Texas Instruments TI-99/4A - Page 139

BASIC PROGRAMMING
Now, let's take a look at the language that your
computer speaks. It is called BASIC, and it is not
the mystery that many people suspect it to be.
BASIC is an easy-to-use computer programming
language that uses English words to control the
computer. The best proof of BASIC'S ease of use
lies in the fact that you've been using it through
out this chapter! Words like PRINT, GOTO,
RUN, and CALL CLEAR are BASIC commands
that tell the computer to perform a certain task.
Think of your computer as an electronic calcula
tor. A calculator doesn't possess any intelligence
when you first turn it on. Instead, it stares blank
ly back at you and waits for you to tell it what to
do. It's the same with your computer! Whenever
you type a command that tells your computer to
do a certain task, you are programming it, just as
you are programming a calculator when you
press its keys. What makes your computer more
powerful than a calculator is its ability to remem
ber what you tell it. The computer has a power
ful memory that stores various types of informa
tion until they are needed.
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