teaching programming to kids - Re: Looking for 8080/Z80 BASIC

________________________________ From: Tony Duell <ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk> Actually, if I had my way, every computer would have Forth in the frimware. I think it should be a on offence to sell something as a computer if it does not compe with a programming language and the documentation to use said language. After all, a computer is a programamed data processor, and if you can't prgoram it, it's? not a computer. -tony (only _half_ joking) C: But BASIC is so well known. Most or nearly everything you learned on a TRS-80 model 3/4 could be utilized straitaway on a peecee. Yes BASIC and BASICA added features, but those are bonus'! The Tandy 2000 DOS/BASIC manuals (can't remember if they were distinct, probably) as a fer instance were pretty well written and comprehensive AFAIK (no manual is perfect though). ? How many puters came with M$ BASIC? ?I don't know the first thing about FORTH, sorry. But all I know is a whole nudda world was available to the curious little punk who cared to get their hands a little dirty. I have no reason to hate BASIC. Ideal for all tasks, definitely not. But even Quick BASIC wasn't so bad for some things. A number of developers were and still are fond of Quick C for quick and dirty stuff (I know that statement astounds people, but it's true just the same). And I'm no big fan of M$, but that has nothing to do w/finding one of their tools as moderately useful. Not everyone on this list is a developer, or needs to work solely in the most modern methodologies.