[khazhou]

Because with this javascript library, you can run BASIC programs on the web.

BASIC was for many people their introduction to programming, and it has a simplicity which is nearly unmatched today.

By providing a way to run the language inside the ubiquitous web browse, one may hope to spread the usage of BASIC as a learning tool, especially for youngsters.

[andreygrehov]

Why would Google want to spread the usage of BASIC? From an engineering perspective, this is an interesting project to work on, but I can't find a reason for Google to publish it. I also don't think that BASIC is a good learning tool nowadays. I'm not the only one who thinks so. A quote by Edsger W. Dijkstra:

> It is practically impossible to teach good programming to students that have had a prior exposure to BASIC: as potential programmers they are mentally mutilated beyond hope of regeneration.