Category:83Plus:Basic

BASIC is the built-in interpreted language for the TI-83 family. The syntax is similar to the PC version of BASIC, and includes very simple commands for I/O (PRINT, OUTPUT...) and flow control (IF, FOR, WHILE...). Programs can be created on a desktop computer with software like Graph Link or edited on the calculator with the built-in program editor. The manual that comes with the calculator will usually have a reference for all the BASIC commands, but there are also tutorials such as this one or this one that also teach optimization and tricks that the manual does not cover. The main advantage of writing programs in BASIC is that it is a very high-level language, so programs can be written faster and more easily compared to assembly. The disadvantages are its execution speed (since programs are run by an interpreter) and power (the built-in graphics commands are extremely limited, for example), although some assembly programs, such as Xlib, can provide extra functions like sprite routines for BASIC programs to use.