>One simplistic answer to your question is BASIC Basic All purpose Symbolic Instruction Code is what BASIC means. VFP is far from All purpose as it is specifically designed for database management which is a small part of the programming field.

JimB,

Not to pick at nits or anything< s >, but I do believe that the "B" stands for "Beginners". At least it did when I started programming (1983). I know that it was the first language many people learned at the time.