I've been diving into programming, both new and retro, and a question that's been bugging me is about those long BASIC listings I've seen in 80's computing magazines. They often contain massive DATA statements that stretch on for pages, with some lines boasting ten or more items. Is this actually the original source code, or were there graphics programs and maybe some assembly involved that got converted into these extensive data statements for print? I'm trying to understand how they managed to fit such complex code into a magazine format.
5 Answers
You're on the right track! They likely used development tools to handle graphics or assembly routines. It's intriguing to think about how they communicated complex graphics without modern conveniences.
Definitely! Those lengthy DATA statements were often for assembly code and graphic data. I think Compute! magazine had a hex entry utility that simplified things. Far less risk of typos when you deal in hex rather than tons of numbers! They even included a checksum to ensure accuracy.
Oh yeah, we definitely coded like that back then! If we weren't coding our own tools, we were piecing it all together manually. I remember drawing sprites on paper and then converting them into DATA statements. At the time, it wasn't about efficiency; it was about the thrill of actually doing it! Feels like a lifetime ago, though!
I get it! I started with C64 programming and had no text editor either. Just entered commands at the BASIC prompt and made it work from there. It was pure, bare-bones stuff!
I can relate! I began with MS BASIC on my XT, just writing simple line-by-line code. It felt like magic back then.
By the mid-80s, home computer graphics programs were emerging, but sharing data files was tricky without floppy disks. It made the printed alternatives necessary. Check out Dazzle Draw for a glimpse into that era!
Those extensive DATA statements often came from dumping working software into hex or decimal format. It’s a clever way to save space in magazines. It was all about efficiency, given the limitations of the time!
Exactly! It seemed all like magic for those who weren't into it. We drew our graphics on squared paper—no shortcuts!