I think I've found a bug in a 1977 version of Basic... I wonder if it's a new finding?

110 A=SQR(2)
120 B=SQR(3)
130 C=SQR(6)
140 PRINT A*B-C
150 PRINT C-A*B

Turns out A*B-C is non zero, which is fair and more or less expected, but C-A*B is different - it's zero - and I didn't expect that.

This is of course Microsoft #Basic for the #Commodore #PET. The problem seems to be present in all their 6502 basics.

https://www.masswerk.at/pet/?data=base64:MTEwIEE9U1FSKDIpCjEyMCBCPVNRUigzKQoxMzAgQz1TUVIoNikKMTQwIFBSSU5UIEEqQi1DCjE1MCBQUklOVCBDLUEqQg==&autorun=true

#retroComputing #MSBasic

My first computer, the Ohio Scientific International #Superboard II. Though my introduction to Microsoft Basic and 6502 Assember came 2 years earlier in 1979, stealing time on my brother's C1P machine. Fundamentally a Superboard in a metal case. We printed out listings on a Army Surplus Creed Teleprinter.

Still got the Superborard but doubt that it still works!

#VintageComputing #RetroComputing #MSBasic #6502 #Assembler

I'm writing a follow up for each of the interests I tagged in my #Introduction post to help "find my tribe".
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I'm a coder, but not a developer.

My coding experiences include:

- vague memories of typing stuff in a VIC-20 using (I'm told) was #MSBASIC

- later, making choose-your-own-adventure games in #Qbasic

- as an ops guy at work, #SQL, #CSharp, #R, and #Python for ad hoc stuff, only dipping in #PHP #Javascript etc as necessary

Wish I'd been a dev instead of a biz generalist

Yes, that's the code I expected - the spiky not-quite-Mandelbrot jumps out at you once you've seen both versions side by side.

ZTEMP would be as good as ZR.

The ambiguity in long variable names is really a misfeature - easy to have bugs and hard to find them.

#msbasic #basic

@rc2014