FlagShip is an Easy to Use Language

FlagShip is a programming and development tool. As is the case with other compilers, it is designed mainly for professional software developers. But because of its simple interface, it is also perfectly suitable for semi-professionals and advanced computer users, who need to create database applications with minimal programming effort. Thanks to its full Clipper compatibilty, it is also best suited for porting already available DOS applications to nearly any 32.bit or 64-bit Unix or MS-Windows operating system.

There is no learning curve if you are already familiar with any Xbase dialect, like dBase, FoxBase, FoxPro, Clipper, Visual Objects etc. There are millions of well trained programmers who have been using this easy but powerful syntax for years. All of them can directly switch to FlagShip.

If you don't have any programming experience with Xbase, but are familiar with any other language (C, C++, Pascal, Delphi, Ada, Basic, Perl etc.), the learning curve is very short. With about 10 commands, you will be able to create your first application.

Compare these three commented examples:

  ** File: hello1.prg         // your first program
  ? "Hello world!"            // similar to printf("\nHello world!")
  wait                        // wait for user prompt before closing the application

  ** File: hello2.prg         // your second application
  set color to "W+/B"         // set color white on blue
  @ 5,10 TO 9,30              // draw box
  @ 7,12 SAY "hello world"    // print text on given coordinates
  key = inkey(5)              // wait for key press within 5 seconds

  ** File: dbf1.prg           // handles available/creates new database
  #include "fspreset.fh"      // converts all file names to lower case
  PARAMETER par1              // accepts command-line parameters 
  dbname := IF(EMPTY(par1), "mydbf1", par1)       // set default if required 
  IF .NOT. FILE(dbname + ".dbf")                  // database available?
    DBCREATE(dbname, {{"Name",    "C", 25, 0}, ;  //  not yet, so
                      {"Address", "C", 30, 0}, ;  //  create a new
                      {"Born",    "D",  8, 0}, ;  //  database, here
                      {"Note",    "M", 10, 0}} )  //  with 4 fields
  ENDIF
  USE (dbname) SHARED         // open the given database or mydbf1.dbf
  IF !USED()                  // check the success
     ? "sorry, cannot open", dbname
     QUIT                     // abort the execution
  ENDIF
  BROWSE ()                   // browse/edit
  QUIT                        // exit back to command line

- Compile the selected example with FlagShip by specifying the file name, e.g.
    # FlagShip hello1.prg -o hello1

- and execute it by
    # hello1   (or ./hello1 )

If you don't have any programming experience at all, you can first read the compact introduction in the FlagShip manual, or read any other literature about Xbase programming available in book stores. Then, step-by-step, try the above (or many other) ready-to-run examples from the FlagShip manual.