# BASIC Programming

> 1979 video game

**Wikidata**: [Q753581](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q753581)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BASIC_Programming)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/basic-programming

## Summary
BASIC Programming is an interpreter and video game developed by Warren Robinett for the Atari 2600. Released in 1979, it was distributed as a ROM cartridge and functions as a programming language for communicating instructions to the machine. It is notable for allowing users to write and execute code directly on a home console.

## Key Facts
*   **Release Year:** 1979
*   **Platform:** Atari 2600
*   **Developer/Designer:** Warren Robinett
*   **Genre:** Interpreter
*   **Instance of:** Video game, Programming language
*   **Distribution Format:** ROM cartridge
*   **AtariMuseum ID:** cx2620
*   **Creator Citizenship:** United States (Warren Robinett)

## FAQs
### Q: Is BASIC Programming a game or a tool?
A: It is classified as both a video game and a programming language. It functions as an interpreter, allowing users to input instructions into the machine.

### Q: Who created BASIC Programming?
A: It was created by Warren Robinett, a video game designer, programmer, and computer scientist born on December 25, 1951.

### Q: What platform was BASIC Programming released on?
A: It was released exclusively for the Atari 2600 (also known as the Video Computer System) in the form of a ROM cartridge.

## Why It Matters
BASIC Programming represents a unique intersection between consumer gaming hardware and computer science education. While the Atari 2600 was designed primarily for playing games, this application transformed the console into a rudimentary computer, allowing users to engage with the "interpreter" genre. It serves as a historical artifact of early software development, demonstrating the versatility of 1979 hardware.

Created by Warren Robinett, a noted video game designer and computer scientist, the software provided one of the first touchpoints for home users to interact with programming logic directly on their television screens. By distributing a programming language via the standard ROM cartridge format used for games, it expanded the utility of home consoles beyond entertainment into the realm of technical education and utility.

## Notable For
*   **Dual Classification:** Uniquely classified as both a video game and a programming language.
*   **Console Implementation:** It is an interpreter specifically built for the Atari 2600 platform.
*   **Creator:** Designed by Warren Robinett, a United States computer scientist and engineer.
*   **Distribution:** Distributed via standard ROM cartridge rather than cassette or disk media common for computer languages of the era.

## Body
### Development and Design
BASIC Programming was developed by Warren Robinett, an American video game designer, programmer, and computer scientist. Robinett, born on December 25, 1951, held United States citizenship and was a significant figure in the early software industry.

### Technical Specifications
The software functions as an interpreter, serving as a language for communicating instructions to the Atari 2600 console. It falls under the subclass of software identified by the ID Q42979 in knowledge bases. The program was distributed physically via a ROM cartridge, carrying the AtariMuseum ID `cx2620`.

### Database Identifiers
The entity is tracked across multiple gaming and academic databases:
*   **VGChartz ID:** 20156 (Atari 2600)
*   **Gamespot Game ID:** basic-programming
*   **VGList Video Game ID:** 1700
*   **Lutris Game ID:** basic-programming
*   **Internet Game Database ID:** basic-programming
*   **Freebase ID:** /m/017kn1

## References

1. GameSpot
2. Q124398839
3. VGChartz