==The Firm==
Firmware means hard software, I suppose. In the CPC's case, it's the software that's embedded permanently into the computer, as opposed to the software you load from tape or disc. That's the operating system, plus BASIC, plus (on disc-based machines) [[AMSDOS]]. All three were written by a Dorking-based software house called [[LocomotiveSoftware]].
We've already covered BASIC. Quite rightly, [[Locomotive BASIC]] is recognised as a model of its type, a remarkably flexible language with fewer obscure nooks and crannies to confuse the beginner than (say) the revered BBC BASIC.