> I wonder if its inherent in the nature of the simpler x86 DOS based systems of the time I also learned Turbo Pascal without any books (I had a Basic book, be

> I wonder if its inherent in the nature of the simpler x86 DOS based systems of the time I also learned Turbo Pascal without any books (I had a Basic book, because that came with the computer). But it was way easier. Drawing pixels was as easy as just selecting your (double buffered!) display mode and, well drawing pixels. Same with the reading of e.g. the joystick port or the mouse, you'd just read it.