Re: Rewrite BASIC language today?

On Apr 20, 8:37=A0pm, "jj" <in...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> Perhaps sales of BASIC are not to or for beginners anymore? Perhaps
> the "educational" factor once used to sell the language is not of
> much interest?

That's certainly not true of BBC BASIC, which started off life both as
a 'beginners' and an 'educational' language (way back in 1981) and
very much still fulfils those roles today.

> Has modern BASIC evolved into a development language for experts?

As has been alluded to, that has happened to some BASICs *at the cost
of* their suitability for beginners.  Personally I deprecate that.  On
the other hand I disagree with those who think BASIC shouldn't evolve
at all; as an 'educational' language it needs to reflect some of the
developments in programming techniques that have taken place over the
last 30 years.

I have been privileged to have been involved with BBC BASIC from its
earliest beginnings, and to have overseen (and recently been
responsible for) its development.  In bringing it 'up to date' in the
last few years I have tried very hard to be sensitive to its original
aims.  Some 'modern' features have been added, but (hopefully) not at
the expense of what BASIC originally stood for.

Richard.
http://www.rtrussell.co.uk/
To reply by email change 'news' to my forename.