Steve Vickers

Steve Vickers is a British computer scientist and programmer whose firmware and manuals helped define the Sinclair ZX81 and ZX Spectrum. After studying mathematics at the University of Cambridge, he joined Nine Tiles, the software company contracted to develop Sinclair's BASIC and system software.

Vickers' first major assignment was to adapt the ZX80 firmware for the ZX81. He added floating-point arithmetic and other features while working within the severe memory limits of an 8 KB ROM. He also wrote the ZX81 manual, combining technical reference material with a practical introduction to programming.

For the ZX Spectrum, Vickers developed much of the ROM firmware and wrote the manual. The Spectrum built on the earlier Sinclair software while adding colour, sound and a larger memory. Its keyword-based BASIC and detailed manual allowed many owners to learn programming without previous computer experience.

After leaving the Sinclair work, Vickers formed Jupiter Cantab with hardware engineer Richard Altwasser. Their Jupiter Ace home computer used the Forth language instead of BASIC. Although it was not a commercial success, it remains a distinctive experiment from the early British microcomputer industry.