need at: https://www.microchip.com/DevelopmentTools/ProductDetails.aspx?PartNO=pg164120 and the FreeBSD version of the pk2cmd v1.2 command line programming software.
  2. For Atmel AVR microcontroller programming, you will need the avrdude programming software. avrdude can be compiled and installed from the FreeBSD ports directory or the precompiled binary and any missing dependancies can be installed using pkg install avrdude.

Alternatively, if you use Virtual Machine software such as Virtual Box to run Windows programs, you may be able to use Windows GUI programming software.

Help

Great Cow BASIC Help documentation is installed in the Documentation subdirectory in your GreatCowBasic directory.

If at any time you encounter an issue and need help, you will find it over at the friendly Great Cow BASIC discussion forums at https://sourceforge.net/p/gcbasic/discussion/

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