Article View: comp.org.acm
Article #402BASIC (was Re: Contests (was Re: Yet another posting...:)))
From: Anton Rang
Date: Fri, 10 May 1991 00:55
Date: Fri, 10 May 1991 00:55
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In article <1991May9.010805.21605@mcs.kent.edu> rothstei@mcs.kent.edu (Michael Rothstein) writes: >"It is practically impossible to teach good programming to students who've >had a prior exposure to Basic; as potential programmers they are mentally >mutilated beyond hope of regeneration." Edsgar Dijkstra > >(though not quite as extreme as he is, I also think we should not encourage >the usage of Basic). Actually, I'm quite happy with BASIC. It was my first language. Not one of these micro-pared-down BASIC versions like Applesoft, though. It was HP's BASIC (on the 3000 series), and was really a joy to work in--real subroutines, matrix operations, PRINT USING, .... For string manipulation or quick programming, I haven't found a language I'm happier with than BASIC, actually. Unfortunately none of the useful dialects (VAX BASIC, HP/3000 BASIC, ....) are portable. Still, it doesn't mean that learning BASIC necessarily messes you up, as long as you have a version with reasonable control structures.... Followups to alt.religion.computers, just in case. Anton +---------------------------+------------------+-------------+----------------+ | Anton Rang (grad student) | rang@cs.wisc.edu | UW--Madison | "VMS Forever!" | +---------------------------+------------------+-------------+----------------+
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arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!midway!msuinfo!rangReferences:
<1991May3.150303.22506@mcs.kent.edu> <6X3B-PB@xds13.ferranti.com> <1494@caslon.cs.arizona.edu> <1991May9.010805.21605@mcs.kent.edu>Show Full Headers
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Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!midway!msuinfo!rang From: rang@cs.wisc.edu (Anton Rang) Newsgroups: comp.org.acm,alt.religion.computers Subject: BASIC (was Re: Contests (was Re: Yet another posting...:))) Message-ID: <RANG.91May9205510@nexus.cs.wisc.edu> Date: 10 May 91 00:55:10 GMT References: <1991May3.150303.22506@mcs.kent.edu> <6X3B-PB@xds13.ferranti.com> <1494@caslon.cs.arizona.edu> <1991May9.010805.21605@mcs.kent.edu> Sender: news@msuinfo.cl.msu.edu Followup-To: alt.religion.computers Organization: UW-Madison CS department Lines: 22 In-Reply-To: rothstei@mcs.kent.edu's message of 9 May 91 01:08:05 GMT