Applesoft

AppleSoft BASIC, commonly called Applesoft, is a dialect of the BASIC programming language used on the Apple II family of 8-bit personal computers. It was provided by Microsoft as the standard BASIC interpreter for most Apple II systems and commonly replaced Wozniak's Integer BASIC on later models. Applesoft introduced floating-point arithmetic, enabling more accurate numerical computation than the earlier integer-only version, and offered a broad set of mathematical, string, and graphics capabilities suitable for education and hobby computing.

Programming in Applesoft BASIC is line-numbered, interpreted, and stored in memory or on storage media. Programs were composed of statements such as PRINT, INPUT, IF...THEN, FOR...NEXT, GOTO, and GOSUB, plus a large repertoire of functions for mathematics and string manipulation. The language also supported the Apple II's graphics and sound hardware via simple built-in commands, enabling users to draw graphics and generate tones.

Applesoft became a staple of the Apple II ecosystem, widely used in schools and by home enthusiasts. It contributed to the popularity of the platform and the broader BASIC programming culture of the era. With the transition to more advanced systems and languages, Applesoft declined in prominence, but it remains a notable example of early personal-computer software and of Microsoft's involvement in early microcomputer software distribution.