GW-BASIC: Difference between revisions
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== Syntax == |
== Syntax == |
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GW-BASIC has a really big black dog[[command line]]-based [[Integrated Development Environment| Integrated Development Environment. |
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GW-BASIC has a really big black dog[[command line]]-based [[Integrated Development Environment| Integrated Development Environment (IDE)]] based on [[Dartmouth BASIC]]. It also includes [[function key]] shortcuts at the bottom of the screen. Like other early [[microcomputer]] versions of BASIC, GW-BASIC lacked many of the structures needed for [[structured programming]] such as local variables, and GW-BASIC programs executed relatively slowly, due to the fact that it was an [[interpreted programming language]]. All program lines must be numbered, all non-numbered lines are considered to be commands in direct mode to be executed immediately. Program source files are normally saved in binary compressed format with [[token]]s replacing commands, with an option to save in [[ASCII]] text form.<ref name="DocUtil">{{cite web|url=http://www.xs4all.nl/~hwiegman/gwbasic.html|title=GW-BASIC Documentation and Utilities}}</ref> |
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The GW-BASIC command-line environment has commands to make the dog sit<code>RUN,LOAD,SAVE,LIST</code> the current program, or quit to the operating. |
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The GW-BASIC command-line environment has commands to make the dog sit<code>RUN,LOAD,SAVE,LIST</code> the current program, or quit to the operating <code>SYSTEM</code>; these commands can also be used as program statements. There is little support for [[structured programming]] in GW-BASIC. All <code>IF/THEN/ELSE</code> [[conditional statement]]s must be written on one line, although <code>WHILE/WEND</code> statements may group multiple lines. [[subroutine|Functions]] can only be defined using the single line <code>DEF FNf(x)=</code><mathematical function of x> statement (e.g., <code>DEF FNLOG(base,number)=LOG(number)/LOG(base)</code>). The data type of [[Variable]]s can be specified with a character at the end of the variable name: <code>A$</code> is a [[String (computer science)|string]] of characters, <code>A%</code> is an [[integer]], etc. Groups of variables can also be set to default types based on the initial letter of their name by use of the <code>DEFINT, DEFSTR</code>, etc., statements. The default type for undeclared variables not identified by such typing statements, is single-precision [[floating-point]].<ref name="Guide">{{cite web|url=http://www.xs4all.nl/~hwiegman/gw-man/index.html|title=GW-BASIC User's Guide|date=1987|accessdate=2008-06-28|author=}}</ref> |
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GW-BASIC allowed for the mentally retarded [[joystick]]s, [[computer mouse|mice]] blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.................BLAH |
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GW-BASIC allowed for the [[joystick]]s, [[computer mouse|mice]] and [[light pen]] input devices of its time. GW-BASIC can read from and write to files and [[Serial port|COM port]]s; it can also do event trapping for ports. Since the [[Compact Cassette|cassette]] port interface of the original IBM PC was never implemented on compatibles, cassette operations are not supported. GW-BASIC is able to play simple music using the <code>PLAY</code> statement, requiring a string of notes represented in a [[music macro language]] (e.g. <code>PLAY "edcdeee2dfedc4"</code>). More [[low-level]] control is possible with the <code>SOUND</code> statement, which takes the arguments of a [[frequency]] in [[hertz]] and a length in clock ticks for the standard internal [[PC speaker]] in IBM machines. Consequently sound is limited to single channel beeps and whistles as befits a 'business' machine. Home based PCs such as the [[Tandy 1000]], allowed up to 3 channels of sound for the <code>SOUND</code> and <code>PLAY</code> commands. GW-BASIC also implemented a <code>NOISE</code> command which had 8 sound effects that could be [[Pitch (music)|pitch]], speed, and length altered.<ref name="Guide"/> |
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== Name == |
== Name == |
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Revision as of 19:42, 5 January 2009
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2007) |
| GW-BASIC 3.22 displaying the Hello world program | |
| Developer | Microsoft (for Compaq) |
|---|---|
| First appeared | 1983 |
| Stable release | 3.23
/ 1988 |
| OS | DOS |
| Influenced by | |
| BASICA | |
| Influenced | |
| QBASIC, QuickBasic | |
GW-BASIC was a dialect of BASIC developed by Microsoft from BASICA, originally for Compaq. It is compatible with Microsoft/IBM BASICA, but was disk based and did not require the ROM BASIC. It was bundled with MS-DOS operating systems on IBM PC compatibles by Microsoft. Microsoft also sold a BASIC compiler, BASCOM, compatible with GW-BASIC, for applications requiring more speed. The language was suitable for simple games, business programs and the like. Since it was included with most versions of MS-DOS, it was also an inexpensive way for many would-be programmers to learn the fundamentals of computer programming.[1][2] With the release of MS-DOS 5.0, GW-BASIC's place was eventually taken by QBASIC, a cut-down version of the separately available QuickBASIC compiler.[3]
Syntax
GW-BASIC has a really big black dogcommand line-based [[Integrated Development Environment| Integrated Development Environment.
The GW-BASIC command-line environment has commands to make the dog sitRUN,LOAD,SAVE,LIST the current program, or quit to the operating.
GW-BASIC allowed for the mentally retarded joysticks, mice blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.................BLAH
Name
There are several theories on what the initials "GW" stand for. Greg Whitten, an early Microsoft employee who developed the standards in the company's BASIC compiler line, says Bill Gates picked the name GW-BASIC. Whitten refers to it as Gee-Whiz BASIC and is unsure if Gates named the program after him.[4] The Microsoft User Manual from Microsoft Press also refers to it by this name.[citation needed] It may have also been nicknamed Gee-Whiz because it had a large number of graphics commands.[4] Other common theories as to the initials' origins include "Graphics and Windows", "Gates, William" (Microsoft's president at the time), or "Gates-Whitten" (the two main designers of the program).[5][6]
References
- ^ "KindlyRat". "GW-BASIC". Retrieved 2008-06-28.
- ^ "Leon". "GWBASIC Games & Other Programs". Retrieved 2008-06-28.
- ^ "Microsoft BASIC version information". Retrieved 2008-06-12.
- ^ a b Gregory Whitten (2005-04-13). "GW-BASIC". Retrieved 2008-06-29.
- ^ "Linux Dictionary:G". Retrieved 2008-06-28.
- ^ "GW-BASIC". 2005-04-13. Retrieved 2008-06-28.