What current language is closest to MS-DOS?

Question

Trying to bridge the gap between old school and new school programming language

Answer 1

If I recall correctly, MS-DOS was programmed in FORTRAN. However, by your question, it feels like you're implying that MS-DOS itself is a programming language, in which case that's incorrect. MS-DOS is an operating system.

Answer 2

DOS always came with BASIC, later QBASIC and was scripted with batchjobs.

https://copy.sh/v86 : Click MSDOS 6.22, wait, type QBASIC
https://www.pcjs.org : An IBM BASIC version

The x86 emulator has a full DOS copy; DEBUG works e.g.

Display the contents of the auto-executed batchjob:
C:\>type autoexec.bat

The shell is called the command shell, which is why we run COMMAND / CMD

This error (later OS's): 'blah' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

Means (historical):
internal command : Those inside the command interpreter (command.com, command.exe, cmd.exe). Built-in's like DIR, SET, CLS, cannot be executed by "exec" instead they have to be chained from COMMAND /K or /C (see "command /?" or "help command")
External command : binaries (not in COMMAND) provided with the operating system (*.com *.exe)
operable program : Binaries provided by you
batch file : batchjobs (*.bat)

Answer 3

@SQL_Assassin

lol I hear you. :D I can't say it's my OS of choice, but as an 80s kid, it holds a really special place in my heart and mind. The DOS games era was great.

Answer 4

Thanks. MS-DOS on a TRS-80 was how I was introduced to computer logic and programming initially in the 80s. I'm trying to get an idea for comparison and see how best to approach relearning

Answer 5

Something else you can do at the x86 emulator, compile a provided ASM file:

# make prompt easier to use (arrows, etc)
C:\>DOSKEY
C:\>DIR # what's in the directory?

# read the help for the netwide assembler
C:\>nasm -h | more

# edit the file... escape :q to exit vim
C:\>vim x86test.asm

# assemble a new external command
C:\>nasm x86test.asm -o x86test.com

# something you'd put in a batchjob
# COMMAND.COM searches for x86test.exe, x86test.com, x86test.bat
C:\>x86test

There's also a hello world: HELLO.ASM

Answer 6

Yes Oregon trail was sick. How about that submarine game where you have to destroy a fleet of enemy ships, I wish I had the name of that game so I could find it. The game where you input a value for x and y then your monkey launches a banana at the other monkey was fun too.