10K views · Jul 19, 2010 · 2:50 · 1 HN recommender · 3 mentions · discussed 2019–2023
A three-minute capture of SORTDEMO.BAS, the sorting visualization that shipped with QBasic. It animates insertion, bubble, heap, exchange, shell and quick sort with chiptune-like sound.
Why Hacker News points people here: HN fondly recalls it as the ideal visual demonstration of sorting algorithms and as the thing that got some people into programming.
“this is still my ideal for demonstrating different sorts visually”HN comment, 2022
“this is still my ideal for demonstrating different sorts visually”
Ideal visual demonstration of different sorts
Q(uick)Basic was my first programming language, and as others mentioned NIBBLES and GORILLAS.BAS were bundled with it. It also had the ability to compile down to an executable, which was fantastic. One bundled script I don't see mentioned yet was SORTDEMO.BAS - this is still my ideal for demonstrating different sorts visually: this video
“I discovered sorting algorithms (including bubblesort) from SORTDEMO.BAS”
Sorting demo bundled with QBasic
I discovered sorting algorithms (including bubblesort) from SORTDEMO.BAS -- this video -- which came with QBasic.
“Watching SORTDEMO.BAS at the formative age of ~11 baited me into programming.”
Sorting demo that inspired the commenter to program
Watching SORTDEMO.BAS at the formative age of ~11 baited me into programming. I recall messing around trying to make even faster versions. this video
