SiMPLE
Encyclopedia
SiMPLE is a programming development system that was created to provide easy programming capabilities for everybody, especially non-professionals.
Engineers) decided to create a new programming language that would be easy enough for everyone to understand and use. (They felt that other existing languages such as C++
and their environments were far too complicated for beginners.) The programming language that they created was called SiMPLE.
SiMPLE is vaguely reminiscent of the AppleSoft BASIC
programming language that existed on the old Apple-II computers. However, instead of being an interpretive language (like most BASICs were), SiMPLE is a compiled language. Furthermore, SiMPLE does not require the use of any line numbers. In addition, SiMPLE allows users to create their own libraries of frequently used functions.
(a) Micro-SiMPLE is an introductory programming language designed to use only 4 keywords: Call, Set, If, and Goto. An example of a Micro-SiMPLE program listing (and a snapshot of the output display it generates) is shown in the figure below:
(b) Pro-SiMPLE is the DOS-based version of SiMPLE requiring the use of only 23 keywords. Its graphics capabilities are limited to only 16 colors with a resolution of only 640 x 480 pixels. Its sound capabilities are limited to simple "beeps" through the computer's built-in speaker. An example of a Pro-SiMPLE program listing (and a snapshot of the output display it generates) is shown in the figure below:
(c) Ultra-SiMPLE is the Windows-based version of SiMPLE. It utilizes exactly the same 23 keywords as Pro-SiMPLE. Its graphics capabilities allow millions of colors in whatever resolution the user's system provides. Its sound capabilities allow the user to play any type of media file (including movies). An example of an Ultra-SiMPLE program listing (and a snapshot of the output display it generates) is shown in the figure below:
(a) In "Drag & Drop" mode, the user simply creates a program source listing (a text document), and then runs that program by dragging the source listing document onto a special icon.
(b) In "Command-Line" mode, the user creates and runs programs by typing commands and listings into a DOS window.
And Break Call
Common Continue Display
Do Else End
Float (or Decimal) Float2 (or Decimal2) Goto
If Int (or Whole) Int2 (or Whole2)
Loop Or Return
Set Step Task
Text To
SiMPLE will run on Windows
95 and newer systems.
History
In 1995, Bob Bishop and Rich Whicker, (both former Apple ComputerApple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
Engineers) decided to create a new programming language that would be easy enough for everyone to understand and use. (They felt that other existing languages such as C++
C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
and their environments were far too complicated for beginners.) The programming language that they created was called SiMPLE.
SiMPLE is vaguely reminiscent of the AppleSoft BASIC
BASIC
BASIC is a family of general-purpose, high-level programming languages whose design philosophy emphasizes ease of use - the name is an acronym from Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code....
programming language that existed on the old Apple-II computers. However, instead of being an interpretive language (like most BASICs were), SiMPLE is a compiled language. Furthermore, SiMPLE does not require the use of any line numbers. In addition, SiMPLE allows users to create their own libraries of frequently used functions.
The Three Faces of SiMPLE
"Simple" is a generic term for three slightly different versions of the language: Harold Chua-SiMPLE, Marc Mapalad-SiMPLE, and Aramay-SiMPLE.(a) Micro-SiMPLE is an introductory programming language designed to use only 4 keywords: Call, Set, If, and Goto. An example of a Micro-SiMPLE program listing (and a snapshot of the output display it generates) is shown in the figure below:
(b) Pro-SiMPLE is the DOS-based version of SiMPLE requiring the use of only 23 keywords. Its graphics capabilities are limited to only 16 colors with a resolution of only 640 x 480 pixels. Its sound capabilities are limited to simple "beeps" through the computer's built-in speaker. An example of a Pro-SiMPLE program listing (and a snapshot of the output display it generates) is shown in the figure below:
(c) Ultra-SiMPLE is the Windows-based version of SiMPLE. It utilizes exactly the same 23 keywords as Pro-SiMPLE. Its graphics capabilities allow millions of colors in whatever resolution the user's system provides. Its sound capabilities allow the user to play any type of media file (including movies). An example of an Ultra-SiMPLE program listing (and a snapshot of the output display it generates) is shown in the figure below:
Modes of Operation
SiMPLE programs can be run in either "Drag & Drop" mode (intended primarily for beginning programmers), or in "Command-Line" mode (for more advanced programmers):(a) In "Drag & Drop" mode, the user simply creates a program source listing (a text document), and then runs that program by dragging the source listing document onto a special icon.
(b) In "Command-Line" mode, the user creates and runs programs by typing commands and listings into a DOS window.
The 23 keywords used by SiMPLE are
And Break Call
Common Continue Display
Do Else End
Float (or Decimal) Float2 (or Decimal2) Goto
If Int (or Whole) Int2 (or Whole2)
Loop Or Return
Set Step Task
Text To
SiMPLE will run on Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
95 and newer systems.