Remembering BASIC: The Birth of Microsoft's First Product

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In summary, BASIC, the first computer programing language, was born on May 1, 1964. Developed by John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz at Dartmouth College, it became widely popular and was used by companies to share and sell time on computers. Its influence can still be seen today in languages such as Java.
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On May 1, 1964, the BASIC computer programing language was born

a senior developer at Microsoft, said his company owes much to BASIC, the software giant's first product. Microsoft's Windows operating system and Office suite still use a descendent called Visual Basic.

With the help of students, Kurtz and Kemeny developed a commonsense language to run the system, relying on basic equations and commands, such as PRINT, LIST and SAVE.

John McGeachie, then a student, was there at 4 a.m. on May 1, 1964, when BASIC came to life in the basement of Dartmouth's College Hall. Two terminals hooked up to a single computer ran two different programs.

Kurtz said that by 1970 nearly 100 companies used BASIC systems to share and sell time on computers. And when computers eventually entered the consumer market, most used BASIC.

The popularity of BASIC waned as computers got more sophisticated, and newer languages were developed to take advantage of the power. Many of those languages, including the Internet's Java, have their roots in BASIC. :cool:

Reference:
http://www.sltrib.com/2004/apr/04302004/business/162000.asp
 
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Happy 40th Birthday O Mighty BASIC! My computer teacher just threw a party in your honour.
 
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It's amazing to think that BASIC, a programming language developed over 50 years ago, still has such a strong influence on the technology we use today. As a senior developer at Microsoft, it's clear that BASIC holds a special place in the company's history and continues to play a role in their current products. It's a testament to the simplicity and practicality of the language that it was able to withstand the test of time and evolve into modern versions like Visual Basic.

It's also interesting to learn about the origins of BASIC and how it was developed by Kurtz and Kemeny with the help of students. It just goes to show that innovation can come from anywhere, even a college basement. And the fact that so many companies and consumers used BASIC in its heyday speaks to its widespread impact and accessibility.

While BASIC may not be as prominent today, its legacy lives on through the languages that were inspired by it. It's a reminder that even as technology advances and new languages emerge, the foundations and principles of earlier ones still play a significant role.

Overall, it's important to remember and appreciate the birth of BASIC and the impact it had on the world of computing. It paved the way for future advancements and will always hold a special place in the history of Microsoft and the technology industry as a whole.
 

1. What is BASIC and why is it important in Microsoft's history?

BASIC (Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) is a high-level programming language that was developed in the 1960s. It was one of the first languages to be used for personal computers, making it an important part of Microsoft's history as it was the company's first product.

2. Who created BASIC and when was it first released?

BASIC was created by John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz at Dartmouth College in 1964. It was first released in 1964 as a teaching language for students.

3. How did BASIC contribute to the success of Microsoft?

BASIC was Microsoft's first product and it helped establish the company as a major player in the computer industry. It was widely used by hobbyists and computer enthusiasts, making it a popular language and giving Microsoft a significant market share.

4. What were some of the features of BASIC that made it popular?

BASIC was easy to learn and use, making it accessible to a wide range of users. It also had built-in commands for graphics and sound, which made it ideal for creating games and other multimedia applications. Additionally, it was portable and could be used on different computer systems.

5. Is BASIC still relevant today?

While it is not as widely used as it once was, BASIC is still relevant today as it laid the foundation for many modern programming languages. Its simplicity and ease of use also make it a popular choice for beginners learning to code.

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