QBASIC

originally submitted by Vernon Nemitz:

QBASIC is a program designed to let people learn how to program. Microsoft owns the copyright, but Microsoft isn't distributing it any more (It was freely included with MSDOS5, MSDOS6, Windows95, and both versions of Windows98.) The program does require DOS to run, and probably will work on other versions of DOS than those produced by Microsoft (PCDOS by IBM, DRDOS by Novell, and the more recent open-source FreeDOS at www.freedos.org spring to mind).

Microsoft today offers Visual Basic, which is no-doubt claimed to offer a superior programming experience than QBASIC. However, Visual Basic is rather expensive for anyone just wanting to learn some basics of programming.

Stifled uses

Vernon Nemitz:

Ensure that it is continuously available to anyone who wants to learn fundamentals of programming. QBASIC has enough simplicity for any beginner, and enough possibilities for significant amounts of learning, and it has been "free" (with purchase of operating system). Visual Basic may be easier to use, but that does not mean it makes fundamental programming concepts easier to understand. Remember, "BASIC" is an acronym: "Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code". Designed for beginners, adding all those visual bells and whistles only detract from the teaching capabilities of QBASIC. Thank you.

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