Assuming no prior programming experience, this author team introduces the concept of structured programming through BASIC. This highly accessible language is used to develop the solid programming habits that are required by higher-level languages such as C and C++. Throughout the book, the clearest possible examples are used to illustrate new concepts while frequent technical applications are presented to portray programming as an essential tool for the solution, analysis, and design of technical problems. Coverage includes an introduction followed by chapters on using the computer; structured programming; computations and comparisons; making decisions--branch blocks; loop blocks; arrays; string manipulation and sorting; computer graphics; using files; ASCII character set; and an introduction to Visual BASIC. For practicing computer programmers and anyone interested in computers in general, computer programming with BASIC in specific.