BASIC
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Almost every book transmitting information of BASIC in the 1970s could be characterized as educational — that is, they explained, illustrated, and provided code for applications that users could enter, test and alter. | Almost every book transmitting information of BASIC in the 1970s could be characterized as educational — that is, they explained, illustrated, and provided code for applications that users could enter, test and alter. | ||
| − | David H. Ahl's compilation, ''101 Basic Computer Games'', was first published in 1973 by the Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC). Though not the first book of computer games, it was the first to collect only games in BASIC. It contains a listing of games, a sample run of each game, and usually a short description of each game. It also acknowledges each game's author(s) and lays out other sources if the game has been transformed from a previously known game. The program's "computer limitations" are also decsribed so users understand the hardward requirements. Finally, illustrations, courtesy of ''Mad Magazine'' among others, punctuate the presentation, usually between this modicum of contextual information and the program's listing. The game's titles are abbreviated into names that are no longer than six characters long -- e.g. ACEYDU for "Acey Ddeucy CArd Game"; AMAZIN for "Draw a Maze"; or POET for "Random Poetry (Haiku)." The book's table of contents comprises three columns: a list of game nametags in alphabetical order, a column bearing a single-line description of the game, and a page number where the game's actual title accompanies the game's name tag along the top of the page. The book’s preface makes a point of teasing out the educational value of games, the need for “unguided learning,” especially if one considers the value of creating games, not just playing them. The games in this book were submitted for compilation by many authors. | + | David H. Ahl's compilation, ''101 Basic Computer Games'', was first published in 1973 by the Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC). Though not the first book of computer games, it was the first to collect only games in BASIC. It contains a listing of games, a sample run of each game, and usually a short description of each game. It also acknowledges each game's author(s) and lays out other sources if the game has been transformed from a previously known game. The program's "computer limitations" are also described so users understand the hardware requirements. Illustrations, courtesy of ''Mad Magazine'' among others, punctuate the presentation, usually between this modicum of contextual information and the program's listing. The game's titles are abbreviated into names that are no longer than six characters long -- e.g. ACEYDU for "Acey Ddeucy CArd Game"; AMAZIN for "Draw a Maze"; or POET for "Random Poetry (Haiku)." The book's table of contents comprises three columns: a list of game name tags in alphabetical order, a column bearing a single-line description of the game, and a page number where the game's actual title accompanies the game's name tag along the top of the page. The book’s preface makes a point of teasing out the educational value of games, the need for “unguided learning,” especially if one considers the value of creating games, not just playing them. The games in this book were submitted for compilation by many authors. |
As we learn in the Preface of the January 1978 edition of the book published by Ahl's Creative Computing Press, David H. Ahl left DEC in 1974. Despite his departure, DEC continued to publish its version, but without Ahl's name on it. The first printing of ''Basic Computer Games, Microcomputer Edition'' in January 1978 reflects the fact that, at the time of the DEC publication of ''101 Computer Games'', microcomputers hadn't been manufactured yet, and programmers using the BASIC language were still running code on time-sharing machines or on minicomputers. | As we learn in the Preface of the January 1978 edition of the book published by Ahl's Creative Computing Press, David H. Ahl left DEC in 1974. Despite his departure, DEC continued to publish its version, but without Ahl's name on it. The first printing of ''Basic Computer Games, Microcomputer Edition'' in January 1978 reflects the fact that, at the time of the DEC publication of ''101 Computer Games'', microcomputers hadn't been manufactured yet, and programmers using the BASIC language were still running code on time-sharing machines or on minicomputers. | ||
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| − | There were other paths to the dissemination of BASIC. | + | There were other paths used to disseminate BASIC in books. According to Wikipedia, Bob Albrecht's ''What To Do After You Hit Return, or P.C.C.’s first book of Computer Games'' was first published in 1975 by People's Computer Company. It was handed off to a series of other publishing entities and underwent several printings. Hayden Books began printing it in 1977; its 5th printing in 1979 was still printed inexpensively on newsprint paper. |
| − | According to Wikipedia, Bob Albrecht's ''What To Do After You Hit Return, or P.C.C.’s first book of Computer Games'' was first published in 1975 by People's Computer Company. It was handed off to a series of other publishing entities and underwent many printings. Hayden began printing it in 1977; its 5th printing in 1979 was still printed inexpensively on newsprint paper. | + | Given the growing popularity of BASIC and computers among hobbyists, it is not surprising to see other, even simpler presentations of BASIC such as ''The Little Book of BASIC Style. How to write a program you can read'', which was written by John M. Nevison (and self-published by John M. Nevison Associates, 1978) and seeks to echo the simplicity of the ''Elements of Style'' by E. B. White, whom the author invokes in his Preface. |
| − | Given the growing popularity of BASIC and computers among hobbyists, it is not surprising to see other, even simpler presentations of BASIC in other books. One of them is ''The Little Book of BASIC Style. How to write a program you can read'' was written by John M. Nevison (and self-published by John M. Nevison Associates, 1978) and seeks to echo the simplicity of the ''Elements of Style'' by E. B. White, whom the author invokes in his Preface. | + | On the other hand there are introductions to BASIC that make extensive use of BASIC as the language of choice: ''Programming for Poets. A Gentle Introduction Using BASIC'', written by Richard Conway and James Archer and published in 1979 by Winthrop Publishers of Cambridge, MA., which is a simplified textbook; and ''BASIC With Style. Programming Proverbs'' by Paul Nagin and Henry F. Ledgard (Hayden Book Co., 1978). Among these are also more typical textbooks. |
| − | On the other hand there are introductions to BASIC that make extensive use of BASIC as the language of choice: ''Programming for Poets. A Gentle Introduction Using BASIC'', written by Richard Conway and James Archer and published in 1979 by Winthrop Publishers of Cambridge, MA., which is a simplified textbook; and ''BASIC With Style. Programming Proverbs'' by Paul Nagin and Henry F. Ledgard (Hayden Book Co., 1978). | + | While many early books about BASIC are about pursuing hobbies (and games in particular), we would be remiss not to mention the types of books that help people organize their lives and keep their small businesses afloat. Charles D. Sternberg’s ''BASIC Computer Programs for the Home'' (1980) is one such book, whose specific aim was to satisfy “the practical requirements of the home.” The author wishes to address the user's desire not to “rely upon the availability of tape or disk-storage devices or any other features that may not be easily come by" and encourages the “modification of these programs to utilize features of your particular machine should present few difficulties." The programs in this book were tested on An Altair 8800b Microcomputer system. The author offers many reassurances of the ease with which programs can be entered, run, used, and even changed. Besides providing home financial programs, for example, and such “kitchen helpmates” as programs to convert recipe quantities, to plan meals according to various diets, to inventory your freezer’s contents, etc., this book provides descriptions of the purpose and functions of each program as well as some details about data entry, outputs, and other commentary. In the introduction the author explains that he eschews “highly efficient routines” in favor of increased “clarity” and a “modularity” which lends itself to easier alteration. |
| − | While many early books on BASIC were about pursuing hobbies, we would be remiss not to mention the types of books that helped people organize their lives. Charles D. Sternberg’s BASIC Computer Programs for the Home (1980) was one such book, whose aim was to satisfy “the practical requirements of the home.” The author address the user's desire not to “rely upon the availability of tape or disk-storage devices or any other features that may not be easily come by" and encourages the “modification of these programs to utilize features of your particular machine should present few difficulties." The programs in this book were tested on An Altair 8800b Microcomputer system. The author offers many reassurances of the ease with which programs can be entered, run, used, and even changed. Besides providing home financial programs, for example, and such “kitchen helpmates” as programs to convert recipe quantities, to plan meals according to various diets, to inventory your freezer’s contents, etc., this book provides descriptions of the purpose and functions of each program as well as some details about data entry, outputs, and other commentary. In the introduction the author explains that he eschews “highly efficient routines” in favor of increased “clarity” and a “modularity” which lends itself to easier alteration. | + | If 1977 and 1978 seem to be turning points in the explosion in the print transmission of BASIC, there are in the early 1980s more and more books about BASIC, in its many tweaked flavors, published explicitly with niche audiences in mind, as illustrated by Sterberg's book as well as Zuanich & Lipscomb's ''BASIC Fun with Graphics the Apple Way" and "BASIC Fun with Graphics the IBM/PC Way" (both Avon Books, 1983) for children. |
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| − | If 1977 and 1978 seem to be turning points in the explosion of publications that mark a turning point in the transmission, there are in the early 1980s more and more books about BASIC in all of its flavors published explicitly with niche audiences in mind, as illustrated by Sterberg's books as well as Zuanich & Lipscomb's ''BASIC Fun with Graphics the Apple Way" and "BASIC Fun with Graphics the IBM/PC Way" (both Avon Books, 1983). | ||
