资料来源 : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

Microsoft Basic
     
         (MS-BASIC) A dialect of {BASIC} from {Microsoft},
        originally developed by {Bill Gates} in a garage back in the
        {CP/M} days.  It was originally known as GWBasic, then QBASIC
        and finally MS-BASIC.
     
        When the {MS-DOS} {operating system} came out, it incorporated
        the GWBASIC.EXE or BASICA.EXE interpreters.  GWBASIC ("Gee
        Whiz") incorporated graphics and a {screen editor} and was
        compatible with earlier BASICs.
     
        QBASIC was more sophisticated.  Version 4.5 had a full screen
        editor, debugger and compiler.  The compiler could also
        produce executable files but to run these a utility program
        (BRUN44.EXE) had to be present.  Thus {source code} could be
        kept private.
     
        From DOS 5.0 or 6.0 onward, MS-BASIC was standard.
     
        Current version: 1.1, also produces {stand-alone} executables
        and can display graphics.
     
        {Usenet} newsgroup: {news:comp.lang.basic.misc}.
     
        [Relationship to BASIC in ROM on first IBM PC?]
     
        (1995-05-12)