The Ultimate BASIC Encyclopedia
The BASIC Handbook was the definitive reference for anyone serious about mastering BASIC. It was the quintessential guide, containing every command, function, and operator from every known dialect of BASIC. If it had ever been part of BASIC, it was in this book.
Unlike other CompuSoft titles that were aimed at beginners, the 1986 edition of the BASIC Handbook was a no-nonsense, technical reference weighing in at nearly 900 pages. It cut straight to the heart of the matter, providing experienced programmers with precise, exhaustive details on the language without any fluff.
Acclaimed as the “most comprehensive BASIC reference ever published,” the BASIC Handbook quickly earned its place as the go-to resource in the industry. Reviews praised it for its thoroughness, clarity, and depth, with one critic calling it “an essential tool for every BASIC programmer’s library.” It wasn’t just a book; it was the definitive source for all things BASIC.
I had the privilege of contributing to the third and final edition, updating it to reflect the rapid evolution of BASIC by 1986. The first edition, published in 1978, had already established the groundwork, but by the time we reached this final edition, BASIC had exploded into new territories, and so had the Handbook.