On 2017-Apr-13, at 1:24 PM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote: > On 04/13/2017 12:30 PM, Rich Alderson via cctalk wrote: >> From: allison Sent: Wednesday, April 12, 2017 3:18 PM >> >>> BASIC, why is that the most universal language implemented on >>> nearly every micro and many other systems. >> >> Because it was the language offered on the GEIS timesharing system >> when a private boys' school in Seattle decided to teach programming >> in 1969? And on the systems at HP where a young technician was >> working in 1975? > > Not forgetting that writing a BASIC interpreter that resides in 4KB is a > relatively simple task. > > There were other interpreted BASIC-like languages before that; e.g. IITRAN.
While one might argue the proliferation of BASIC on micros followed from BG/PA & SW/SJ, I'd say their implementations were following a trend rather than initiating it. BASIC was gaining prominence prior to their implementations of it. It was in all 3 of the pre-microproc personal computers: HP9830, Wang2200, IBM5100. It was becoming popular and spreading in the small-business world through the Pick-based systems (albeit an extended version of the language). It had gained awareness through the educational system and timesharing systems. All prior to MS & Apple. As bad as it was, it was present in the right place (small, easy to implement, interpretable & easy to use) at the right time (the nascent small-system and personal computer era).
