The BASIC programming language turns 60 Easy-to-use language that drove Apple, TRS-80, IBM, and Commodore PCs debuted in 1964.

Small Basic is a recent offering from Microsoft based on the venerable BASIC programming language and implemented with .NET.

BASIC Beginnings Sooner or later, it was inevitable that someone would come up with a programming language aimed at beginners.

The history of basic computer programming languages dates back far. Learn more about the BASIC & C coding languages that got everything started.

This is why I’ve long argued that BASIC is the most consequential language in the history of computing. It’s a language for noobs, sure, but back then most everyone was a noob.

The first computer language I learned was BASIC, just like you, but the first computer I worked on was a mainframe through a Teletype terminal in classes at the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley.