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CHAPTER 7: BASIC
INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS BASIC?
BASIC is a computer language. The name BASIC stands for Beginner’s All-purpose
Symbolic Instruction Code. It was developed by professors at Dartmouth College
in the mid-1960s. It was designed for students who had no previous experience
in programming computers.
BASIC is a basic language; however there are differences in the language based
on the computer that uses it in much the same way that English is different depending
on which country it is spoken in (Great Britain or the United States) or which part
of the country the language is spoken in (East Coast, Midwest, South or the West
Coast).
The differences in the language will depend on the computer that is being used and
on the computer that produced the language for the computer manufacturer. Microsoft
BASIC is found on Apple II+, IBM PC and PC jr., Laser Computers, Commodore
VIC20 and Commodore 64 and others. Other computers such as the Timex Sinclair
ZX80 and the Texas Instruments 99/4 use versions of BASIC similar to MS-BASIC.
WHAT IS A PROGRAM?
A computer program is a series of instructions that tells a computer what tasks you
want it to perform. Computer programs are written in a programming language. BASIC
is one of the languages that both a human and a computer understand and so BASIC
can be used to write a program that a computer can carry out for you.
WHY SHOULD I LEARN TO USE A COMPUTER?
Computers can do many things if they are given instructions. For a particular job
to be done, by a person or a machine, we must specify the steps which must be
done to do the job. The computer becomes an extension of our capabilities. To
do this requires us to learn how to talk to our computer. This chapter will help you
to get started.
WHAT IS THIS CHAPTER FOR?
This chapter is a step-by-step guide for understanding programs and learning to use
the computer language called BASIC.
WHO IS THIS CHAPTER FOR?
This guide is written for students and adults who have little or no computer experience.
With a little time and effort you will discover that there is nothing difficult about learning
to talk to a computer.
WHAT IF I MAKE A MISTAKE?
Don’t worry about making a mistake, this program allows you to experiment. The
more you experiment, the more you will learn.