Obit
Professor Thomas Eugene Kurtz, co-inventor of the BASIC programming language, has died aged 96.
Along with his colleague, John Kemeny, Kurtz's work revolutionized computing, operating systems, and programming language design.
https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/20/rip_thomas_kurtz/
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Off-topic side-note:
"...in 1975, two students set up a small business to develop BASIC interpreters for eight-bit microcomputers. The late, great Quincy Jones said of one of them: "You know who sings and plays just like Hendrix? Paul Allen ... He's good, man.""
Sad.
BASIC was my introduction to computing. I still come across tapes in the attic containing little programs I wrote in it. Takes me back in time like looking at old photos.
Dang, I first learned some BASIC at the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley after school in 6th grade. 53 years ago. I can still smell the teletype room and imagine the rolls of yellow paper.
RIP!!!
BASIC and teletypes was my introduction to the heady world of computers at the college next to our secondary school (which was still in the IT dark ages). Followed not too long afterwards by a Video Genie (TRS-80 clone). Ah, the memories.
My first PC was an Acorn Atom I bought in 1982. Its most desirable feature was the ease with which machine language could be nested within a BASIC program. So if one needed a fast data-grab from, or spit-out to, the port, you'd write the overarching program in BASIC, open parentheses within the appropriate part of the program, stick in assembler mnemonics, close parentheses, and continue on in BASIC. Run the program and it would compile the code. The Brits were always ahead of the curve in those sorts of things.