PlayBASIC developer checks out App Game Kit Studio demo
In this video, I take a hands-on look at *AppGameKit Studio*, the modern successor to DarkBASIC. This isn’t a formal review — more of a reconnaissance mission — as I explore how it compares to my own language, *PlayBASIC*, and how it performs in simple benchmark tests.
We’ll look at the IDE layout, syntax highlighting, code performance, and help system, while testing the same code across both AppGameKit and PlayBASIC to see how they stack up.
If you’re curious about how modern BASIC-style languages have evolved or just want to see how AGK Studio feels in practice, this deep dive might give you some insight.
🔹 Topics covered:
Comparing AGK Studio and PlayBASIC runtime speeds
IDE usability and interface design
Syntax, highlighting, and code completion
Help file system and documentation structure
The importance of accessibility and simplicity for new coders
Chapters List
0:00 – Introduction & Overview of AppGameKit Studio
0:34 – Why I'm exploring modern BASIC tools
1:16 – IDE and Vulkan support overview
2:07 – Loading test code and benchmarking approach
3:07 – Running the first performance test
4:25 – Loop performance and unrolling results
5:44 – Comparing results with PlayBASIC
7:02 – Optimizing loops and performance insights
8:17 – Further runtime comparisons
11:03 – Runtime efficiency summary
11:37 – Examining the AGK Studio IDE
13:20 – Exploring help files and documentation
15:22 – Adjusting color schemes and fonts
17:21 – Testing help search and command lookup
20:10 – Trying command examples
21:33 – Creating a new project and folder setup
23:04 – Syntax highlighting and print tests
24:47 – Working with types and arrays
26:17 – Missing live feedback and autocomplete quirks
27:48 – Prototype parameter display ideas
29:01 – Right-click menus and editor options
31:22 – Debugging and syntax testing
35:12 – Variable scope and compile-time checks
37:30 – Code navigation and hover feedback
38:11 – Function definitions and structure
39:57 – Project-level function listings
41:46 – Multiple source file testing
44:09 – Includes and inserts explained
47:34 – IDE usability impressions
49:00 – Help file examples and tutorials
51:02 – Comparison to Visual Studio complexity
53:10 – Simplicity vs. feature overload
55:04 – Goals for PlayBASIC’s future IDE
57:16 – Vulkan vs. OpenGL support notes
58:40 – Thoughts on simplicity and cross-platform design
1:02:07 – Final impressions and summary
1:05:10 – Compatibility with DarkBASIC
1:07:05 – Ideas for cross-language code translation
1:08:01 – Wrap-up and closing thoughts
Corrections
This is the _2019_ edition of App Game Kit studio; not _2009_ as I mentioned in the video.
Links:
PlayBASIC
https://PlayBASIC.com
https://UnderwareDesign.com
BlitzBASIC 2 PlayBASIC - Source Code Conversion WIP
https://www.underwaredesign.com/forum...
Code Conversion Tools (Convert Amos To PlayBASIC)
https://www.underwaredesign.com/forum...
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