Premium
SOBS—an incremental BASIC system
Author(s) -
Rees M. J.,
Oppenheimer A. W.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
software: practice and experience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1097-024X
pISSN - 0038-0644
DOI - 10.1002/spe.4380070508
Subject(s) - debugging , interpreter , variety (cybernetics) , computer science , field (mathematics) , scale (ratio) , basic research , software engineering , production system (computer science) , production (economics) , engineering drawing , programming language , artificial intelligence , engineering , mathematics , physics , process (computing) , quantum mechanics , library science , pure mathematics , economics , macroeconomics
The design and implementation of a conversational BASIC system for ICL 1900 machines is described. The University of Southampton BASIC System (SOBS) is an incremental BASIC interpreter which runs under a variety of operating environments. Fundamental requirement for extensive diagnostic and debugging aids are listed, and their implementation in SOBS is discussed. A brief summary of language features is also incorporated. The use of SOBS over a number of years has proved its usefulness in the construction of production programs for small‐ to medium‐scale applications as well as in the field of education. A number of enhanced features have gradually been added, and it is to the credit of the original design that the necessary amendments did not significantly alter the initial internal structure of the system.