https://computerhistory.org/blog/in-memoriam-thomas-e-kurtz-1928-2024/

With deep sadness, we say goodbye to computer pioneer Thomas Kurtz.

Thomas Eugene Kurtz (Feb. 22 1928–Nov. 12, 2024) was an American mathematician, computer scientist and co-inventor, with John Kemeny, of the BASIC programming language and Dartmouth Timesharing System.

 

And the only computer language I ever really learned.

 

Best language ever ... at least for an old boomer like me...

 

Best language ever ...

Not really. It's pretty BASIC.

But, I probably owe this guy a lot for many of the successes in my life.

 

Not really. It's pretty BASIC.

But, I probably owe this guy a lot for many of the successes in my life.

Me too ... and the humble Timex Sinclair 1000

 

Not really. It's pretty BASIC.

But, I probably owe this guy a lot for many of the successes in my life.

The original BASIC was the object of many spaghetti program comments so I guess you're right, the original BASIC was so unstructured it helped to launch the movement to Structured Programming as additions to BASIC and in the creation of other languages.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dartmouth_BASIC

SBASIC eventually formed the basis of the 1987 ANSI X3.113-1987 Standard for Full Basic, which extended the earlier 1978 ANSI ANSI X3.60-1978 Standard for Minimal Basic. The long delay in producing that standard, along with the lack of regard among computer scientists for unstructured Basic, led the College Board committee developing the Advanced Placement Course in Computer Science, which Garland chaired, to opt for requiring Pascal and not allowing Basic as the language for the course.

 

And the Edsger D. came to execrate that GOTO of fame. Such is life.