QBASIC

   The name QBasic is an acronym for Quick Beginners All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code. It was developed and launched by Microsoft in the year 1991 and is considered to be one of the most ideal languages for absolute beginners. It was intended as a replacement for GW-BASIC. QBasic was based on earlier QuickBASIC 4.5 compiler. It does not produce .exe files but instead generates files with extension .bas which can only be executed immediately by the built in QBasic interpreter. It is based on DOS operating systems but is also executable on windows.

QBasic consists of two windows:

• Program Window: The window titled as ‘Untitled’ is the program window. It is the place where program/code is written
• Immediate Window: The window below Program Window titled as ‘Immediate’ is the immediate window. This window is used as a debugging tool and is used when the user wants to check the output of a single statement.

Applications of Qbasic:

• QBasic is the most suitable language for the beginners to start with. It introduces people to programming without any need to worry about the internal working of the computer.
• QBasic is very easy and simple to apply and create business applications, for creating games and even simple databases. It offers commands like SET, CIRCLE, LINE, etc which allow the programmer to draw using Qbasic. Hence, graphics can also be created using QBasic.

Advantages of QBasic:

• The key feature of the language is its close resemblance to English.
• Syntax of your code is checked automatically.
• Qbasic has a dynamic program debugging feature.
• Lengthy programs can be broken into smaller modules

Disadvantages of QBasic:

• The language is not structured.
• Qbasic is DOS based and has now become obsolete and is limited only in the field of education and programming.