STAZ Software Inc. announced today FutureBASIC Release 5, which it bills as “the fastest Macintosh Basic development environment ever created.”
Improvements in FutureBASIC 5 include faster processing speed, especially floating point calculations. Two new major features in the language have been introduced, as well — Dynamic arrays, which provide the ability to create a variable array that will grow according to the needs of the application; and simplified AppleEvent management, which enable FutureBASIC programmers to more easily intercept and interact with AppleEvent processes.
FutureBASIC has also been improved to handle low memory situations and sports accelerated network file access to improve workgroup handling.
The development environment ships with more than 1,500 example files that cover everything from elementary language statement use to integration of new Apple technologies, according to STAZ Software. Examples include the Game Engine, a runtime especially created to support OpenGL for 3D action games; the source code for FuturePaint 2.0, a freeware creative application; a database framework application, and more.
STAZ Software noted that FutureBASIC 5’s Object runtime and Appearance runtime are close to their final stages, while the Carbon runtime is under way.
FutureBASIC 5 carries a suggested retail price of US$169. It’s sold by subscription — upgrades are shipped on CD for a year. The renewal price — and the upgrade cost from FutureBASIC II — is $99. Lab packs and site licenses are also available. FutureBASIC is available in French, German, Italian and Japanese.