I also credit HyperCard for really getting me started. Yeah, I learned a little BASIC, but I could write real programs in HyperCard. It was amazing and breath

I also credit HyperCard for really getting me started. Yeah, I learned a little BASIC, but I could write real programs in HyperCard. It was amazing and breathtaking. HyperCard was to the Mac as Applesoft BASIC was to the Apple II. Since most stacks were interpreted, not compiled, you could just look at the source. HyperTalk is why I learned how to read code. I still remember when I finally realized what HyperCard meant when it said 'too much recursion'. It was like a flashbulb going off in my brain. The modern equivalent, in terms of 'wow, how do I do that?' is obviously Javascript, but HyperTalk was just easier to read and get started with. A minor happy note: iOS autocorrects the capitalization in HyperTalk and HyperCard. That just made me very happy.