University of Nebraska -Lincol n IN'1'RRODUCTIO N Although the last ten years have seen a phenomenal decrease in the cost of machine cycle s and a corresponding increase in the number of novice and occasional programmers, mos t program editors still cater to the needs of frequent computer users for whom th e investment of time necessary to master a complex text editor is amply repaid in terms o f subsequent conveniences, flexibility, and economy . We believe that it is time to provid e a programming environment suitable for students in beginning courses and for intermitten t prograinsers Whose usage does not justify the effort necessary to master a complex tex t editing interface .Ti,is paper presents a description of such a programming environment . SIMPLE was develope d primarily for beginning programming classes at the University of Nebraska and is used b y several hundred FORTRAN, PASCAL, and CuilOL students each semester .It has also bee n successfully used at programming competitions by students from two dozen othe r institutions with less than an hour's prior training .