Apple's Killed MacBASIC: The Story of a Programming Language Stifled by Microsoft

In 1984, Apple developed MacBASIC, a BASIC interpreter for the Macintosh that accessed Macintosh Toolbox routines, making it a powerful prototyping tool. However, this promising language was abruptly halted in 1985, with all source code destroyed. Rumor has it that Apple succumbed to pressure from Microsoft, trading a perpetual license to the Macintosh UI and MacBASIC for an extension of their Applesoft BASIC license. This decision angered Apple employees, and MacBASIC was killed, leaving a mark as a regrettable chapter in tech history.