BASIC
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The computer had already become more welcoming and accessible thanks to innovations on university and college campuses, but it wasn't until the computer moved into the home that the true revolution began. In popular lore, that revolution began with a single photograph of a panel of switches and LEDs on the cover of the January 1975 ''Popular Electronics'' -- the Altair 8800. Founded in 1954 by Ziff-Davis Publications, ''Popular Electronics'' was a well-known, widely-distributed magazine. And though, as the history of BASIC at Dartmouth illustrates, computers did not emerge fully sprung suddenly in 1974, the year certainly marks an inflection point for home computing -- and for the magazine as well, which came to focus increasingly on computing. | The computer had already become more welcoming and accessible thanks to innovations on university and college campuses, but it wasn't until the computer moved into the home that the true revolution began. In popular lore, that revolution began with a single photograph of a panel of switches and LEDs on the cover of the January 1975 ''Popular Electronics'' -- the Altair 8800. Founded in 1954 by Ziff-Davis Publications, ''Popular Electronics'' was a well-known, widely-distributed magazine. And though, as the history of BASIC at Dartmouth illustrates, computers did not emerge fully sprung suddenly in 1974, the year certainly marks an inflection point for home computing -- and for the magazine as well, which came to focus increasingly on computing. | ||
| − | Proclaiming in a headline that "THE HOME COMPUTER IS HERE" the ''Popular Electronics'' gushes about the possibilities of the $395 Altair 8800 ($495 assembled). The magazine claims that the computer can be used as a "Sophisticated intrusion alarm system," an "Automatic IC tester," an "Autopilot for planes, boats, etc.," a "Time-share computer system," a "Brain for a robot," and a "Printed matter-to-Braille converter for the blind," among other things, noting that "many of these applications can be performed simultaneously." (p. 38) As it happened, even the applications that were within the capabilities of the device were rather difficult to realize since the system, as delivered or assembled, could only be programmed in machine language. Unless one happened to have a Teletype or other terminal lying around, the programming had to be done using the toggle switches on the front panel. From the outset, it was clear to many that the Altair 8800 could really use was a programming language that facilitated experimentation. The ''Popular Electronics'' article actually mentions four programming languages by way of explaining the hardware/software distinction (p. 34); one of these is BASIC, which was the language of most interest to early Altair 8800 users. | + | Proclaiming in a headline that "THE HOME COMPUTER IS HERE," ''Popular Electronics'' gushes about the possibilities of the $395 Altair 8800 ($495 assembled). The magazine claims that the computer can be used as a "Sophisticated intrusion alarm system," an "Automatic IC tester," an "Autopilot for planes, boats, etc.," a "Time-share computer system," a "Brain for a robot," and a "Printed matter-to-Braille converter for the blind," among other things, noting that "many of these applications can be performed simultaneously" (38). As it happened, even the applications that were within the capabilities of the device were rather difficult to realize since the system by default could only be programmed in machine language. Furthermore, unless one happened to have a Teletype or other terminal lying around, the programming had to be done using the toggle switches on the front panel. The home computer may have arrived, but most users would have no way of talking to it. From the outset, it was clear that the Altair 8800 needed a programming language that facilitated experimentation. ''Popular Electronics'' actually mentions four programming languages by way of explaining the distinction between hardware and software (34); one of these languages was BASIC, the language that showed the most promise to early Altair 8800 enthusiasts. |
There were two major successful efforts to develop a BASIC interpreter for the Altair, and their varied histories are important and intriguing. While this tale of two BASICs doesn't clearly show the best of BASIC and the worst of BASIC, it does show two extremes in software development: one commercial, closely coordinated with hardware manufacturers, and highly tied to licensing and cost structures; the other community-based, non-profit, and "copyleft." The BASICs that led in these directions were Microsoft's Altair BASIC, the official BASIC for the platform, which was licensed to the manufacturer of the system, MITS; and Tiny BASIC, which originated at the People's Computer Company or PCC. The Commodore 64's BASIC is directly descended from Microsoft's Altair BASIC; its BASIC is, although this is not visible on the startup screen, a Microsoft product. At the same time, the 10 PRINT program participated in a context of BASIC sharing and exploration that was strongly influenced by the People's Computer Company. | There were two major successful efforts to develop a BASIC interpreter for the Altair, and their varied histories are important and intriguing. While this tale of two BASICs doesn't clearly show the best of BASIC and the worst of BASIC, it does show two extremes in software development: one commercial, closely coordinated with hardware manufacturers, and highly tied to licensing and cost structures; the other community-based, non-profit, and "copyleft." The BASICs that led in these directions were Microsoft's Altair BASIC, the official BASIC for the platform, which was licensed to the manufacturer of the system, MITS; and Tiny BASIC, which originated at the People's Computer Company or PCC. The Commodore 64's BASIC is directly descended from Microsoft's Altair BASIC; its BASIC is, although this is not visible on the startup screen, a Microsoft product. At the same time, the 10 PRINT program participated in a context of BASIC sharing and exploration that was strongly influenced by the People's Computer Company. | ||
