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If you're of "a certain age," you might remember when "computer literacy" equaled "everyone will be a programmer." Unfortunately, the limitations of BASIC (line numbers leading to incomprehensible "spaghetti code," primitive graphics, and no syntax checking) made most would-be programmers dropouts.
I haven't written a computer program in over 20 years, but Microsoft has introduced a modern, easy-to-use language designed for the masses (and for dropouts like me): Small Basic.
Small Basic, available in pre-release version 0.2, runs on Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows Vista 64-bit Editions Service Pack 1, Windows XP, Windows XP 64-bit. It relies on .NET Framework 3.5 SP1, which you will need to install if you don't have it already.
Microsoft says that Small Basic "is a project that is aimed at making computer programming accessible to beginners. The project comprises a simple programming language that gathers inspiration from the original BASIC programming language; a modern and attractive programming environment; and rich, extensible libraries. Together they make programming fun for kids and adults alike."
Don't mistake Small Basic for BASIC, though. Line numbers are nowhere in sight, and the syntax is easy to understand, with only 15 basic keywords. Small Basic also includes built-in Logo-style Turtle graphics, so you can work with text, numbers, and graphics.
By banishing line numbers, Small Basic prevents "spaghetti code," and its IDE (integrated development environment) provides plenty of hand-holding with features such as command completion and reference (using Microsoft IntelliSense) and syntax checking. The IDE provides separate editor and program windows, and doesn't compile programs, so you can run a program immediately, modify it, and see what happens. I could have used this level of user-friendly immediate gratification when I was struggling with a 110-baud TTY connection to a time-sharing mainframe a long time ago (but in this galaxy).
The 4MB Small Basic installer includes the program and a 62-page PDF file, Introducing Small Basic.pdf (also available separately), which teaches the language through tutorials. If you're curious, check out the new MSDN Small Basic blog, which also offers weekly code samples, and the MSDN Small Basic code gallery.
Links:
[1] http://www.maximumpc.com/user/marcus_soperus
[2] http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b006d58d-c2c7-44ad-936b-e7e2d7de793e&DisplayLang=en
[3] http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=ab99342f-5d1a-413d-8319-81da479ab0d7&DisplayLang=en
[4] http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/0/6/90616372-C4BF-4628-BC82-BD709635220D/Introducing%20Small%20Basic.pdf
[5] http://blogs.msdn.com/smallbasic/
[6] http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/smallbasic
[7] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/Multi-Core-Programming
[8] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/microsoft_unveils_unwrap_mosaic_video_editing_tool_siggraph
[9] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/build_a_10000_x_10000_mosaic_images_with_deep_zoom
[10] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/education
[11] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/microsoft
[12] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/software
[13] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/software_news
[14] http://www.maximumpc.com/articles/news/windows
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