Advent of Computing Episode 28 - Applesoft BASIC, Microsoft and Apple's First Collaboration
Apr 19, 2020
Discover the unexpected collaboration between Apple and Microsoft that began with Applesoft BASIC. This software became essential for the Apple II, helping both companies thrive. Learn about Steve Wozniak’s role as he developed BASIC and improved the Apple II’s user experience. Explore the challenges Microsoft faced while adapting to the 6502 and how a crucial license agreement turned the tide for them. Uncover the legacy of Applesoft and its influence on the home computer market.
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Complementary Beginnings Of Two Giants
- Apple and Microsoft acted as complements early on because Apple focused on hardware and Microsoft on software.
- That complementarity set the stage for collaboration like AppleSoft BASIC despite later rivalry.
Woz's Scrappy 6502 BASIC Origin
- Steve Wozniak built his first BASIC for the 6502 because Microsoft BASIC targeted the 8080 and wouldn't run on his chip.
- He wrote Game BASIC quickly from limited experience and references to be the first 6502 BASIC in the hobby scene.
Hand-Assembled Integer BASIC
- Wozniak chose to omit floating-point support to ship quickly and focus on games, producing Integer BASIC.
- He assembled the interpreter by hand because Apple couldn't afford an assembler initially.