[pjmlp]

It is basically Modula-2 / Object Pascal with C like syntax.

While bounds checking, improved argument passing, typed pointers, proper strings and arrays are an improvement over C, it still suffers from use after free cases.

C++ already prevents many of those scenarios, at least for those folks that don't use it as a plain Better C, and actually make use of the standard library in hardned mode. When not, naturally is as bad as C.

Also to note that the tools that Zig offers to prevent that, are also available in C and C++, but people have to actually use them, e.g. I was using Purify back in 2000's.

Then there is the whole point that Zig is not yet 1.0, and who knows what will still change until then.

[anthk]

You would like the T3X language as an exercise to port stuff from Free Pascal too it. In a near future I plan to port two libre text adventures with it, Beyond the Titanic and Supernova. If it fits under T3X, it might run in 'high end' CP/M systems out there.

https://t3x.org/t3x/0/index.html

https://t3x.org/t3x/0/t3xref.html

Beyond these Curses simple games, there's a 6502 assembler and disassembler among a Kim-1 simulator, Micro Common Lisps and whatnot.

[pjmlp]

Have to look into it, thanks.

[anthk]

Nice. A tip: there are 'modules' where are just helpers (strings, io) over main functions.

Kinda like write vs printf in C, but easier to grasp. The cheatsheet will help you a lot.

Another thing: setting up the compiler might be cumbersome, I might post a guide soon. I am not the author but making it compile well on some arches can be odd (openbsd/amd64) vs native code (fbsd, 32 bit linux)... nothing complex once you set it up once.

My T3XDIR in the makefile and bin/ scripts it's set to $HOME/t3x0/lib and the bn PATH being set to $HOME/T3XDIR/bin in both Unix env vars and the scripts. It's a 10 minute setup, but after than you will just run

        tx0 -c -s file 

        

(file actually being file.t) and get a binary. Cross compiling for DOS or CP/M involve simlar flags. And it's cool as hell, as I translated Ladder into Spanish for some Spanish OpenBSD pubnix... and the same port will work in DOS too.

On Titanic/Supernova, well, it was a former TP game ported to FPC, is not very complex, and tons of stuff could map 1:1 to t3x. The game might be too big for CP/M but for DOS it would be ideal (even by using the T3X 'big' libraries).

The bundled cheatsheet (make will generate a cheatsheet.pdf file if you have groff) might help you. For instance, gotoxy can be written in T3X as con.move(x,y). You need to import the console library as:

         use console: con;

Also, the WYOP book from the samepge comes with a good chunk of examples to play with in a ZIP file.

Have fun.

[anthk]

Eh, I made a typo. The PATH for tcvm and tx0 should be $HOME/t3x0/bin.

[baranul]

> Then there is the whole point that Zig is not yet 1.0, and who knows what will still change until then.

Seems like their luck finally ran out. For the longest time, they were getting all kinds of passes, as if a post 1.0 language, that others don't get. 10 years is quite a long time not to hit 1.0 or still be into beta breaking changes. Though I think that (the luck) was significantly aided by their perpetual and odd HN boosting.

> While bounds checking, improved argument passing, typed pointers, proper strings and arrays are an improvement over C, it still suffers from use after free cases.

While Zig was a bit safer and more modern C alternative, safety was arguably not so much their selling point. Plenty of other C alternative languages are equally or more safe. Dlang and Vlang, both now having optional GCs and ownership, are examples.

[pjmlp]

Yeah, pity that D somehow lost its adoption opportunity.

Now you can get most of it via C# AOT or Swift, with much better ecosystem.

Still, it is part of the official GCC and LLVM frontends, so there is that.

[leecommamichael]

Thank you for actually making the effort to respond to the curiosity in my question.