A little bit of "recent" history ....
I started out in VB4 and worked my way up to VB6. After the EOL rumor for VB that started years ago, I started looking for a different language. I steer clear of C style languages due to lack of decent help and over-priced books. Therefore, I found PureBasic (Oct. 2003). After talking with the community, I decided to purchase a copy and port my projects over. Not much of a problem there. After awhile, a few things came apparent. Consistancy is the main thing, half completed features, all that fun and jazz. Then the newest window version came out (v4) and is completely unusable for any kind of threading. That basically have me looking for other languages I own ... thus ... Aurora ... My day job, I work as a C# programmer for the State of Alaska. So now, the C syntax is not really new to me ...
So, in order for me to be sure I want to delve in with both feet, I have questions ... ... ... :) Also, some of these I think may have been answered on these forums, if so, could you please provide a link? :)
1. Scripting .. I made a mention concerning this before, but ... if there was a way to create an aurora-like scripting language that have the syntax, and make classes and call the parent's (exe) classes (much like microsoft's scripting control). Is this currently possible? And If not, is it possible? And if so, I am willing to pay to have it done so that everybody can benefit ...
2. Network .. PB impliments partial network functionality, nothing for professional server side unfortunately. My question is. Is there a network library for Aurora? (I do not believe I have seen any in the help files). If not, will there be one in the future? I have purchased Socket Tools Library Edition thanks to Mike's promotion :) So I could use that, but if I dont have to .... :)
3. 3d Sprites .. Is this possible in Aurora? I see a 3D lib and a 2D lib. but for actual lights and for sprite coloring, is this currently possible? Also, does the libraries use DX9?
4. Databases ... I use MSSQL 2005 for my backend server. I believe I saw somewhere that Aurora can use ODBC for connection to any database ... have anybody used this yet?
If the above are possible or will be possible, then I am definately looking at porting and creating games in Aurora. The only thing I would use PB for is for Intel Mac development until or hopefully if Aurora can compile on the mac :)
I can only answer number 4.
I have mySQL running on a server and have an aurora program pulling enquiries from the server across my internal network and through the internet with no problems.
regards John
1. Of course it's possible, though interfacing with windows and COM like VBScript does would take a lot of work and someone much more experienced with me. If I worked at it I could create the language, but normal COM confuses me not to mention the late binding stuff.
3D sprites were added in the last update.
Regarding databases:
I've not used the database class yet, but if you have an ODBC driver installed Aurora can connect to it. Specifics to that database like syntax you may be on your own though (but it shouldn't give you too much trouble; I taught myself quite a bit of MySQL based on a couple pages of tutorial I found).
And networking:
Aurora does not have a networking library right now, but there are some open source ones in existance if you want (I can't remember the names though).
I've connected successfully to an Access database. I would assume the methodology is similar.
http://www.ionicwind.com/forums/index.php?topic=804.0
Thank you for the info you guys :) Looks like I will be using SocketTools for the network side, and try porting over some projects first :) Thanks again guys!