14 Jan
2025
14 Jan
'25
2:59 a.m.
On 13/01/2025 23:29, ben via cctalk wrote:
On 2025-01-13 4:00 p.m., David Wade via cctalk wrote:
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_Refere…
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
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.