BASIC

Revision as of 19:32, 12 July 2011 (view source)

Nickm (Talk | contribs)

(→Circulating Programs in Print)

← Older edit

Revision as of 21:42, 12 July 2011 (view source)

Nickm (Talk | contribs)

(Edits to/streamlining of the end of this section)

Newer edit →

Line 196:

Given the growing popularity of BASIC and computers among hobbyists, it is not surprising to see other, presentations of BASIC such as ''The Little Book of BASIC Style. How to write a program you can read'', written by John M. Nevison and self-published by John M. Nevison Associates in 1978. This book insists that programs have human readers and, as the preface explains, evokes the simplicity of the ''Elements of Style'' by E. B. White.

−

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 many more typical textbooks.

+

On the other hand there are introductions to programming that make extensive use of BASIC as the language of choice: One was the 1979 ''Programming for Poets. A Gentle Introduction Using BASIC'', simplified textbook; another was the 1978 ''BASIC With Style. Programming Proverbs.''

−

While many early books about BASIC are about pursuing hobbies (and games in particular), it 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 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 the 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 about BASIC are about pursuing hobbies and playing games, and others were focused on teaching the reader programming, there were also others. 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 encourages the "modification of these programs to utilize features of your particular machine should present few difficulties." 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.

== BASIC Code in Human Memory ==

From Maze

Revision as of 21:42, 12 July 2011

Views

Personal tools

Navigation

Search

Toolbox

@@ Line 196: / Line 196: @@
 Given the growing popularity of BASIC and computers among hobbyists, it is not surprising to see other, presentations of BASIC such as ''The Little Book of BASIC Style. How to write a program you can read'', written by John M. Nevison and self-published by John M. Nevison Associates in 1978. This book insists that programs have human readers and, as the preface explains, evokes the simplicity of the ''Elements of Style'' by E. B. White.
-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 many more typical textbooks.
+On the other hand there are introductions to programming that make extensive use of BASIC as the language of choice: One was the 1979 ''Programming for Poets. A Gentle Introduction Using BASIC'', simplified textbook; another was the 1978 ''BASIC With Style. Programming Proverbs.''
-While many early books about BASIC are about pursuing hobbies (and games in particular), it 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 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 the 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 about BASIC are about pursuing hobbies and playing games, and others were focused on teaching the reader programming, there were also others. 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 encourages the "modification of these programs to utilize features of your particular machine should present few difficulties." 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.
 == BASIC Code in Human Memory ==