BASIC Programming: Difference between revisions

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{{aboutAbout|the Atari 2600 cartridge|programming in other BASICsBASIC dialects|BASIC|other meaningsuses|Basic programming (disambiguation){{!}}Basic programming}}

{{more citations needed|date=October 2017}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}

{{Infobox Softwarevideo game

|title = BasicBASIC Programming

|image = BASIC Programming Cover Art.jpg

|developer = [[WarrenAtari, RobinettInc.]]

|publisher = Atari, Inc.

|designer = [[Warren Robinett]]<ref>[https://dadgum.com/halcyon/BOOK/ROBINETT.HTM Interview:Warren Robinett], By James Hague, ''Halcyon Days'', "How long did it take to write?...I had ''Adventure'' sort of done in the fall of 1978, but I wasn't satisfied. I sort of put it on the shelf for the next six months while I did the ''BASIC Programming'' cartridge, and finished them both simultaneously, in June 1979."</ref>

|released = {{vgrelease|NA|April 1980<ref>{{cite web |title=Atari VCS game release dates |url=https://www.atariarchive.org/atari-vcs-game-release-dates/ |website=Atari Archive}}</ref>}}

|platforms = [[Atari 2600]]

}}

'''''BASIC Programming''''' is an Atari Video Computer System (later called the [[Atari 2600]]) cartridge that teaches simple computer programming using a dialect of [[BASIC]]. Written by [[Warren Robinett]] and released by [[Atari, Inc.]] in 1980, this [[BASIC interpreter]] is one of a few non-game cartridges for the console. The Atari VCS's [[Random-access memory|RAM]] size of 128 bytes restricts the possibilities for writing programs.

==Details==

{{Infobox Software

[[File:Basicprogramming.png|thumb|upright=2|Main display]]

|title = Basic Programming

The ''BASIC Programming'' display is divided into six regions:

|image = [[Image:Basicprogramming.png]]

|developer = [[Warren Robinett]]

|publisher = Atari

|designer = [[Warren Robinett]]

|released = 1979

|platforms = [[Atari 2600]]

|media = [[Cartridge (electronics)|Cartridge]]

|requirements =

|input = [[Keypad (game controller)|Keypad]]

|Notes = One of the few games to use the keypad controllers

}}

*" '''Program"''' -is where instructions are writtentyped. It has a (maximum of nineeleven lines of code).

*"Stack" -'''[[Call stack|Stack]]''' shows temporary results of what yourthe program does.

*"Variables" -'''[[Variable displays(computer science)|Variables]]''' stores the values of any variables yourthat the program is using.

*" '''Output" -''' displays any output values yourthat programthe isprogram creatingcreates.

*"Status" -'''Status''' displaysshows the amount of available memory remaining.

*"Graphics" -'''Graphics''' contains two colored squares that can be manipulated by yourthe program.

Input is given through two Atari keypad controllers, which came with special overlays to show how to type the different commands and letters.<ref>[https://atariage.com/controller_page.html?ControllerID=4&SystemID=2600 Controllers - Atari Keypad], {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615042830/https://atariage.com/controller_page.html?ControllerID=4&SystemID=2600 |date=15 June 2015 }} Atari KeypadSystem: Atari 2600, Model Number: CX50, ''Sold in pairs, functionally identical to the Kid's Controller and the Video Touch Pad. Included overlays with commands, meant to be used with Basic Programming.''</ref> Programs are restricted to 64 characters in size and normally 9 lines of code, limiting the programs that can be written (users can disable all windows except Program and keep selecting "New Line" until 11 lines of code are present).

[[Image:Basicprogramming.png|thumb|''BASIC Programming'' attempted to teach simple computer programming on the Atari 2600.]]

'''''BASIC Programming''''' was released for the [[Atari 2600]] console in 1979. One of only a few non-gaming cartridges, this program allowed consumers to create some simple programs using its own unique programming language, which was superficially similar to dialects of [[BASIC]], but differed in many important respects. The extremely small RAM memory size of the Atari 2600, 128 bytes, severely restricted the possibilities of this cartridge.

===Language features===

The ''BASIC Programming'' display is divided into six regions:

VCS BASIC supports the following keywords:<ref>{{cite book|title=BASIC Programming: Atari Game Program Instructions|date=1979|publisher=Atari, Inc.|___location=Sunnyvale, CA}}</ref>

*"Program" - where instructions are written (maximum of nine lines of code).

* Statements: <code>Print</code>

*"Stack" - shows temporary results of what your program does.

* Structure: <code>Goto</code>, <code>If-Then-Else</code>

*"Variables" - displays the values of any variables your program is using.

* Graphics: <code>Clear</code>

*"Output" - displays any output values your program is creating.

* Functions: <code>Hit</code>, <code>Key</code>

*"Status" - displays the amount of available memory remaining

* Math: <code>+ - × ÷ Mod</code>

*"Graphics" - contains two colored squares that can be manipulated by your program.

* Relational operators: <code>< > =</code>

Unlike most BASIC implementations of the time:

''BASIC Programming'' requires two Atari keyboard controllers, and came with special overlays to show how to type the different commands and letters. The cartridge was programmed by [[Warren Robinett]].

* VCS BASIC uses ← instead of = for assignment; e.g., <code>A←A+1</code>.

* Statements can be strung together on a line without a delimiter; e.g., <code>Note←APrintA</code>.

* An <code>If</code> statement can be used as a function, returning a value: <code>{{codett|2=cbmbas|Ver1←Ver1+IfVer1}}[[Modulo operation|Mod]]2{{codett|2=cbmbas|Then8}}{{codett|2=monkey|Else}}92</code>

* <code>If</code> statements can take an <code>Else</code> clause.

Special variable names:

* <code>Note</code> sounds a musical note, assigned numbers from 0 to 7

** Numbers assigned to <code>Note</code> are implicitly assigned modulus 8, thus 8 becomes 0, 9 becomes 1, etc.

* <code>Hor1</code>, <code>Hor2</code> - the horizontal coordinate of one of two squares

* <code>Ver1</code>, <code>Ver2</code> - the vertical coordinate of one of two squares

The language supports 26 unsigned integer variables A to Z. VCS BASIC supports integers from 0 to 99. Math operations wrap, so 99+1 becomes 0, 99+2 becomes 1, etc.

====Sample code====

The following example of a ''[[Pong]]'' game is provided.

{{pre|

1 Hor2←2+Key

2 {{codett|2=cbmbas|IfVer1>90ThenVer1←88}}

3 {{codett|2=cbmbas|IfHit}}{{codett|2=cbmbas|ThenVer1←9}}

4 {{codett|2=cbmbas|Ver1←Ver1+IfVer1}}[[Modulo operation|Mod]]2{{codett|2=cbmbas|Then8}}{{codett|2=monkey|Else}}92

5 Hor1←Hor1+7

6 {{codett|2=cbmbas|Goto1}}

}}

==See also==

{{Portal|Video games}}

*[[Category:List of Atari 2600 games]]

* [[CompuMate|Spectravideo CompuMate]]

* [[Family BASIC]]

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==

* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040123023347/http://www.mindspring.com/~sidartha/Basic%20and%20Compumate%20Programming.htm |date=23 January 2004 |title=Compumate FAQ:BASIC PROGRAMME EXAMPLES FOR ATARI 2600 (BASIC PROGRAMMING & CompuMate)}}

*''[http://www.atariage.com/software_page.html?SoftwareLabelID=15 Basic Programming]'' at [[AtariAge]]

{{BASIC}}

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