WSFN (Which Stands for Nothing)#
WSFN (Which Stands for Nothing) is a small programming language originally created by Li-Chen Wang (author of Tiny BASIC) as a way to send commands to a small robot. It was originally published in Dr. Dobb's Journal in September 1977. When he lost access to the robot, it was replaced by a turtle graphics system instead.The language is similar to PILOT in general concept, using single-letter commands who's primary purpose is to cause the turtle to move and create drawings. In contrast, WSFN allows the construction of more complex macros using parenthesis, which can then be combined into larger programs. WSFN programs can quickly become unreadable in spite of their single-letters and relatively simple code.
Extended WSFN was an implementation created for the Atari 8-bit family of home computers by Harry B. Stewart and published by the Atari Program Exchange (APX) in 1981. The main differences were to add another set of commands to provide access to some of the Atari platform's capabilities, notably graphics, color, sound and joystick support. The language was otherwise similar to the original.
ROM Image#
- WSFN.rom
; Thank you so much Atari_Ace from AtariAge for creating the rom image! Once, there was one cartridge on planet earth, which vanished in a museum and therefore was thought to be lost. After 36 years(!) you brought it back to the light. Thank you so much, we owe you very much, indeed. By the way, Atari_Ace's website
is highly recommended by AtariWiki.org! The site is full of source codes. Give it a try! :-)))
CAR Image#
- WSFN.car ; Thank you so much Atari_Ace from AtariAge for creating the rom image! Once, there was one cartridge on planet earth, which vanished in a museum and therefore was thought to be lost. After 36 years(!) you brought it back to the light. Thank you so much, we owe you very much, indeed. By the way, Atari_Ace's website is highly recommended by AtariWiki.org! The site is full of source codes. Give it a try! :-)))
CAS Image#
... still missing ; original APX-10026 cassette ; if you own this cassette, please let us know. Thank you so much in advance. :-)ATR Image#
- APX_Extended_WSFN.atr ; original APX-20026 diskette of Extended WSFN ; Thank you so much Allan Bushman for preserving this very rare software. We really owe you very much! Please go ahead. :-)
Manual#
- APX_Extended_WSFN-Original.pdf ; size: 171.8 MB ; original manual scanned in super quality by Allan Bushman. Thank you so much Allan for all the work you have done for us. We are really deep in your debt. Please go ahaed. :-)))
- APX_Extended_WSFN-OCR-Print.pdf ; size: 76.2 MB ; OCR version of the above manual version
- APX_Extended_WSFN-OCR-Screen.pdf ; size: 5.3 MB ; OCR screen optimized version of the above manual
- Atari_WSFN-An_Introduction.pdf ; size: 2.3 MB ; WSFN introduction from Harry B. Stewart realeased in 2016. Thank you so much Harry, we really appreciate your help so much. :-)))
- Atari_WSFN-Manual_draft.pdf ; size: 2.5 MB ; WSFN manual draft from Harry B. Stewart realeased in 2016. Thank you so much Harry, we really appreciate your help so much. :-)))
Source Code#
- wsfn.txt ; original source code from Harry B. Stewart, typed in and digitized by Atari_Ace from AtariAge. We both thank you so much, can't tell you. :-))) By the way, Atari_Ace's website is highly recommended by AtariWiki.org! The site is full of source codes. Give it a try! :-)))
References#
- Wikipedia description of WSFN
- Atari WSFN Source Code from Harry B. Stewart on archive.org; Thank you so much Harry B. Stewart for giving this source code into PD, Atari_Ace from AtariAge for typing in the source code and checking it and Kevin Savetz for uploading to archive.org. :-)))
- Atari WSFN - An Introduction - draft from Harry B. Stewart on archive.org; Thank you so much Harry B. Stewart for giving this introduction into PD and Kevin Savetz for digitzing and uploading to archive.org. :-)))
- Atari WSFN Manual Draft from Harry B. Stewart on archive.org ; Thank you so much Harry B. Stewart for giving this draft into PD and Kevin Savetz for digitzing and uploading to archive.org. :-)))
- Atarimania entry of WSFN ; Thank you so much Allan Bushman for preserving this very rare software. We really owe you very much! Please go ahead. :-)))
- AtariAge site of WSFN
- Atari 8-bit forever entry of WSFN
- atariarchives.org entry of WSFN
- Canada's Videogame Museum's entry of WSFN
- Alchetron entry of WSFN
Pictures#
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