Beginners Guide to Programming using BBC BASIC - Part 1 - Variables & Loops

Jason takes us through the very basics of programming that anyone can follow. In this guide we look at loops and variables to make sounds and simple graphics.

[CelticSaint]

Wonderful. When I was at college in the 80´s I played around with BASIC as I had a ZX81 and then a 48k ZX Spectrum. My parents were aware that I liked science so computers were an obvious Christmas present for them. I knew a lad who one day showed me a program that he had written. He had put some of the basic notes of a piece of Mozart into a BBC computer and it sounded brilliant. He had even added lines on the screen that reflected the beautiful music. The higher the note the longer the line. I will never forget seeing that for as long as I live!! It was mind'blowing at the time. This was in Cornwall in 1985.

[EeekiE]

I want a BBC Micro now. Never grew up with them, so it’s not nostalgia. I just love how different and charming they are.

[brianmorrison]

I had the BBC B computer in the 80s, then when I had kids I used it to help them with their school work. It was great and they enjoyed it too.
Just saw a video about an emulator, so think I'll try and learn the codes again. That'll please the kids .. and their kids too.

[MrZeroPage]

Super - thanks Jason and team! Stay awesome and look after yourselves.

[martinrowe]

Thank you, looking forward to part 2.

[markf.]

Argh, takes me back...loved that you could mixed 6502 in BASIC ❤

[stephenvenner]

Excellent Jason - Well done, and a very nice presentation...

[gabrielsroka]

Great video. Please make more.

Btw, i think the screen width is 1280, not 1000.

[vancemccarthy]

My workplace, in its infancy, used one for record keeping. It's not working now, but 40 years later, I have the book. There are good tips - even for the Yabasic programming language I write in.

[nellogaliano]

Thanks for this tutorial! I have a question: is there a way the get the char (or char code) at specified X, Y position on the screen using BBC BASIC in its original first version? Thanks

[eduardomorales]

I just bought a Raspberry Pi 400 and I am going to use BBC BASIC on RISC OS. It looks so fun, specially the sounds. It will annoy my wife so much 😂😂😂

[JohnnyBareToes]

Loved it Jason, thanks ! Yes you are great ! Looking forward to the next installment. Stay safe guys !

[damianbutterworth]

I have a Acorn3000 Got the BASIC working after using an old mobile 3.7v phone battery for the CMOS. No operating system but I have a disc and struggling to get the disc drive to work. I might download the instruction book you suggested. If it`s like the spectrum there must be a load"" command or something.

[eezablade]

11:30 I’m a year late to this, so Will understand if no reply.
If line 10 sets A as 1, and line 30 timeses A by 2, surely 1*2 is always 2? The line where a increases (the old line 30) is gone, so A will always remain 1? What am I missing?

[GarDjinn]

88 to 93 my old friend i come back because yolol language reminds me of you

[windfisch]

OK, quotation marks are “speech marks” in BE, didn’t know this until now.

[reloadpsi]

Man, the difference between mode 7 on this and a Super Nintendo is pretty wild.

[Inaflap]

Try entering this single line for a weird result on the Beeb...
there are 46 of the 'L.1':, but you can use the cursor and Copy key (maybe mapped to End key by BeebEm) to speed entry.

[mazharsaid]

the Lander game on risc os did it have sound? does any1 know? thanks.

[chrisnorthall]

had a model B in the day, i still have it... Still to this day ive yet to find a keyboard as good.