BASIC (Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) is a programming language designed to be easy to learn. Created at Dartmouth College, it made programming accessible to students and later powered the personal computer revolution.
Origins
John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz created BASIC in 1964 at Dartmouth College. They wanted a language that non-science students could learn easily, democratizing access to computing.
Design Goals
BASIC prioritized accessibility:
- Simple, English-like syntax
- Immediate feedback (interactive mode)
- Clear error messages
- No unnecessary complexity
Personal Computing
BASIC became essential to personal computers:
- Microsoft BASIC (written by Bill Gates and Paul Allen) shipped with early PCs
- Altair BASIC launched Microsoft
- Apple, Commodore, Atari computers included BASIC
- A generation learned programming through BASIC
Variants
BASIC spawned many dialects:
- Microsoft BASIC: Early PC standard
- Visual Basic: GUI development
- QBASIC: DOS era teaching tool
- VBA: Office automation
Legacy
While considered primitive by modern standards, BASIC made programming accessible to millions. Many professional programmers started with BASIC, and its influence on computer education was profound.