basiclike

Basiclike is a family of programming languages and dialects designed to resemble the classic BASIC language while adopting modern software development practices. It is primarily positioned as an introductory language for education and for hobbyist programming, emphasizing readability and ease of use.

Core characteristics include a straightforward syntax with recognizable BASIC keywords such as PRINT, IF, THEN, FOR, and REM. Many implementations run on interpreters and provide an interactive REPL. Line numbers are optional in most variants, and control flow is expressed with structured statements rather than goto-driven programs. Typing can be dynamic by default, with optional static typing in some forks.

Basiclike emerged from educational and retro-computing communities seeking to preserve familiar programming patterns while improving safety and portability. Various dialects exist, targeting web browsers and desktop environments. While not standardized, most variants strive for cross-platform compatibility and straightforward error messages to assist beginners.

It is commonly used in introductory computer science courses and coding clubs to teach loops, conditionals, and simple data structures. Critics note its limited ecosystem, modest performance, and niche appeal compared with mainstream languages, which can restrict library availability and long-term project viability.

See also BASIC, educational programming languages, Scratch, Logo.