For $49 you can get Power BASIC for DOS.
One of the advances over QB for hardware control
is direct bit manipulation. Upward compatible with QB code.


"Bit Operations
PowerBASIC offers a full complement of bit operations including: SHIFT, ROTATE, TEST, SET, RESET, and TOGGLE. Even implied bit arrays of up to 512K bits are supported."


For that last little bit of speed.

"Built-in Assembler
Looking for even better performance? The new built-in Assembler may be just what you need. For the first time, you can write Assembler code and mix it with your PowerBASIC code line by line. Hand optimize the most critical sections for absolute performance. PowerBASIC handles all the details automatically. You can reference your variables, parameters, labels and functions by name  even debut at the CPU register level in the expanded environment."

Real time serial ports.

"Communications
Here's where PowerBASIC shines. Serial port communication is available for COM1 through COM4. BAUD rates up to 115200. Any combination of non-standard IRQ lines. Explicit control of DTR, even after program termination. Automatic error detection or masking is available, with optional flush of erroneous data."


BCD binary coded decimal math is frequently used in single chip application.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary-coded_decimal


"BCD Variables
Finally you can eliminate round-off errors, even those associated with currency variables in other languages. You aren't forced to 4 decimal places. Instead you make your choice: from 0 to 18 digits, and always with automatic rounding to the precise level of your needs. In PowerBASIC, all BCD variables are implemented as scaled integers for fast calculation."


http://www.powerbasic.com/products/pbdos/


Paul Lamar
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