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BASIC Computer Language Turns 40

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the everybody's-training-wheels dept.

5 REM nam37 codes
10 PRINT "In 1963 two Dartmouth College math professors had a radical"
20 PRINT "idea - create a computer language muscular enough to harness"
30 PRINT "the power of the period's computers, yet simple enough that even"
40 PRINT "the school's janitors could use it."
50 END

4 of 1,042 comments (clear)

  1. RTFA, dillhole by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Flamebait
    A year later on May 1, 1964, the BASIC computer programing language (as demonstrated above) was born and for the first time computers were taken out of the lab and brought into the community.
  2. Re:Spinning in his grave by tttonyyy · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    Meant to be a joke... VB is a good tool for prototyping and simple stuff where it excels.

    "VB", "Excel" and "Simple" in the same sentence?

    Comedy genius!

    Go ahead and mod me flamebait, see if I care. ;)

    --
    biopowered.co.uk - catalytically cracking triglycerides for home automotive use since 2008. Just say no to big oil!
  3. Look at all these posts. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    It never ceases to amaze me what kids will latch on to. In this case Haiku. In English haiku is completely pointless if not ridiculous. It has no real symmetry, elegance or beauty as it does in Japanese. And yet, college kids seem to think that "it is the coolest, man". It must be due to the fact that they all suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder and short prose of Haiku is all they can handle in one sitting.

    Here's a clue kiddies, Haiku in English is dumb.

    Now I expect lots of posts supporting English Haiku and telling me that I am an idiot. But none will offer anything but the verbatim dronings of their professors, which they seem to feel are gods. Forgive my condescending chuckle.

  4. Re:WHY! WON'T! IT! DIE! by rice_burners_suck · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    BASIC is still Microsoft's language for application automation

    And herein lies the strength. I wouldn't be surprised if every Microsoft software actually contains an embedded copy of their original BASIC interpreter from 1980 or whenever, and the program itself is actually written in BASIC. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if they have a company policy against using any method of flow control except GOTOs. It is design decisions like these that make Windows the most efficient, cost effective, secure, and bug free software in the world.

    Oh yeah, and Linux iz th4 suxx0rz bec4us3 it do3sn'7 !nc1ude BASIC in th4 k3rn31!!!111111111111