This book questions the uchallenged positon of BASIC for personal computer use, developing a number of examples which are common in the home, education and small business, first using BASIC and then a more suitable language.

The book begins with a survey of computer languages, including Pascal, COMAL and Lisp and the position occupied by BASIC. The following four chapters consider database, three-dimensional graphics, simulation and pixel graphics. Each application is described, first using BASIC and then a more suitable and convenient language. The book ends with summaries of the languages considered.