# IBM BASIC

> programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q174841](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q174841)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_BASIC)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ibm-basic

## Summary
IBM BASIC is a programming language developed by the American multinational technology corporation IBM. Incepted in 1981, it serves as a language for communicating instructions to a machine. The software is also recognized by the alias BASICA.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** IBM BASIC is an instance of a programming language.
- **Developer:** The language was created and developed by IBM.
- **Inception:** It was originally developed or released in 1981.
- **Alias:** The software is also known by the name BASICA.
- **Developer Profile:** The creator, IBM, is a United States-based corporation founded on June 16, 1911, with headquarters in Armonk, New York.
- **Industry Context:** The developer operates within the software industry, computer industry, and IT service management sectors.
- **Global Presence:** The entity has Wikipedia entries in 10 languages, including English, German, French, and Japanese.

## FAQs
### Q: Who developed IBM BASIC?
A: IBM BASIC was developed by IBM, a major American multinational technology corporation. IBM is a significant entity in the computer and software industries.

### Q: When was IBM BASIC created?
A: IBM BASIC was inceptioned in 1981.

### Q: What is BASICA?
A: BASICA is an alias for IBM BASIC. Both names refer to this specific programming language.

### Q: What type of software is IBM BASIC?
A: IBM BASIC is classified as a programming language, which is a formal language used to communicate instructions to a machine.

## Why It Matters
IBM BASIC represents a specific chapter in the history of software development, emerging from one of the world's most influential technology corporations. Created in 1981, it illustrates IBM's direct engagement in the programming language space, distinct from its role in hardware or IT services. As a tool for "communicating instructions to a machine," it contributed to the broader ecosystem of computer science during a pivotal era of technological expansion.

The existence of this language under the IBM banner— a company with hundreds of thousands of employees and deep roots in the computer industry—undersores the importance of accessible programming tools in the early digital age. While IBM is often associated with enterprise hardware and services, its development of a specific programming language highlights the necessity of software environments to make hardware functional for users.

## Notable For
- Being a proprietary programming language developed by industry giant IBM.
- Possessing the specific alias "BASICA."
- Originating in 1981, a foundational decade for personal computing.
- Existing as a distinct "instance of" programming language, separate from the hardware it controls.
- Being supported by documentation and presence across multiple global language wikis (10 languages).

## Body
### Entity Classification
IBM BASIC is strictly defined as a **programming language**. Its primary function is serving as a language for communicating instructions to a machine. It is categorized as an "instance of" this class of software tools.

### Development and Origins
The language was developed by **IBM** (International Business Machines Corporation).
- **Inception Date:** 1981
- **Developer Origin:** IBM is an American multinational founded on June 16, 1911.
- **Developer Headquarters:** Armonk, New York, United States.

### Nomenclature
The knowledge base identifies **BASICA** as a direct alias for IBM BASIC. This alternative name is frequently associated with the software in historical and technical contexts.

### Developer Context
To understand the scale behind IBM BASIC, the developer (IBM) is characterized by the following industry involvement:
- **Industries:** Software industry, computer industry, IT service management.
- **Scale:** As of 2018, the corporation reported 350,600 employees.
- **Global Reach:** The concept of IBM BASIC is documented across 10 Wikipedia languages (ca, de, en, es, fr, ja, ko, pt, ru, uk), indicating international recognition.