# Microsoft Pascal

> implementation of Pascal programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q2030647](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2030647)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Pascal)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/microsoft-pascal

## Summary
Microsoft Pascal is an implementation of the Pascal programming language developed by the Microsoft Corporation. It functions as a compiler and programming language, notable for its historical use on the Xenix operating system. The software had a development lifespan spanning the 1980s, concluding with version 4.0 in 1988.

## Key Facts
- **Developer:** Microsoft (American multinational technology corporation).
- **Category:** Programming language implementation and compiler.
- **Initial Release:** Version 1.0 released in 1980.
- **Final Stable Release:** Version 4.0 released in 1988.
- **Operating Systems:** Ran on Xenix (a discontinued Unix version published by Microsoft) and other identified platforms.
- **Derivative Works:** Served as the basis for Microsoft QuickPascal.
- **File Formats:** Capable of reading and writing Microsoft QuickPascal Unit files.
- **Copyright Status:** Copyrighted.
- **Language Family:** Implementation of the Pascal programming language (class: programming language).

## FAQs
### Q: What is Microsoft Pascal?
A: Microsoft Pascal is a copyrighted implementation of the Pascal programming language and compiler developed by Microsoft. It was used to write instructions for machines and ran on operating systems such as Xenix.

### Q: When was Microsoft Pascal released and updated?
A: The software was first released as version 1.0 in 1980. It received regular updates throughout the 1980s, including versions 1.1 (1981), 2.0 and 3.0 (1982), and concluded with version 4.0 in 1988.

### Q: What operating systems did Microsoft Pascal support?
A: Microsoft Pascal was designed to run on Xenix, a Unix version published by Microsoft, as well as other systems referenced in its development history.

### Q: Is Microsoft Pascal related to other software?
A: Yes, Microsoft Pascal is a direct precursor or derivative work related to Microsoft QuickPascal. It also utilizes the Microsoft QuickPascal Unit file format for reading and writing data.

## Why It Matters
Microsoft Pascal represents a significant chapter in the early history of Microsoft's development tools division. Before the widespread dominance of C and later languages like C# and Java, Pascal was a primary language for teaching and structured programming. By releasing a commercial compiler starting in 1980, Microsoft provided essential tooling for the professional software market, particularly within the Xenix ecosystem (Microsoft's own version of Unix).

The product illustrates the evolution of software development standards in the 1980s. With eight distinct stable versions released over an eight-year period (1980–1988), Microsoft Pascal demonstrates the rapid iteration of compiler technology during that era. Its connection to Microsoft QuickPascal also highlights the company's strategy to streamline development environments, bridging the gap between academic structured programming and the emerging "Quick" integrated development environments (IDEs) of the late 1980s. For historians of technology and software architects, Microsoft Pascal serves as a marker for the transition from mainframe-centric languages to personal computer software development.

## Notable For
- **Longevity in the 1980s:** Maintained an active release cycle from 1980 to 1988 with eight stable versions.
- **Xenix Integration:** Being a primary tool for Microsoft's Xenix, the company's variant of Unix.
- **Corporate Origin:** Being a programming language tool developed directly by Microsoft, distinct from Borland or IBM implementations of the era.
- **QuickPascal Link:** Serving as the foundation for the Microsoft QuickPascal derivative.
- **Dual Functionality:** Functioning simultaneously as a programming language implementation and a compiler.

## Body
### Development and Classification
Microsoft Pascal is classified technically as both a programming language and a compiler. It was created by Microsoft, a technology corporation founded on April 4, 1975, and based in Redmond, United States. The software is an implementation of the Pascal programming language, designed to facilitate communication instructions to a machine.

### Version History
The development of Microsoft Pascal is well-documented through its stable release timeline. The software evolved significantly over eight years:

*   **1980:** Introduction of version 1.0.
*   **1981:** Release of version 1.1.
*   **1982:** Two major releases occurred: version 2.0 and version 3.0.
*   **1983:** Update to version 3.1.
*   **1984:** Update to version 3.2.
*   **1985:** Update to version 3.3.
*   **1988:** The final cited stable release, version 4.0.

### Operating Environment
Microsoft Pascal was built to operate within specific software environments. Notably, it supported **Xenix**, a discontinued Unix version that was itself published by Microsoft. This close integration with Xenix positioned the language as a tool for more robust, multi-user systems during the early PC era.

### Legacy and File Formats
The software is considered a **derivative work** or predecessor to **Microsoft QuickPascal**. In terms of technical compatibility, Microsoft Pascal could read and write the **Microsoft QuickPascal Unit** file format. The software remains under copyright protection.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013