From CometWiki

Overview of Internet Basic

Welcome to Internet Basic, the fastest and easiest way to create professional Internet and intranet applications. Internet Basic offers a variety of interfaces, including:

• Character-based applications, for both local and remote users
• Graphical applications (with Windows controls and dialogs), for both local and remote users
• Web-based applications, for intranet and Internet users (XAP)
• Internet protocol applications, such as e-mail (SMTP), file transfer (FTP), and hypertext (HTTP)
• Database applications (including ODBC)
• Data mining applications
• Hardware-specific applications (serial devices, fax/modems)

The type of interface you choose depends on the type of application you are writing and the requirements of the user. Internet Basic provides the programming tools to meet all of the above needs.

Internet Basic offers many powerful programming features, including:

• an array of easy-to-use input/output statements
• record locking and file locking capabilities
• numeric values up to 16 digits, with up to 15 decimal place accuracy
• advanced subroutine and subprogram features
• encryption and decryption functions
• uncomplicated commands for trapping and handling runtime exceptions
• a full complement of string and numeric functions
• conditional compliation of source code sections
• direct access to low-level operating system functions

Internet Basic was designed with efficiency in mind. A good portion of the object code created by the Internet Basic compiler results in calls to a powerful runtime system called Comet. This means extremely small, more efficient object code. This also means that Comet's advanced file management system and communications capabilities are available to all Internet Basic programs.

Internet Basic source programs are divided into three sections:

• Data DivisionStatements in this division define the data variables to be used in the program, including specifications for data type, size, and other attributes. One exceptional feature is Internet Basic's ability to declare data as "common" to be used in multiple program overlays and/or subprograms.
• I/O Format DivisionThe division includes statements and control codes for input/output formatting and interfacing with external devices/data sources.
• Procedure DivisionThe Procedure Division includes executable statements that control program flow, input/output, processing, and exception handling.