Getting Started
Updated: Apr 16, 2005

Step 1: Unpack the HotBasic .zip file and hot_bin.zip

If your HotBasic (HB) directory is, say, C:\Hot, then the HotBasic .zip
file is unzipped into that working directory.  hot_bin.zip should unpack to
a subdirectory -- bin, if it is placed in the Hot directory. For example,
pkunzip -d hot_bin should work.  hotcheck.bat may be used to check your setup.

HB installation is now complete.  There are no changes to the Registry or
to your Environment settings.

Step 2: Start a DOS or Command Prompt window and change the directory to
your HB directory.  Type

  hot hello

or

  hot11 hello

for the Trial Verison.

hello.bas should compile to hello.exe.  Then type

  hello

and hello.exe should run.  If this works, your installation is OK.

Step 3:  Edit hb.bat to include the HB directory you are using.  Once hb.bat
is correct, you can copy it to any drive/directory where your .bas projects
are located.  .bas files can be put in the HB directory and compile, also.
Often, it is convenient to have files associated with each project in their
own directory.  Then in that directory, you just type "hb myprog".  Notice
that the compiler assumes the default program file extension of .bas if none
is specified, as in the example above.

Step 4:  Try HotIDE to edit and compile source code after setting HotBasic >
Options > Setup > Help Directory, HotBasic Directory and Compiler Command.
Many sample programs are provided to explore HotBasic features.

Do not put HotBasic or your program source code in paths that contain spaces,
e.g., "Program Files" or "My Documents".  The compiler parses command-line
switches based on space characters, so there should be no quoted strings with
embedded spaces in the command-line.


Copyright 2005 James J Keene PhD
Original Publication: Apr 16, 2005
