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{{About|the Atari 2600 cartridge|programming in other BASICs|BASIC|other uses|Basic programming (disambiguation){{!}}Basic programming}}
{{About|the Atari 2600 cartridge|programming in other BASIC dialects|BASIC|other uses|Basic programming (disambiguation){{!}}Basic programming}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{refimprove|date=October 2017}}
{{refimprove|date=October 2017}}


{{Infobox video game
{{Infobox video game
|title = Basic Programming
|title = BASIC Programming
|image = Basicprogramming.png
|image = Basicprogramming.png


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'''BASIC Programming''' (Model# CX2620) is an [[Atari 2600]]
'''BASIC Programming''' (Model# CX2620) attempted to teach simple computer programming on the [[Atari 2600]]. It was released in 1979, and it was one of only a few non-gaming cartridges ever designed for the 2600. The programming language was superficially similar to dialects of [[BASIC]], but differed in many important aspects. The extremely small [[Random-access memory|RAM]] size of the Atari 2600, 128 bytes, severely restricted the possibilities of this cartridge for writing programs.
cartridge that teaches simple computer programming. It was released in 1979 and was one of only a few non-gaming cartridges designed for the console. The programming language is similar to dialects of [[BASIC]]. The Atari 2600's [[Random-access memory|RAM]] size of 128 bytes restricts the possibilities for writing programs.


==Details==
==Details==
The BASIC Programming display was divided into six regions:
The BASIC Programming display is divided into six regions:


* '''Program''' where instructions are written (maximum of nine (or eleven) lines of code).
* '''Program''' is where instructions are typed. It has a maximum of nine to eleven lines of code.
* [[Call stack|Stack]] shows temporary results of what your program does.
* '''[[Call stack|Stack]]''' shows temporary results of what the program does.
* [[Variable (computer science)|Variables]] displays the values of any variables your program is using.
* '''[[Variable (computer science)|Variables]]''' stores the values of any variables that the program is using.
* '''Output''' displays any output values your program is creating.
* '''Output''' displays any output values that the program creates.
* '''Status''' displays the amount of available memory remaining
* '''Status''' shows the amount of available memory remaining.
* '''Graphics''' contains two colored squares that can be manipulated by your program.
* '''Graphics''' contains two colored squares that can be manipulated by the 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], 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 were restricted to 64 characters in size and 9 lines of code, severely limiting the programs that could be written. Users could disable all windows except Program and keep selecting "New Line" until over nine empty lines had been entered and thus their program could use 11 lines of code using this trick.
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], 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 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.


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 22:12, 26 June 2018

This article is about the Atari 2600 cartridge. For programming in other BASIC dialects, see BASIC. For other uses, see Basic programming.

BASIC Programming
Developer(s)Warren Robinett[1]
Publisher(s)Atari
Designer(s)Warren Robinett
Platform(s)Atari 2600
Release1979

BASIC Programming (Model# CX2620) is an Atari 2600 cartridge that teaches simple computer programming. It was released in 1979 and was one of only a few non-gaming cartridges designed for the console. The programming language is similar to dialects of BASIC. The Atari 2600's RAM size of 128 bytes restricts the possibilities for writing programs.

Details

The BASIC Programming display is divided into six regions:

  • Program is where instructions are typed. It has a maximum of nine to eleven lines of code.
  • Stack shows temporary results of what the program does.
  • Variables stores the values of any variables that the program is using.
  • Output displays any output values that the program creates.
  • Status shows the amount of available memory remaining.
  • Graphics contains two colored squares that can be manipulated by the program.

Input is given through two Atari keypad controllers, which came with special overlays to show how to type the different commands and letters.[2] Programs are restricted to 64 characters in size and 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.

See also

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Controllers - Atari Keypad, 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.
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