Cool AppleSoft BASIC trick I never thought of before

From: Vintage Computer GAWD! <foo_at_siconic.com>
Date: Wed May 17 12:41:46 2000

On Wed, 17 May 2000, Vintage Computer GAWD! wrote:

> On Wed, 17 May 2000, Doug Coward wrote:
>
> > BASIC program is $801. _I_believe_ the need for a
> > zero indicating the end of the previous line at
> > the beginning of BASIC program space is probably
> > a hold over from some ANCIENT incarnation of
> > BASIC and is not really necessary, but I have
> > not tried this with different kinds of BASIC.
>
> You see, THESE are the kinds of mysteries that I loved to investigate.
> Computer anachronisms like this have always interested me.

And upon thinking about it more I think the reason I enjoy these is
because it firmly connects us to the past.

These little quirks have significance. For almost every "why" there is
almost always a reason that is based on a decision some programmer made
way back when that just stuck for lack of a better solution at the time
and evolved and grew with the trade, and each successive generation just
adopted it without wondering why it's like that.

What other anachronisms come to mind?

Anyone who's ever taken FORTRAN (before the 90s versions) came across such
an anachronism. You had to put certain characters in certain screen
columns because those same columns are where you would punch on a punch
card. RPG as well.

I'm sure we've all at some point looked at the control characters on the
ASCII chart and realized the mnemonics came from teletypes.

CR (carriage return) of course comes from the teletype which is carried up
from the typewriter.

When's the last time you called a hard drive a "Winchester" drive?

In fact, I'd like to compile a list of these. It would make for an
interesting article.

Input please!

Sellam
Received on Wed May 17 2000 - 12:41:46 BST