A History of BASIC Programming

BASIC is Born

Jan 1, 1964

Basic (Beginner's All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) Invented by John George Kemeny and Tom Kurtzas as a teaching tool for students. No link avaliable. Image credit: http://www.magmire.net/basic-beginners-all-purpose-symbolic-instruction-code.html

General Elecric: First BASIC User

Jan 1, 1970

General Electric started including the original BASIC in their line of computers. They were the first to include BASIC compilers in their computers. General Electric Official Website Image credit: http://history-computer.com/ModernComputer/Software/BASIC.html

BASIC V6.0 Released

Jan 1, 1971

BASIC the Sixth released adding many more commands such as INPUT which allowed a simpler form of user interaction. At this point, better games and programs began arising because of the new commands and options. No link avaliable. Image credit: http://www.askapache.com/css/programming-fonts-code.html

Microsoft Gets involved

Jan 1, 1975

Paul Allen and Bill Gates write a version of BASIC for the Altair Personal Computer. This version generated a good response. This is one of the main things that got Microsoft up and running, Learn more about the Altair Computer Microsoft Official website Image Credit: http://ithistory.org/blog/?p=305

BASIC appeared on the Apple II

Jan 1, 1977

BASIC Included with Apple's second computer. Dubed the name Applesoft BASIC. Later, apple would start using Applescript; a somewhat similar language. Learn more about the Apple II Apple official website Image Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_II_series

PET BASIC ported to Commodore PET

Jan 1, 1977

A version of BASIC called PET BASIC came with the Commodore PET computer. This version was based off of BASIC version 6; for it uses similar commands. Learn more about the Commodore PET Commodore website (Official?) Image credit: http://oldcomputers.net/pet2001.html

Atari BASIC on the Atari 800

Jan 1, 1978

See Atari 400 description Learn more about the Atari 400 Atari Official website Image credit: http://oldcomputers.net/atari400.html

Atari BASIC zooms into the Atari 400 Computer

Jan 1, 1978

The Atari 400 Computer comes with a version of BASIC called Atari BASIC. Learn more about Atari BASIC Atari Official website Image credit: http://oldcomputers.net/atari800.html

BASIC appeared on the Sinclair ZX80

Jan 1, 1980

What else is there to say? Learn more about the Sinclair ZX80 Image credit: http://oldcomputers.net/zx80.html

BASIC returns on the Sinclair ZX81

Jan 1, 1981

Sinclair ZX81 computer came with BASIC as well Learn more about the Sinclair ZX81 Image Credit: http://oldcomputers.net/zx81

Commodore BASIC included with VIC 20

Jan 1, 1981

Commodore BASIC comes to the VIC 20 Computer Learn more about the VIC 20 Image credit: http://oldcomputers.net/vic20.html

C64 Joins in as well

Jan 1, 1981

The C64 computer also sold with a version of BASIC called Commodore BASIC Learn more about the C64 computer Image credit: http://oldcomputers.net/c64.html

BASIC [Finally] Arrives on PC

Jan 1, 1983

Microsoft creates their first BASIC compiler for the PC. They wern't very happy with it, so they convinced IBM to sell it in the IBM brand. No link avaliable. Image credit: http://technology.ezinemark.com/most-important-pcs-in-computer-industry-7736ad6399c0.html

That old Microsoft is at it again!

Jan 1, 1985

Microsoft develops a version of BASIC called QuickBASIC to follow their original BASIC for PC sold by IBM. This version of BASIC features a mouse-driven interface and more memory. Image credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:QuickBasic_Opening_Screen.png