CHAPTER
Programming the
VIC
20
Computer
This
chapter will teach you how to program your VIC using BASIC,
its built-in language.
If
you are already familiar with BASIC, Appendixes G
and H will serve as comprehensive reference to each statement in the
language.
If
you are a beginner, start with this chapter.
It
will give you the
background necessary to continue through the rest
of
the book.
ELEMENTS
OF
A
PROGRAMMING
LANGUAGE
Program statements must be written following a well-defined set
of
rules. These rules, taken together, are referred to as syntax. There are many
different sets
of
rules that define how program statements are written. Each
set of rules applies to a different programming language. All
of
the syntax
rules described in this
book
apply only to VIC BASIC.
Programming languages are as varied as spoken languages. In addition
to BASIC, other common programming languages are Pascal,
FORTRAN,
COBOL, APL,
PLjM,
PL-I,
and
FORTH.
Uncommon programming
languages number in the hundreds.
Unfortunately, programming languages, like spoken languages, have
dialects. A BASIC program written for
your
VIC may
not
run
on
another
computer, even if the other computer
is
also programmable in BASIC.
These variations in the language syntax are due to a computer's limitations
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