Exploring
ATARI
BASIC
Your
ATARI
130XE Computer has built-in
ATARI
BASIC, a version of
one of the most
popular programming languages. BASIC (Beginner's
All-purpose
Symbolic Instruction Code) was developed at Dartmouth
College
in
the 1960s to teach computer programming to beginning col-
lege
students. Since then , it has become the most commonly used
programming
language for home computers.
Although BASIC
is
a single language, each version of BASIC language
is
slightly different, and
ATARI
BASIC has some important and unique
features. For instance,
special words
in
ATARI
BASIC make producing
sounds and creating
color graphics easy. Also,
ATARI
BASIC
is
specially designed for the beginning programmer. Unlike' many ver-
sions of
BASIC,
ATARI
BASIC will check each program line that
you
write and tell
you
if you have made
an
error
in
grammar or syntax.
And, of course, when you
learn to program with ArARI BASIC, learning
other versions of BASIC will
be
easier.
ATARI
BASIC
is
immediately available when you turn
on
the computer.
If you don't want to use BASIC, hold down the I Option I key when you
turn
on
the computer. Another way to exit from BASIC
is
to type
BYE,
which activates the Self Test, or
DOS,
which activates the Disk
Operating
System (when the computer
is
connected to a disk drive).
The
second part of this manual, Programming with
ATARI
BASIC,
is
a
simple tutorial for the first-time BASIC programmer. Unlike most
tutorials, which make you study the syntax of the language first, this
approach
lets you immediately begin to write programs and word
games,
solve mathematical problems, and make use of the
ATARI
130XE sound and graphics capabilities. When you complete this step-
by-step
lesson, you will understand much better the functions of the
keys and the workings of the computer. The
tutorial will help you get
the most out of your new
ATARI
130XE.
If
you already know how to program
in
BASIC, the appendices give
you
most of the reference tools
you
will need to work at your own
speed. Appendix
A:
Sample Programs includes programs of varying
levels of difficulty to give you some practice before you start writing
your own programs with
ATARI
BASIC. Appendix B: BASIC Reserved
Words offers a
list of the commands used
in
ATARI
BASIC and a brief
description of what each one instructs the computer to do. For
advanced-level programmers, Appendix C: ATASCII Character Set lists
21
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