FreeBASIC Primer #1
This primer is intended for beginning beginners, for those who are just starting to learn how to program and using FreeBASIC do to it.
Learning the language
Learning a programming language means learning the words to write it and knowing what they mean when they are written. We don't need to learn them all at once. But learning a few important words that do something will help us get started. Here we are just going to concentrate on these keywords:

- `Dim`
- `Print`
- `Input`
- `For...Next`
- `If...Then`
- `Do...Loop`

Hello World!
No beginners reference is complete without this example.
`
Print "Hello World!"
`
The text between the pair of double quotes is a literal string. The `Print` statement is used to output text to the display. If you can edit, compile, and execute this example, you are on your way.
Using a Variable to Store Data
Sometimes in a program we will want to store some information somewhere, in memory, and then use it later. To store something in memory we use a variable. All variables in FreeBASIC are of some specific type, like a number or a string. We use the `Dim` statement to declare a variable name and specify what type of information we want to store in it.
`
Dim text As String
text = "Hello World!"
Print text
`
We are using `Dim` to let the compiler know that we want to use a variable named `text` in our program and that we will be putting `String` data in it. We then assign (copy) `"Hello World!"` in to the variable. Finally, we use `Print` to output it to the display.
Using a Variable in an Expression
An expression is a generic term for describing a part of the source code that can be evaluated. After an expression is evaluated, we can then do something with it, like assign (copy) it to a variable.
`
Dim a As String, b As String, text As String
a = "Hello"
b = "World"
text = a + " " + b + "!"
Print text
`
We are assigning the variables `a` and `b` with some data. We are then using the variables `a` and `b` in an expression which is then assigned to `text`. Finally, we output the result to the display.
Getting Input from the User
Often, we have no idea what data is needed for a program unless the user gives it to us. We can't put it in our source code since we won't know what it is until the user runs the program and tells us what it is.
`
Dim answer As String
Input "Type something and press enter:", answer
Print "You typed: '"; answer; "'"
`
Here the `Input` statement will first, output some information to the display, and then wait for the user to give the program some data. In this example, we just output back to the display, exactly what the user typed in.
Doing Some Math
Variables and expressions are not just limited to strings. Most early languages didn't handle strings very well if at all. Writing mathematical expressions is similar to how they might be written with pencil and paper.
`
Dim a As Integer, b As Integer, c As Integer
a = 5
b = 7
c = a + b
Print "a = "; a
Print "a = "; b
Print "a + b = "; c
`
We are assigning values to the variables `a`, `b` and `c`. We are using `Integer` for the variables' data type. An integer can be positive or negative, but not have any fractions.
Doing Some Math with Input
This is similar to the previous example, except we will let the user choose the numbers we are going to add together.
`
Dim a As Integer, b As Integer, r As Integer
Input "Enter a number:", a
Input "Enter another number:", b
r = a + b
Print "The sum of the numbers is "; r
`
`Dim` lets the compiler know which variable names we want to use and that they are going to hold `Integer` data. We are using `Input` to get the numbers from the user, and `Print` to display the results.
Doing More Math with Input
Numeric variables are not limited to just integers. We can also use `Single` or `Double` precision data types which can represent fractions. In this example we will take some input from the user to convert a weight in pounds to kilograms.
`
Dim lb As Single, kg As Single
Input "Enter a weight in pounds:", lb
kg = lb * 0.454
Print lb; " lb. is equal to "; kg; " kg"
`
Repeating Statements
Using `For...Next` statement we can tell the program to do something repeatedly a set number of times. For example lets say we wanted to add up all the numbers from 1 to 100.
`
Dim total As Integer
Dim number As Integer
total = 0
For number = 1 To 100
total = total + number
Next
Print "The sum of number from 1 to 100 is "; total
`
Making a Decision
A program can choose which statements to execute using a conditional statement like `If...Then`. We can use the value of a variable or the result of an expression to decide if we should, or should not, execute one or more statements.
`
Dim number As Integer
Input "Enter a number : ", number
Print "Your number is ";
If number < 0 Then
Print "negative"
ElseIf number > 0 Then
Print "positive"
Else
Print "zero"
End If
`
After getting a number from the user, we are going to output a word ( positive, negative, or zero ) based on which condition matches the statement.
Repeating Statements (Again)
Here we will use another looping structure `Do...Loop` to repeat some statements. How will the program know to stop repeating the statements? We will use `If...Then` to make the decision when to get out of the loop.
`
Dim total As Single, count As Single, number As Single
Dim text As String
Print "This program will calculate the sum and average for a"
Print "list of numbers. Enter an empty value to end."
Print
Do
Input "Enter a number : ", text
If text = "" Then
Exit Do
End If
count = count + 1
total = total + Val(text)
Loop
Print
Print "You entered "; count; " numbers"
Print "The sum is "; total
If count <> 0 Then
Print "The average is "; total / count
End If
`
See also

- `Dim`
- `Print`
- `Input`
- `For...Next`
- `If...Then`
- `Do...Loop`