It leaves out one important point --- Microsoft killed off a similar development on a competing platform: https://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?story=MacBasic.

It leaves out one important point --- Microsoft killed off a similar development on a competing platform: https://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?story=MacBasic.txt&characters=Randy%20Wigginton https://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?story=MacBasic.txt&cha... TLDR: Bill Gates got the source code for "MacBasic" from Apple for $1 in exchange for continuing the license for Microsoft BASIC on the Apple ][.