BBC Basic

BBC BASIC was developed in 1981 as a native programming language for the MOS Technology 6502 based Acorn BBC Micro home/personal computer. It was a version of the BASIC programming language adapted for a U.K. computer literacy project of the BBC.

BBC BASIC, based on the older Atom BASIC, extended traditional BASIC with named procedures and functions, REPEAT-UNTIL loops, and IF-THEN-ELSE structures. The interpreter also included powerful statements for controlling the BBC Micro's four-channel sound output and its high-resolution graphics display. Significantly, BBC BASIC was also fitted with an easily accessible in-line assembler, allowing programmers to write 6502 assembly language programs directly in BASIC code. This was a unique feature among home/personal computer BASIC interpreters at the time.

A U.S. market version was produced for Acorn's abortive attempt to enter the cross Atlantic computer market - the only difference was in the spelling of commands such as color.

Newer versions of BBC BASIC were delivered as standard on the Acorn Archimedes and the Risc PC. Current versions of RISC OS still contain a BBC BASIC interpreter. A Zilog Z80-version of BBC BASIC was later used on the Tiki 100 desktop computer, Cambridge Z88 portable, and Amstrad's NC100 Notepad and NC200 Notebook computers.