On 13/01/2025 23:29, ben via cctalk wrote:
On 2025-01-13 4:00 p.m., David Wade via cctalk wrote:
More like not enough actual memory. You can fit an acceptable basic
into a 4K ROM so it will work without a disk drive.
Its an interpreter so can do checks as you type it in.
Its far easier to learn than Algol.
8K ROM got you APL.
Yes but on an emulated IBM Mainframe, not an 8-bit CPU. I ran 4K tape
Basic in 8K of RAM. It was enough to have fun.
As for BASIC being easer to learn than Algol, well the things that make
it a nasty language make it easier to learn.
I expect it could be simpler but look at the CDC reference manual:-
http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/cdc/Tom_Hunter_Scans/Algol_68_version_1_Reference_Manual_RevB.pdf
116 pages of total obfuscate and technical drivel....
and then the SWTPC products 8K basic manual....
https://deramp.com/swtpc.com/BASIC_2/SWTPC_8K_BASIC.pdf
32 pages of mostly plain English...
.. remember at this time most people had no idea what a program was.....
Dave
