The Quick Programming Language (English Language Version 2.2)

QUICK is a programming language for the Atari XL/XE. It is an extremely powerful language, which allows direct use of the Atari's unique features. QUICK is a very structured language, and looks a little like C, PASCAL, and BASIC. QUICK has built-in functions to: play digitized sounds, move player/missile graphics, handle Blitter, utilize an ST mouse, and more! QUICK's absolutely unique features also includes the handling of interrupts. You can create both DLIs and VBIs, but you write them as normal procedures in QUICK statements, NOT machine code. No more machine code blues! If you want to use machine code, then that's no problem. You can write machine code directly into your QUICK program.

QUICK is easily expandable by the use of libraries. These are like .H files if you are familiar with C. They contain special extra functions. Four of these are included for: handling graphics, advanced string handling, handling floating point numbers, and a numerical library for things like cos and sine. QUICK has a built-in text editor which is very easy to use. RAMDISKs are also supported, so you can compile from RAM for amazing speed. QUICK programs are turned into machine code .OBJ files for running from DOS. QUICK is not required to run these programs, so you can distribute your own software freely.

QUICK is supplied as a SS/SD ATR disk image with the compiler/editor, 4 libraries, and lots of demo programs to look at. You also get a comprehensive manual in PDF format. English language versions 2.2 and 2.1 are both supplied, allowing for backwards compatibility with older Quick source code.

The QUICK Support Disk 1 is the first of a series of "support disks" for QUICK. This first support disk is packed with tutorials, demo programs, source code, and extra libraries. Here's what's on this double-sided medium density ATR disk image:

• The game of LIFE - a tutorial and full source code in QUICK to implement this well-known game.
• Display List Interrupts - two tutorials and source code.
• Character Library - a new library file with tutorial for sending single bytes to an output stream.
• Header files in QUICK - a set of special files to quickly implement a set of variables to handle OS, keyboard, I/O, graphics, audio, and interrupt addresses.
• Reset resident programs in QUICK - A tutorial and demo program.
• Player/Missile graphics in QUICK - A tutorial and example source code.
• Big arrays in QUICK - A tutorial on how to implement arrays of over 256 bytes in QUICK, and how to get 2-D arrays. Example source code is also supplied.
• Sorting in QUICK - A tutorial and source code to sort strings.
• A special library for Touch Tablet users - A tutorial and the .LIB files are included. Touch Tablet example drawing program using the new .LIB file described above. Tutorial and source code supplied.
• A tutorial on variable handing-over in QUICK.

The QUICK Support Disk 2 is the second support disk for QUICK users, and contains more tutorials, example code, and new libraries. This one contains:

• a Player/Missile graphics library making PMGs and PMG animation easy
• a tutorial on using logical operators in QUICK
• a printer dump for 24-pin printers
• a printer dump for HP DeskJet/LaserJet printers
• routines and tutorials on Mandelbrot Sets
• a new library for using text on mode 8 screens
• a QUICK analyser program which analyses QUICK programs.

All this comes as a DS/SD ATR disk image. The tutorial files can be viewed and printed (on Epson and Atari printers) directly from the menu on the disk. A joystick is required to select items from the disk menu. The software is supplied in ATR format for use with many readily available PC Atari XL/XE emulators (many of which are free and available on the internet), and the APE/Prosystem/SIO2PC system.

The Quick package (main system and the two support disks) will be sent to you electronically as a ZIP file by email within 24 hours of you ordering (usually a lot less). Note that no physical product will be sent to you, only the ZIP file.

Note that this is the only legal way of buying Quick, and the only way you'll get the user guides/manuals.

The cost of this package, containing Quick and the two support disks, is just US$5 (for electronic delivery by email).

Also available for those wanting everything we sell (including the Quick package), is the full DGS Software pack for US$7. Information and ordering for this product can be found here: DGS Software Pack

You can order Quick right now using your Credit/Debit/Charge Card using PayPal. Simply Click the 'Buy Now' button below. You will be transferred over to PayPal to complete the order process. The same price applies to all countries. It's easier to quote in a single currency than try and convert it to £/€ etc. (Note that you don't need to have a PayPal account to buy).

To order Quick (ZIP file emailed to you) for US$5, click this button:

NOTE:

Note again that no physical product will be shipped to you. The ZIP file containing all the software listed above will be sent to you via email within 24 hours. Please note also that sometimes the email may go into your 'spam' folder, so please check in there if the email doesn't seem to have arrived.

Quick does not run on the relatively rare 1200XL model. It does run fine in all PC emulators.

The products are offered without support, but are all mature versions and have no known problems.