Supercharged graphics

de Lee Adams

During the days of DOS computing, users found that BASIC (usually as GW-BASIC, the interpreter included with DOS) was quite handy for writing their own low-end, no-cost programs. People who puttered around with BASIC compilers like Turbo Basic and QuickBASIC invariably went looking for toolboxes and How-To books. Adams' Supercharged Graphics was the first of several books he wrote that were, basically, toolboxes of handy graphics code (a subject not usually the subject of big books). In this book he leads in with introductory words and code about graphics adapters, menu systems, and the differences between interpreted and compiled BASIC code. He also included bare-bones code for several complete programs: a Paintbrush program, a Drafting program, a 3D graphics program, a simple animation program (suitable for gaming), and lots and lots of subroutines, functions, and explanations. If you're still programming in DOS and BASIC, this is quite a handy (and frequently fun) book to have in your library. NOTE: the programs are all for DOS BASIC. Even though the compilers didn't require line numbers, the interpreters did, and the sample code includes line numbers. To use the code, you're best off retyping it and adapting it as you go.