Article # 80, added by Geoworks, historical record
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The GEOS SDK versus IZL (Interpreted Zoomer Language)




IZL is a scripting language, originally designed for the
Zoomer and expanded somewhat for the OmniGo 100. IZL
applications can be used on the Zoomer, the OmniGo 100, and
with the GEOS desktop software.

In difficulty, IZL is somewhat like using the old, familiar
BASIC programming language (QBASIC or GWBASIC are included
with MS DOS -- that BASIC language). IZL is not the same or
similar to BASIC in its syntax, but the programming skill
and experience level required to use it are about the same.
IZL is an interpreted language, which means that the IZL
runtime interpreter must be running in order to use a
program written in the IZL language.

The interpreter is the runtime application that is available
for download on CompuServe or America Online or from Feras
Technologies' site on the World Wide Web. There are lots of
sample IZL applications also available online. The IZL
compiler is a commercial package available from Feras
Technologies.

IZL allows the programmer to use a subset of the objects and
features in GEOS, like buttons, text entry fields, etc. You
can also use any of the 99 GEOS spreadsheet functions in
your application, for example. The newer version of IZL
provides access to the serial port routines, too. Beyond
that, IZL provides the basics of programming logic which can
be used to combine those GEOS features into an application.

By contrast, the GEOS SDK is a full-featured, professional
development environment. Applications developed with the SDK
do not require a runtime interpreter. The SDK compiles them
into GEOS executables. IZL itself was created by a
programmer using the SDK, for example.

The SDK can be used to create applications or libraries or
even drivers for GEOS. SDK-created applications can make use
of all the features and objects in GEOS, plus new objects
coded in C or Assembly by the programmer. The SDK was
designed for an experienced C language programmer.