When comparing BlitzMax vs PureBasic, the Slant community recommends PureBasic for most people. In the question“What are the best 2D game engines?” PureBasic is ranked 40th while BlitzMax is ranked 52nd. The most important reason people chose PureBasic is:
Can create single file executables without the need to install other libraries, run time environments, etc.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Multi target
You can compile on Windows, Mac and Linux. Nothing to change. There are solutions to compile on the same machine for 2 targets.
Pro Modular
There are many modules to extend the features of the language: you can create PDF (via a Cairo module), or just download/upload files (via LibCurl), playing streaming sound (via BASS) and so on (databases, xml, xls...) User can create their own module (they could be written in plain BlitzMax)
Pro Easy syntax
Based on BASIC syntax. Supports OOP, collections (array, list and map)
Pro Stable language and source code
After many years the language it self is very stable. The packages contains the source code of ALL modules (excluding the source of the compiler).
Pro Easy to start, high productivity
BlitzMax is just ready after the installation. Open the IDE, write your code and just press F5 to see the results. You don't need to install other things to use the language. Of course if you want to change the language itself - or modules - you need to install MinGW or other libs, but guidelines are provided and easy to follow.
Pro Fast compiler
With comparison to the some of the other languages Blitzmax compiles source files fast enough.
Pro Compiles to native code
Good performance thanks to native code on each of the target platforms.
Pro Garbage collected language
The language is garbage collected in two modes: reference counting or using the Boehm-Demers-Weiser conservative garbage collector.
Pro GUI for apps
BlitzMax provides the MaxGUI modules that allow to build GUI desktop applications for Windows, Mac and Linux (FLTK or GTK via a module). You also could create your own 'gadgets'.
Pro Great community support
the forum is plenty of examples and solutions! Community is strong and still working, available for getting an hand
Pro BLIde
BLIde is an integrated development environment for Blitz Max, designed to work very close to the project file management performed by BlitzMax engine.
It’s inspired by the .NET IDE and some other great tools, It’s been designed for hobbyist and professional coders.
Pro Standalone executables
Can create single file executables without the need to install other libraries, run time environments, etc.
Pro The syntax is very beginner-friendly
Pro Same code on Windows, OS X and Linux
Same code can be compiled natively, without any interpreter for OS X, Windows or Linux, using the native GUI toolkit of the OS
Pro Many integrated features
Many libraries available without additional installations : 2D & 3D, database, network, sound, xml, JSON, http...
Pro Allows to program at a lower level than most alternatives
Pro Lifetime license
Pay once, use forever.
Pro Constantly updated
Pro Supports ARM in addition to x86, AMD64 and others
Pro Can compile to plain C code
Pro Grest user community / forums with the developer very active
Cons
Con Outdated and abandoned
The author neglected BlitzMax and works on Monkey2.
Con No mobile targets
Only desktop targets available: Windows, MacOS, Linux.
Con Limited free version
Free version is limited to 800 lines and can not create DLL's.
Con Some bugs are present on the Linux platform
Con Slightly bogged syntax
Sometimes the syntax bogs down, just a little with long procedure names and such. A truly minor issue.
Con Not RAD
Not a RAD environment.
