Language::Basic - A perl module implementation of the BASIC computer language

Included scripts (in scripts/ directory until you make install):
- basic.pl runs BASIC programs from the command line 
- termbasic.pl is a Term::Readline application that lets you write code
  one line at a time and then run it.
- basic2pl.pl translates BASIC programs into Perl. (It's not
   pretty, but it's not as bad as you might think, either.)

Documentation is included as POD in the .pm files. There's also a
description of the currently supported BASIC syntax in the file Syntax.

WARNING: don't let the RCS version number fool you. This is an ALPHA RELEASE.

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Installation should be as simple as:

    tar zvxf Language::Basic-*.*.gz
    perl Makefile.PL
    make
    make test
    make install (if you want to)


Please let me know if "make test" fails.  If you'd like to  be really helpful, 
try something like:

	make test TEST_VERBOSE=1 TEST_FILES=t/if.t

This will run just the given test file and print out the BASIC program it ran, 
the expected output, and the output it received, for each failed test in
that file.

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Gregory Yob's classic BASIC adventure game, Hunt the Wumpus, is included for
your playing pleasure. (The game was apparently written before they invented
licenses. I hope he doesn't mind my distributing it.) Translating it to Perl,
and comparing it with the Perl Power Tools wump(6) port, are exercises left
to the reader.

I welcome comments, criticisms, bug reports, bug fixes, and ideas.  (But please
check the BUGS section of the Language::Basic man page before sending in bug
reports.) Actual patches are even more welcome. Also, feel free to send along
any fun/interesting BASIC programs you have lying around.

Stay tuned for more excitement. See the TODO file for planned changes.
First, I plan to add some more BASIC functionality. Second, I hope to make
LB more robust and improve the Perl translation. Third and most exciting (and
evil), I hope soon to release the results of my secret project: Ye Eldritch
Triangle of Interpretation!


Enjoy!

-Amir Karger
akarger@cpan.org