History of the question mark - Printable Version +- QB64 Phoenix Edition (https://qb64phoenix.com/forum) +-- Forum: Chatting and Socializing (https://qb64phoenix.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=11) +--- Forum: General Discussion (https://qb64phoenix.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=2) +--- Thread: History of the question mark (/showthread.php?tid=2857)

History of the question mark - Dimster - 07-11-2024 Does anyone know the history of how it came to be that "?" became a short form for "PRINT". Has it always been built into the bones of QBasic. Could have been ported over from some other language. Just curious. RE: History of the question mark - bplus - 07-11-2024 I do know that it works in SmallBASIC but not in Just Basic (nor LB). RE: History of the question mark - CletusSnow - 07-11-2024 I do not know an answer, but it would be funny to have more like this. Maybe | for input and § for screen. RE: History of the question mark - Kernelpanic - 07-11-2024 The "?" sign for "Print" goes back to GW-Basic. If you used the program editor you could use it to output: "?2 + 2". The idea behind is probably that "?"  stands for the question: "How much is" 2 + 2. RE: History of the question mark - dbox - 07-11-2024 The question mark (?) as a shortcut for the PRINT statement was first introduced in Microsoft BASIC. This feature became widely recognized and used in various implementations of Microsoft BASIC, including: Altair BASIC (1975): One of the earliest versions of Microsoft BASIC, where this shortcut likely appeared. BASIC-80: Also known as MBASIC, used on the CP/M operating system. Commodore BASIC (1977): Based on Microsoft BASIC, used in Commodore computers like the PET, VIC-20, and Commodore 64. The use of the question mark as a shorthand for the PRINT statement was popularized through these versions of BASIC, making it a common feature in many early personal computers that used Microsoft BASIC derivatives. ... or at least that's what ChatGPT thinks. RE: History of the question mark - SMcNeill - 07-11-2024 I knew I'd seen this before: https://retrocomputing.stackexchange.com/questions/24340/when-and-why-was-the-question-mark-chosen-to-abbreviate-print Answers in the BASIC Programming group suggest "?" for PRINT was introduced in Microsoft Level-2 BASIC, while Microsoft Level-1 BASIC had the "P" abbreviation for PRINT. RE: History of the question mark - Dimster - 07-11-2024 It would have had to have been one or two programmers who came up with it. I wonder if Kemeny or Kurtzas would know (or have tracked ) their Basic language evolution over time? RE: History of the question mark - hsiangch_ong - 07-11-2024 In True Basic. The exclamation point begins remark. Not apostrophe. I got this from a book: Radio Shack TRS-80 Model I allowed abbreviation of keywords. But also had to use period. Like "P." for "PRINT". "I." for "INPUT". "GOS." for "GOSUB" because "G." already taken for "GOTO". RE: History of the question mark - Pete - 07-11-2024 You know what a better shortcut isPRINT... oops, ? It's the one to SCREEN 0. What is it? Nothing! SCREEN 0 is the default screen! Who made it that way? God. He did so by sneaking back into the office on the 7th day. Pete - You can't do everything in SCREEN 0, but since you can't do everything anyway, it's perfect!