BASIC extension: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:50, 3 June 2024

Revision as of 21:33, 30 June 2024

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==Technical concept==

Toolkits ran as extensions to the BASIC interpreter supplied with the machine. At the time, such interpreters almost always came programmed into the [[read-only memory|ROM]] of the computer, making it impossible to modify or [[Patch (computing)|patch]] the [[computermachine code|code]]. It was also extremely rare for manufacturers to offer upgrades or bugfixes except as part of new models of machine.

As the original language was held in immutable [[read-only memory|ROM]], it generally was difficult for a toolkit to directly extend the language, except by adding new keywords to perform functions not implemented by the original interpreter.