Sepent Codename Surena
Sepent Codename Surena is a great challenge in QuickBASIC programming --trying to make a fine-looking, full-featured GUI. With thousands lines of code it is the largest Basic project in the world. A large part of QuickBASIC source code will be distributed in the final release.

• Great Graphics: Surena uses true color SVGA modes that enable it to show a wide range of colors. You can write fast graphical programs and games for it.

• Advanced Window Manager: Surena has a powerful windowing system which no other QuickBASIC GUI offers. You can change the windows contents or draw on them and the window manager updates the necessary parts on the screen. The hidden parts are kept and when they become visible they are drawn automatically.

• XVPs: XMS Virtual Pages (XVP) are off-screen pages that you can use to draw in the extended memory and whenever necessary put their contents on the screen. XVPs are the solution for flicker-free animation and many other graphical problems. They are the heart of the windowing system.

• API: When programming for Surena, you use the API functions to get service from the system. API functions are not linked to your programs, so that the size of your programs will not be increased for using them.

• Codename Surena Basic: Surena Basic is a Basic compiler for Surena which helps you write Surena-specific programs. Its syntax is similar to that of QuickBASIC. Although you can write your programs in any other programming language and run them while the system stays fully responsible, it is recommended that you write your programs in Surena Basic. You can run multiple Surena-specific programs while only one other program. Also programs written in Surena Basic use extended memory to run, so the conventional memory will remain free for other uses.

• Multitasking: As mentioned above, Surena-specific programs written in Surena Basic can be multitasked. Beside them, you can also run one other Surena-enabled program.

• Outstanding Visual Themes: Surena will contain a large number of themes. The themes do not only change the colors and pictures but also drawing styles, windows and controls shapes. The final release in addition to Windows 95 and Windows XP visual themes, will have visual themes such as themes of Windows 95, Windows XP and themes of the most of the GUIs made in QB. A Theme Development Kit (ThDK) will be available.

• Datastore: The datestore allows you to store and organize your programs information very easily.

• Fonts: Surena uses an advanced font system which offers great flexibility and ease of use. There is a utility that allows you to convert Windows fonts into Surena fonts. Each font file may contain several styles and sizes.

Screen Shots of Windowing Preview/2

Preview Message

Initialize Screen

Start Up Screen

Sepent Codename Surena: Windowing Preview/2

Progress Report
Here's the number of lines of code currently written for Surena and also an approximate percentage of the progress of the project.

Surena
Where has this codename come from? Surena (originally Suren) is the name of the General of the Iranian Army at a period of Ashkanian era. Significant among his works was defeating the Roman armay -commanded by Crassus- attacking Iran.