COMPUTE!

COMPUTE! was an American computing magazine that ran from 1979 to 1994, covering multiple platforms including Commodore, Apple, Atari, and IBM-compatible computers. Famous for its type-in programs with sophisticated checksum verification, COMPUTE! served both beginners and advanced programmers.

The magazine’s commitment to cross-platform coverage and quality programming content made it essential reading for serious hobbyists.

Fast facts

Founded: 1979 (Greensboro, NC)
Publisher: Small System Services, later COMPUTE! Publications, Inc. — itself part of ABC Consumer Magazines
Final issue: 1994
Spinoffs: COMPUTE!’s Gazette (C64), COMPUTE!’s Apple Applications
Circulation: ~350,000 at peak

Content

COMPUTE! featured:

Type-in programs - Multiple platforms each issue
MLX - Machine language entry system with checksums
Reviews - Hardware and software
Tutorials - BASIC and assembly
Industry coverage - News and analysis
Technical articles - Deep dives

MLX System

COMPUTE! developed sophisticated program entry:

Checksums - Verify each line typed correctly
MLX loader - Enter machine language safely
SpeedScript - Popular word processor type-in
Error detection - Before running crashed machines

This made complex programs practical to publish.

COMPUTE!’s Gazette

The Commodore-specific spinoff (1983-1995):

Focused entirely on C64/128
Deeper Commodore coverage
More type-in programs
Technical tutorials
Community favourite

Notable Type-ins

The magazine published memorable programs:

SpeedScript - Full word processor
Games - Many complete, playable games
Utilities - Disk tools, monitors, utilities
Educational - Learning programs

Legacy

COMPUTE! demonstrated:

Multi-platform coverage was viable
Quality control (checksums) enabled complex programs
Technical depth attracted serious users
Community building through reader interaction

The multi-platform standard