Post #3143634
2026-05-22 03:19 UTC
@aj@gts.sadauskas.id.au @gabriel@fedi.gvisoc.com You did learn BASIC, but I recall even the programs in the 80s still had manuals that stated how to start the program by explaining exactly what to type, thus allowing those who didn't understand basic to use the program. On some systems, bootable floppies handled this for you.
But there was still a trend towards black-boxing. BASIC disappeared some time after Windows 95, and compilers weren't standard features for computers.
Replies (1)
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@gabriel@fedi.gvisoc.com 2026-05-22 05:34
@arem@ottawa.place @aj@gts.sadauskas.id.au in terms of lack of tools I don't really agree: there is always a built-in shell script that supercedes that use case for BASIC. CMD, powershell, *sh,... Not to mention that many systems include a system Python runtime and their own specific, if not proprietary, automation tools. When it comes to lack of built-in or included documentation on the above, I do agree: since the DOS onset you don't have a printed reference included. I think it's due that CLI is no longer the default UI.