Apple IIe User Manual

Page 27

Page 27 of 74

IIe
Printed: Tuesday, March 4, 2003 10:40:15 AM

Saving information:

Give what you've created a name and store it in a file on a disk for

permanent storage.

Retrieving information:

Load information from a file back into memory where you can change the

contents of the file or send the contents of the file out to a printer to produce a paper copy.

Chapter 5: Programming

Writing a computer program involves taking a task, breaking it down into small steps that the
computer can perform, and expressing those steps in terms the computer can understand.

There are lots of computer languages, and each language has its virtues.

Some are particularly

suited to scientific applications; others are better for business applications; still others
are indispensible for creating fast-paced arcade games.

BASIC, Logo, and Pascal are three

programming languages especially suited to beginners.

BASIC (an acronym for Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) is easy to learn
because it allows you to write instructions for the computer in English-like words and phrases.
It has the additional advantage of being built into your computer, so there are no special
disks to buy.

And BASIC was the first language built into personal computers, so you'll find

hundreds of books on the subject and many people who speak the same language.

In this chapter, you'll get a chance to write some simple BASIC programs so you can see what
programming is all about and whether it's something you want to pursue further.

The BASIC

vocabulary you learn won't apply to other computer languages, but the principles will.

You Don't Have to Learn to Program:

There's an application program for almost every imaginable application, so you don't have to
learn programming to use a computer, but a lot of people learn for the fun and the challenge of
it.

If you decide you'd like to learn more about BASIC, you can get the Applesoft Tutorial and the
Applesoft BASIC Programmer's Reference Manual published by Apple, or you can choose books from
another publisher more suited to your age, your area of interest (games, graphics, and so on),
and your level of programming expertise (from tutorials to technical reference manuals).

you prefer a more interactive learning experience, you can get an Applesoft BASIC training
course on disks, similar to the interactive training programs that came with this manual, or
you can enroll in a programming class at your local college.

If you decide you'd rather program in Logo, Pascal, or some other language, ask your dealer for
the appropriate language disks, manuals, and other training materials.

Getting Into BASIC

In an earlier chapter, you learned that Applesoft BASIC is built into your Apple IIe that it's
stored permanently in ROM.

But how do you get at it? One way to get at it is to start up the

ProDOS User's Disk and select the last option on the Main Menu APPLESOFT BASIC.

Here's how:

Start up the ProDOS User's Disk.

You'll see this display:

***************************************

PRODOS USER'S

DISK