RBASIC: An In-House Language Developed for Medi-Sec
Introduction:
RBASIC is an in-house programming language created by Mike Welch of Hemet, California, in 1985. This language was developed specifically for use at Diversified Data Design (DDD), a company located in Culver City, California, for its client Medi-Sec, which was previously based in Santa Monica, CA. DDD was led by Horace Clark, and Medi-Sec by Neal Green. The primary purpose of RBASIC was to meet the software needs of Medi-Sec, a company that was involved in the medical and security sectors.
Background and Development:
RBASIC is a dialect of the popular programming language BASIC, which was designed to be relatively simple and accessible for programmers. However, RBASIC introduced specialized features aimed at facilitating the creation of applications for Medi-Sec. One of its key innovations was the inclusion of a relational database directly within the language, a feature that was not common in standard versions of BASIC at the time. This relational database functionality allowed users to interact with data in a structured and efficient way, making it ideal for the specific needs of Medi-Sec’s operations.
Features and Capabilities:
RBASIC was particularly tailored for use in environments where database management and processing were critical. Its relational database feature allowed for data manipulation and querying to be built into the language’s structure, streamlining the development process. The language supported the kind of data-intensive applications that were required by companies like Medi-Sec.
The language, while based on BASIC, incorporated certain enhancements to support more complex data-driven applications. It is important to note that since RBASIC was an in-house language designed for a specific client, detailed documentation and widespread use outside of that context were limited. As such, RBASIC did not achieve the level of recognition or use of some other programming languages that gained more widespread adoption.
Legacy and Conclusion:
Although RBASIC was a niche programming language developed for specific business needs in the mid-1980s, its creation highlights an interesting chapter in the evolution of programming languages. It serves as an example of how companies like DDD were able to create custom solutions to meet unique requirements, demonstrating the flexibility and creativity that programming languages can offer when adapted for particular industries. The language’s reliance on BASIC’s structure while adding a relational database element was a precursor to the more integrated database management systems that would later become commonplace in the software industry.
Unfortunately, RBASIC never gained significant recognition outside of its original use case, and its development remains a specialized piece of software history. However, it stands as a testament to the adaptability of programming languages in addressing the evolving needs of businesses during the 1980s.