Some of PureBasic's best features are that it is cross-platform ( Windows, Linux and Macintosh ), easily extended by creating libraries, the compiler is fast and creates highly optimized executables with small footprints. I also find that the user community, which the developers are active in, to be one of the best for any programming language I've ever used. PureBasic also has the most frequent release cycle of any commercial programming language, and all updates are free forever after the initial purchase. I've been using PureBasic for 10+ years now and have never failed to accomplish any task attempted. I highly recommend PureBasic !

It's a language really easy to learn, but super flexible (with pointers, structures and classes). It can also be used for so many different usage: windows applications, video games, background program. It can also load external DLLs and you can also write Assembly code (for specific usage or better performance). It was also possible to create your own library and even share it with other users. Unlike .Net or Java distributing your software for everybody to use it is really easy: just share the .EXE file and you're done. No need to to have additional framework installed on that machine. It's also cross system (can be run on Linux even if I never tried it on it). Also installing PureBasic was super fast, taking no drive space and didn't slow down your machine.

PureBasic forsakes object oriented for purely procedural programming. It has a syntax that seems familiar to C programmers, great support for Win32 API, and one source project can compile and run (assuming no use of the aforementioned Win32 API) on Mac, Linux and Windows. That's nice, productive cross-platform work! I use PureBasic when I need a Quick GUI app, very easy to built a functional (but not super pretty, in my opinion) user interface. Good for tools, line of business apps, but also has deep game and 3d programming support. Less than $100 for a lifetime license. Active community forum with many skilled experts, including PureBasic creators, to answer your questions. Built in libraries are very comprehensive and include networking, http, all kinds of graphics and on and on and on. Creates (really) small, standalone EXE's that run very fast, like close to C speed.