Editing Microsoft BASIC (section)

==Modern descendants==
No variety of Microsoft BASIC ([[Microsoft BASICA|BASICA]], [[GW-BASIC]], [[QuickBASIC]], [[QBasic]]) is currently distributed with [[Microsoft Windows]] or [[DOS]]. However, versions that will still run on modern machines can be downloaded from various Internet sites or be found on old DOS disks.

The latest incarnation of Microsoft BASIC is [[Visual Basic .NET]], which incorporates some features from [[C++]] and [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]] and can be used to develop Web forms, Windows forms, [[console application]]s and server-based applications. Most .NET code samples are presented in VB.NET as well as C#, and VB.NET continues to be favored by former Visual Basic [[programmers]].

In October 2008, Microsoft released [[Microsoft Small Basic|Small Basic]].<ref>[http://blogs.msdn.com/b/smallbasic/archive/2008/10/23/hello-world.aspx Small Basic Blog: Hello World]</ref> The language has only 14 keywords.<ref>[http://blogs.msdn.com/b/smallbasic/archive/2012/10/08/what-are-the-14-keywords-of-small-basic.aspx What are the 14 keywords of Small Basic?]</ref> Small Basic Version 1.0 (12 June 2011)<ref>[http://blogs.msdn.com/b/smallbasic/archive/2011/07/12/small-basic-1-0-is-here.aspx Small Basic 1.0 is here!]</ref> was released with an updated Microsoft MSDN Web site that included a full teacher curriculum,<ref>[http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/16299.small-basic-curriculum.aspx Small Basic Curriculum]</ref> a Getting Started Guide,<ref>[http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/16059.small-basic-getting-started-guide.aspx Small Basic Getting Started Guide]</ref> and several e-books.<ref>[http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/16386.small-basic-e-books.aspx Small Basic E-Books]</ref> Small Basic exists to help students as young as age eight<ref>[http://blogs.msdn.com/b/smallbasic/archive/2012/10/25/small-basic-elementary-student-testimonials.aspx Small Basic - Elementary and Middle School Student Testimonials]</ref> learn the foundations of computer programming and then graduate to Visual Basic via the downloadable software, [[Microsoft Visual Studio Express|Visual Studio Express]], where they can continue to build on the foundation by learning [[Microsoft Visual C Sharp|Visual C#]], [[Visual Basic .NET|VB.NET]], and [[Visual C++]].<ref>[http://blogs.msdn.com/b/smallbasic/archive/2009/10/25/graduating-from-small-basic.aspx Graduating from Small Basic]</ref>