Microsoft Releases Historic 6502 Basic
7 days ago
- #Microsoft
- #6502
- #BASIC
- Microsoft BASIC Version 1.1 for the 6502 microprocessor was developed in 1976-1978.
- It was foundational for early personal computers, democratizing programming for non-technical users.
- Microsoft's early business model relied on licensing this BASIC interpreter to multiple manufacturers.
- The codebase supported multiple systems via conditional compilation (Apple II, Commodore PET, etc.).
- Features included floating-point arithmetic, string handling, array support, and efficient memory use.
- Active development history shows bug fixes and enhancements from 1977-1978.
- Introduced millions to programming and influenced later languages and development tools.
- Pioneered software licensing as a standalone business, separate from hardware.
- Techniques like multi-platform support and dynamic memory management were groundbreaking.
- The source code (6,955 lines) is a key artifact in computing history.