Basically, you’ll be running an entire Apple II system in a web browser (it works best in Google Chrome). If you’re following along without a real Apple II, open a new browser window to the Apple ][js uses JavaScript to simulate the circuitry of a real Apple II in software.
#APPLE II EMULATOR MAC PLUS#
Make sure you use a machine with Applesoft in ROM, such as the Apple II Plus or later, or an original Apple II with the proper language card. If you have a real Apple II, power it up. It’s a quick way to test if BASIC is working properly on any system. Your First Programįirst, we’re going to write a very simple program that counts upward forever. Simply re-type the offending line, double-checking for possible typos. If you make a mistake while typing in the program, the Apple II will return a “SYNTAX ERROR” upon running the program, and it will include a line number where the error occurred. To start a new program (erasing the current program from memory), type NEW.At any time while programming, you can see the contents of your program by typing the LIST command.These three fundamental BASIC commands will always come in handy. Each line is entered into computer memory by hitting the Return key. Each line has a number, and when a program is RUN, the computer executes each line in numerical order from least to greatest. Some Syntax TipsĮvery BASIC program on the Apple II is composed of lines of code. Microsoft created Applesoft long before it became famous for Windows.įor this article, we used Applesoft BASIC. The Apple II shipped with two major versions of BASIC over the years: Wozniak’s Integer BASIC, and Applesoft. BASIC emerged in 1964 on the Dartmouth College Time Sharing System. It quickly became a popular educational tool for computer science due to its ease of use. The Basics of BASICįrom the late 1970s through the early ’80s, most personal computers included a programming language known as BASIC, an acronym for Beginners’ All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code. A typical Apple II computer came equipped with 48 or 64 KB of RAM, and a 1.0 CPU. Over the course of its approximate 16-year lifespan (it was discontinued in 1993), the Apple II platform hosted seven versions of Wozniak’s original computer design. The Apple II was a stunning breakout success for Apple. Apple co-founder, Steve Wozniak’s, wizardry with circuit design allowed all these features to fit into a small desktop machine with a lightweight plastic case. It also had seven internal expansion slots that worked with the world’s least expensive floppy disk system at that time, the Disk II. The Apple II stood out because of its low cost and color graphics. Prior to this, most computers were expensive and only owned (or shared) by large organizations. These personal computers allowed people to own and operate their own machines with relative ease. Introduced in 1977, the Apple II was launched as part of a class of small, inexpensive computers made possible by microprocessor technology. Why the Apple II Was So Important Apple, Inc.