The BlitzMax IDE

The BlitzMax IDE is an application used for editing source code files and building projects. IDE stands for 'integrated development environment'.

The BlitzMax IDE operates very much like a text editor or word processor.

Getting started

Ok, time to compile and run your first program!

First, select New from the file menu or toolbar. This will create a new, empty source file for you to work with.

Next, enter the following little program:
'
'My first BlitzMax program
'
Print "Hello World!"
Now, its time to build and run: Select Build And Run from the Program menu. You should see the following output:
Building untitled1
Compiling:untitled1.bmx
flat assembler  version 1.51
3 passes, 2417 bytes.
Linking:untitled1.debug.exe
Executing:untitled1.debug.exe
Hello World!

Process complete
Congratulations! You've just created your first program!

What happens if there's an error in your program? Create a new source file and try the following program instead:
'
'My first bug!
'
rint "Hello World!"	'oops! Forgot a 'p'!
This program has an error in it - there is no such command as 'rint' so attempting to build this program will produce the following error:


When you return to the main source code window, the cursor will be placed at the line containing the error, allowing you to fix it.

This type of error is known as a 'compile time' error, because the bug was detected by the compiler before you actually ran the program. However, the compiler cannot catch all possible errors - some errors are not apparent until your program is run. These kinds of errors are known as 'runtime' errors. Here's an example of a program with a runtime error in it:
'
' My first runtime bug!
'
Local an_array[10]

For k=0 To 10
	Print an_array[k]
Next
If you run this, you should see the following error message:


Note how the pane on the right has also switched to the 'Debug' pane. This means your program is in 'debug mode', and by navigating through the debug pane you can inspect your programs variables.

The File menu

Menu ItemEffect
NewCreate a new source file.
OpenOpen an existing source file.
CloseClose current source file.
SaveSave current source file to disk.
Save AsSave current source file to disk under a different name.
Save AllSave all open source files to disk.
Next FileSwitch to next open source file.
Previous FileSwitch to previous open source file.
Recent FilesReopen a recently used source file.
Project ManagerOpen the project manager panel.
Import BB ProjectImport and convert a BlitzPlus or Blitz3D project.
OptionsOpen the options panel.
ExitClose down and exit the IDE.

The Edit menu

Menu ItemEffect
UndoUndo most recent source file edit.
RedoRedo most recently undone source file edit.
CutCut selected text from current source file.
CopyCopy selected text from current source file.
PastePaste text into current source file.
Select AllSelect all text in current source file.
Block IndentIndent the currently highlighted block.
Block OutdentUnindent the currently highlighted block.
FindFind text in the current source file.
Find NextFind next occurance of text.
ReplaceFind and replace text.
Goto LineGo to a line in the current source file.

The Program menu

Menu ItemEffect
BuildBuild the current source file (or locked build file).
Build And RunBuild and run the current source file (or locked build file).
Command LineSpecify command line options for BlitzMax apps.
StepIn debug mode, step over next program statement.
Step InIn debug mode, step into next program statement.
Step OutIn debug mode, step out of current block or function.
HaltStop current build or program run.
Build Options:
Quick Build
Enable or disable quick builds. The quick build feature causes the compiler to only recompile modified files.
Build Options:
Debug Build
Enable or disable debug builds. Debug builds performing extra error checking at runtime, at the cost of some execution speed.
Build Options:
Build GUI App
Instructs BlitzMax to build a 'GUI' application. Disable this if you are building a lightweight, text-only applications.
Lock Build FileLock the current source file for future build and build and run operations. This can be useful if you have a multifile project and are editing several source files but only ever rebuilding one of them.
Unlock Build FileUnlock the currently locked build file.
Build ModulesBuild any recently modified modules.
Rebuild All ModulesRebuild all modules from scratch.
Synchronize ModulesPerform an online update of all Blitzmax modules.

The Help menu

Menu ItemEffect
HomeGo to the help home page.
BackReturn to previous help page.
ForwardAdvance to the next help page.
Quick HelpJump to command reference entry for command nearest cursor.
About CodePlayShow information about BlitzMax and the IDE.