> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://nolongerset.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # twinBASIC Update: January 2, 2022 - URL: https://nolongerset.com/twinbasic-update-january-2-2022/ - Published: 2022-01-02T23:26:16.000Z - Updated: 2026-05-08T13:00:27.000Z - Description: Highlights include a feature to generate missing implementations, minor improvements to the Reference List UX, and some spirited debates. - Author: Mike Wolfe - Tags: twinBASIC Weekly Update, #Import 2026-05-20 02:59 *On April 23, 2021, I helped [Wayne Phillips](twitter.com/WaynePhillipsEA/) introduce the world to [twinBASIC](https://www.twinbasic.com/) at the [Access DevCon Vienna](https://www.donkarl.com/devcon/) conference. I [boldly predicted](https://nolongerset.com/devcon-2021/) that twinBASIC (along with the Monaco editor) would replace VBA and its outdated development environment by 2025\. With that goal in mind, this weekly update is my attempt to keep the project fresh in the minds of the VBA development community.* *Every Sunday, I will be providing updates on the status of the project, linking to new articles discussing twinBASIC, and generally trying to increase engagement with the project. If you come across items that should be included here, tweet me [@NoLongerSet](https://twitter.com/NoLongerSet) or email me at mike at nolongerset dot com.* --- There were over 300 comments made this week over on the GitHub twinBASIC issues site (that's about double the number of comments from a typical week). I know this because part of my process in preparing this weekly update is to read every single one of those comments to curate the summary you find below. So, although there was not a lot of new development in twinBASIC itself this week, there was a large uptick in discussions around the project. I suppose this makes sense given the holidays: Wayne hopefully took some time off from his impressive development pace, and outside observers had more time to check out the twinBASIC project due to their own increased free time. ## Highlights ### Experimental Feature to Generate Missing Implementations There is a [new IDE feature](https://github.com/WaynePhillipsEA/twinbasic/issues/604) that supports creating missing members for classes that implement interfaces. You can add one missing implementation at a time or you can add all the missing implementations at once: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2022/01/Implements-Quick-Fix.gif) As of version 0.13.59, the feature also works to add missing event handlers for `WithEvents` code. ### Minor Improvements to the Reference List UX As of version 0.13.60, the Reference List search box has improved handling for the Enter and Escape keys [as requested by Kr00l](https://github.com/WaynePhillipsEA/twinbasic/issues/55#issuecomment-1001966196): > 1\. ESC key should close the textbox and restore the initial filter phrase when the box was opened > 2\. RETURN key should close the textbox and apply the filter phrase. Just like now when loosing the focus. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2022/01/image-6.png) ## Around the Web ### Putting "Import from Visual Basic" to the Test [Over at vbforums](https://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?893990-VB6-Web-Site-App-Server&p=5550066&viewfull=1#post5550066), user *jpbro* reported on his experiences importing an existing .vbp project file into twinBASIC using the new "Import from Visual Basic" feature. He includes several screenshots from the process and offers some feedback for how the user experience could be improved. He also identified a memory leak in twinBASIC that's [already been fixed](https://github.com/WaynePhillipsEA/twinbasic/issues/618). There were a few bumps in the road, but ultimately he succeeded in getting his application running: > In the end, I'm very impressed with tB so far. It was relatively painless to take a non-trivial VB6 application and get it to compilie with tB. I'm looking forward to seeing tB continue to develop! ### Debating the Bit-Shift Operator Syntax A months-old issue regarding bit-shift operations suddenly sprang to life this week igniting a spirited discussion over on the [GitHub issue page](https://github.com/WaynePhillipsEA/twinbasic/discussions/396). The issue generated nearly 100 comments in the past week. To keep the conversation from spiraling out of control, Wayne waded in to resolve the issue once and for all by putting it to a vote: - Upvote [this comment](https://github.com/WaynePhillipsEA/twinbasic/discussions/396#discussioncomment-1882216), "If you are IN FAVOUR OF adding `LShift` and `RShift` to the language, as alternatives for `<<` and `>>` respectively" - Upvote [this comment](https://github.com/WaynePhillipsEA/twinbasic/discussions/396#discussioncomment-1882218), "If you are OPPOSED TO adding `LShift` and `RShift` to the language, as alternatives for `<<` and `>>` respectively" - Upvote [this comment](https://github.com/WaynePhillipsEA/twinbasic/discussions/396#discussioncomment-1882219), "If you are NOT BOTHERED either way" To be clear, there is no option to REMOVE the `<<` and `>>` operators from the language. Rather, the question is whether to add additional `LShift` and `RShift` operators as syntactic sugar, as words in general are more "BASIC-y" than symbols. I voted OPPOSED because I think having two different ways to represent the exact same thing adds to–rather than reduces–confusion. Ultimately, though, I think [jpbro's comment](https://github.com/WaynePhillipsEA/twinbasic/discussions/396#discussioncomment-1884681) summarizes my feelings on the topic the best: > To me this whole debate is mind-boggling. The concept of bit-shifting is orders of a magnitude more difficult to understand than the << or >> symbol that represents the operation. If you're knowledgeable enough to understand bit-shifting, then you should be able to understand the symbols for it without much trouble. I couldn't have put it better myself. ### Guiding Principles for twinBASIC Language Design Ben Clothier [opened a discussion](https://github.com/WaynePhillipsEA/twinbasic/discussions/610) to encourage the creation of a set of language design principles for twinBASIC, inspired by the design philosophies of languages like [Python](https://wiki.python.org/moin/PythonPhilosophy) and [Rust](https://rustacean-principles.netlify.app/how%5Frust%5Fempowers.html). I'm a big believer in this approach. Years ago, I was president of our local youth soccer organization. While in the position, I created a motto for the organization that doubled as a mission statement: "Learn the Game. Love the Game." For every big decision we had to make, I would ask the other board members to consider it in that context. I would ask, "Does approving this proposal help our players **learn** the game of soccer? Does it help them **love** the game of soccer?" If the answer to both questions was "No," then my vote was always No. I found this to be a very useful frame of reference. It helped me not to lose sight of the forest for the trees. Getting back to twinBASIC, the biggest value in having a guiding design philosophy for the language is that it helps you know what ideas to say "no" to. > Innovation is saying no to a thousand things. > \-Steve Jobs ### Automatically Running the EXE After Build This is currently a project-level setting: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2022/01/image-7.png) However, this setting will likely be dropped in a future version of twinBASIC. Instead, EXE projects will have two different build buttons: 1. Build 2. Build and Run [Icon suggestions are welcome](https://github.com/WaynePhillipsEA/twinbasic/discussions/615#discussioncomment-1890814). ### Allow defining UDTs and Declares at procedure scope Wayne opened a [new issue](https://github.com/WaynePhillipsEA/twinbasic/issues/619) to spark discussion around the idea of *declaring* user-defined types (and API Declares) *inside* procedures. In VBx, these things must be declared outside of procedures and at the top of the module in the header section. Here's his sample code that demonstrate the proposal: ```vba Private Sub Foo() Type POINTAPI X As Long Y As Long End Type Declare PtrSafe Function GetCursorPos Lib "user32" (ByRef point As POINTAPI) As Long Dim pt As POINTAPI GetCursorPos pt ' more code End Sub ``` This feature would provide two obvious benefits (there may be more I'm not thinking of): - Reducing unnecessary scope pollution *(why should you have to declare a UDT or API function at the module level if you only intend to use it inside a single routine?)* - Making code snippets more portable *(by eliminating dependencies outside of the procedure itself)* The second point above would especially help with sharing code online. Lest you write that off as an insignificant benefit, a thriving online community is critical to the success of any programming language. Making it easier to share code snippets online would go a long way to supporting that sort of community growth. That said, I don't necessarily think this is a slam-dunk feature for inclusion in the language. I really don't have strong feelings on it in either direction. ## Changelog Here are the updates from the past week. You can also find this information by installing the twinBASIC VS Code extension and clicking on the Changelog tab of the extension page: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/eb/d7/ebd732c1-5f03-4f07-b386-5d08557e15c9/content/images/2021/05/image-2.png) ### \[v0.13.61, 31st December 2021\] - fixed: regression in v0.13.61 causing Outline view to fail when the current document contains a class \[ \] ### \[v0.13.60, 31st December 2021\] - HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL TWINBASIC PREVIEWERS! THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT \[ \] - fixed: return value optimization incorrectly applying to Static variables \[ \] - fixed: Byref parameters were missing from the Outline view \[ \] - improved: escape-key/enter-key behaviour in references list search \[ \] - improved: the build action will now force the Debug Console to be brought into view \[ \] - improved: re-arranged the twinBASIC view panel slightly, moving the Build button next to the 'Active Build' dropdown \[ \] ### \[v0.13.59, 28th December 2021\] - improved: quick-fix for missing implementations now adds an initial Debug.Assert \[ \] - improved: quick-fix for missing implementations now puts the 'add all' option at the top of the list \[ \] - improved: quick-fix for missing implementations now also supports WithEvents \[ \] - fixed: 'ALL AVAILABLE COM REFERENCES' filter UI quirk \[ \] ### \[v0.13.58, 27th December 2021\] - added: experimental quick-fix for missing implemented members \[ \]