DOS Roots Lab

BUGGY Lab, Rebuilt from 1995

A debugging-focused set of classroom Pascal exercises. Instead of one linear app, this remake lets you run challenge tracks and submit corrected outputs.

Run DOS Remake

Progressive debug tracks: warm-up math first, then deeper branch and indentation bugs.

Commands: 1-5 menu options, strict dataset formats, HELP for hints, 2 answer attempts, RESET to restart.

BUGGYLAB.EXE - Debug Challenge Tracks (1995)
 
B:\>

Original Program Intent

The BUGGY series (BUGGYAV1, BUGGYAV2, BUGGYMA, BUGGYMAX) was built to practice troubleshooting common logic mistakes.

These programs center on average calculations and maximum tracking, especially branch and loop behavior under real input.

Original Pascal Logic

From BUGGY source files (Turbo Pascal, 1995)

1) Average Track Pattern

while Count <= 5 do
begin
  write ('Please enter a score ');
  readln (Score);
  Sum := Sum + Score;
end;
writeln ('This average is ', (Sum / 5):5:2);

2) Variable-Count Average Pattern

writeln ('How many Scores are you going to enter? ');
readln (Count);
Num := Count;
...
writeln ('The average is ', (Sum / Num):5:2);

3) Max Branching Pattern

if (Sex = 'M') or (Sex = 'm') then
  if Score > MaleMax then
    MaleMax := Score
else if Score > FemMax then
  FemMax := Score;
View longer 1995 source excerpt
while Score >= 0 do
begin
  readln (Sex, Score);
  if Score >= 0 then
    if (Sex = 'M') or (Sex = 'm') then
      if Score > MaleMax then
         MaleMax := Score
      else if Score > FemMax then
         FemMax := Score;
end;

writeln ('The male maximum was  ', MaleMax);
writeln ('The female maximum ', FemMax);

Developer Notes

What Stayed True

  • Same debugging themes: averages, counters, branch placement, and max tracking.
  • Same typed-input mindset and prompt-response workflow.
  • Same educational spirit of testing logic against real datasets.

What Changed for Web

  • Multiple buggy exercises are unified into one terminal challenge menu.
  • Two-attempt grading and context-aware HELP prompts guide each track.
  • Each track returns to the menu for fast iterative practice.