ROM cartridge
A ROM cartridge, usually referred to in context simply as a cartridge, cart, cassette, or card, is a replaceable part designed to be connected to a consumer electronics device such as a home computer, video game console or, to a lesser extent, ...
-based version of the
Logo programming language
Logo is an educational programming language, designed in 1967 by Wally Feurzeig, Seymour Papert, and Cynthia Solomon. The name was coined by Feurzeig while he was at Bolt, Beranek and Newman, and derives from the Greek ''logos'', meaning 'word' ...
for the
Atari 8-bit computers
The Atari 8-bit computers, formally launched as the Atari Home Computer System, are a series of home computers introduced by Atari, Inc., in 1979 with the Atari 400 and Atari 800. The architecture is designed around the 8-bit MOS Technology 650 ...
published by Atari, Inc. in 1983. It was developed by Logo Computer Systems, Inc. (LCSI) in
Quebec
Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...
,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
. LCSI wrote
Apple Logo
The marketing of Apple Inc. encompasses the Apple Inc. advertising, company's advertising, distribution, and branding. After Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997, he made industrial design a key element of the company's branding strategy. Apple's p ...
, and the Atari version maintains strong compatibility with it.
Atari Logo includes commands that support Atari 8-bit enhanced graphics: 4 simultaneous drawing turtles that look like actual turtles instead of triangles, a built-in editor for redefining turtle shapes, and an event handler for collision detection. The TOOT primitive plays a tone on one of two 16-bit audio channels given a frequency, volume, and duration. Atari Logo shipped with a 216-page manual and a 16-page ''Quick Reference Guide.''
Reception
Scott Mace of ''
InfoWorld
''InfoWorld'' (''IW'') is an American information technology media business. Founded in 1978, it began as a monthly magazine. In 2007, it transitioned to a Web-only publication. Its parent company is International Data Group, and its sister pu ...
'' wrote, "Atari Logo is an excellent product and it enhances the value of Atari computers for learning in the classroom and in the home. It wins the battle with
BASIC
Basic or BASIC may refer to:
Science and technology
* BASIC, a computer programming language
* Basic (chemistry), having the properties of a base
* Basic access authentication, in HTTP
Entertainment
* Basic (film), ''Basic'' (film), a 2003 film
...
hands down."
In a 1983 review for ''
ANALOG Computing
''ANALOG Computing'' was an American computer magazine devoted to Atari 8-bit computers. It was published from 1981 until 1989. In addition to reviews and tutorials, ''ANALOG'' printed multiple programs in each issue for users to type in. Almo ...
'',
Brian Moriarty
Brian Moriarty (born 1956) is an American video game developer who authored three of the original Infocom interactive fiction titles, '' Wishbringer'' (1985), ''Trinity'' (1986), and '' Beyond Zork'' (1987), as well as ''Loom'' (1990) for LucasA ...
concluded, "Atari Logo is one of the most intelligently-conceived and well-executed pieces of software ever published by ATARI."
Cynthia Solomon
Cynthia Solomon is an American computer scientist known for her work in popularizing computer science for students. She is an innovator in the fields of computer science and educational computing. While working as a researcher at Massachusetts I ...