The latest prototype of my tiny BASIC interpreter can save programs in CCITT-2 encoding, so it can in theory write programs to 5-channel paper tape. I have a paper tape punch, but it has an RS530 interface, so I need a converter to RS232, which seems to be hard to come by these days. I bought a used one that is supposed to be in "good working condition", but comes without any documentation. Why am I even doing this? :)
#retrocomputing #papertape #baudot #BASIC
Marc
boosted
I finally received my PicoCalc yesterday. I’ve installed the included pico and tried out a simple basic program.
Now it’s time to start modifying it. I’m going to upgrade to a Pico 2W, and try out the python firmware.
After that I’m going to try compiling a Rust program for it.
Photo of the naked PCB of the PicoCalc with the Raspberry Pico mounted on top.
Photo of unboxing the PicoCalc. There is an instruction manual to the left and the top case with keyboard to right. Where the screen should be there are a Raspberry Pico and an SD card.
Photo of a gray box containing the PicoCalc.
Photo of the Clockwork PicoCalc. It kind of looks like a graph calculator, but with a qwerty keyboard.
I finally received my PicoCalc yesterday. I’ve installed the included pico and tried out a simple basic program.
Now it’s time to start modifying it. I’m going to upgrade to a Pico 2W, and try out the python firmware.
After that I’m going to try compiling a Rust program for it.
Photo of the naked PCB of the PicoCalc with the Raspberry Pico mounted on top.
Photo of unboxing the PicoCalc. There is an instruction manual to the left and the top case with keyboard to right. Where the screen should be there are a Raspberry Pico and an SD card.
Photo of a gray box containing the PicoCalc.
Photo of the Clockwork PicoCalc. It kind of looks like a graph calculator, but with a qwerty keyboard.
fedicat
and 1 other
boosted
@screwlisp you'll have seen @bbcmicrobot
«
👾 Runs your toots on an #8bit computer emulator. Amazing what people create in 512 bytes of code!
🟢 Post with #bbcmicrobot to get a reply. Please include a title in the CW
🖼 See gallery at https://www.bbcmicrobot.com
Also building a #WebXR beeb at https://virtual.bbcmic.ro
This account is all about #bbcmicro #basic #1980s #creativeCoding #retrocomputing #arm
Created by @DominicPajak
»
@screwlisp you'll have seen @bbcmicrobot
«
👾 Runs your toots on an #8bit computer emulator. Amazing what people create in 512 bytes of code!
🟢 Post with #bbcmicrobot to get a reply. Please include a title in the CW
🖼 See gallery at https://www.bbcmicrobot.com
Also building a #WebXR beeb at https://virtual.bbcmic.ro
This account is all about #bbcmicro #basic #1980s #creativeCoding #retrocomputing #arm
Created by @DominicPajak
»
Alex Akselrod
and 1 other
boosted
BASIC Code is a new retrocomputing blog that posts refactored and adapted "40-year-old type-in listings from 80s books and microcomputing magazines".
This past weekend, I had a cold, so I setup my Intellivision and the ECS, along my all-new BASIC interpreter, and I coded 9 games. #retro #retrogaming #intellivision #basic https://forums.atariage.com/topic/385238-i-set-up-a-game-factory-with-my-ecs/
BASIC Code is a new retrocomputing blog that posts refactored and adapted "40-year-old type-in listings from 80s books and microcomputing magazines".
'(vidak) _(:3」∠)_
boosted
the people's permacomputer project is crowdfunding AUD$500 for some prototypes, which backers will receive.
https://igg.me/at/HTkxQoJqy6U/x/35340446#/
please boost and share around.
#crowdfunding #mutualaid #permacomputing #retrocomputing #retro #esp32 #tinybasic #basic
Sorry, no caption provided by author
![the text editors written in BASIC we found in old 70s and 80s magazines.
yes they are type-ins.
yes some are over 350 lines long.
[sweating emoji]](https://retro.social/system/media_attachments/files/115/294/475/374/446/941/original/2d06c7e13f32739b.png)
the text editors written in BASIC we found in old 70s and 80s magazines.
yes they are type-ins.
yes some are over 350 lines long.
[sweating emoji]
the people's permacomputer project is crowdfunding AUD$500 for some prototypes, which backers will receive.
https://igg.me/at/HTkxQoJqy6U/x/35340446#/
please boost and share around.
#crowdfunding #mutualaid #permacomputing #retrocomputing #retro #esp32 #tinybasic #basic
Sorry, no caption provided by author
the text editors written in BASIC we found in old 70s and 80s magazines.
yes they are type-ins.
yes some are over 350 lines long.
[sweating emoji]
halcy :icosahedron:
and 1 other
boosted
It is nice when a program's author leaves a source comment with well-wishes for future readers, and they are received almost 50 years later.
https://archive.org/details/dr_dobbs_journal_vol_01/page/n143/mode/1up
Forgot to thread this: https://oldbytes.space/@psf/115285802359299755
#MailStation #TinyBasic program of the day: Hangman!
I wanted something that would exercise my hacked-in "strings" support. Seems to work well enough for a word game!
Source listing (21 lines): https://gitlab.cs.washington.edu/fidelp/mailstation_apps/-/blob/master/basic/hangman.bas
Looking at Line 5-10 of this #Basic Star Trek listing confused the heck out of me. This listing was written by Li-Chen Wang for use in his own #TinyBasic.
https://archive.org/details/1976-07-peoples-computer-company/page/22/mode/2up?view=theater
Here is the confusing part, expanded out to multiple lines and modern syntax for the benefit of today's readers.
Y=2999
INPUT "DO YOU WANT A DIFFICULT GAME? (Y OR N)",A
IF A=Y THEN Y=999
Without support for string input, how the heck can the program accept "Y or N" from the user?
Answer: In this dialect, INPUT accepts not just numbers, but expressions. Single characters (A-Z) are valid expressions and evaluate to the value in that variable. So in this program, typing "Y" sets A=2999 and typing "N" sets A=N (some uninitialized value). Then the next line checks A=Y (true if user entered "Y") and, if so, sets Y to 999 ("difficult game" value). Else, Y is left at 2999 ("easy game" value).
Li-Chen is absolutely some kind of genius.
The funniest part here is that the magazine editors also got confused by this in 1976. "Hey, for this program to work, this #BASIC must have a 1-character mini string type!" No, no strings, the author just knows his language and is squeezing every ounce of expressiveness out of it.
It is nice when a program's author leaves a source comment with well-wishes for future readers, and they are received almost 50 years later.
https://archive.org/details/dr_dobbs_journal_vol_01/page/n143/mode/1up
Looking at Line 5-10 of this #Basic Star Trek listing confused the heck out of me. This listing was written by Li-Chen Wang for use in his own #TinyBasic.
https://archive.org/details/1976-07-peoples-computer-company/page/22/mode/2up?view=theater
Here is the confusing part, expanded out to multiple lines and modern syntax for the benefit of today's readers.
Y=2999
INPUT "DO YOU WANT A DIFFICULT GAME? (Y OR N)",A
IF A=Y THEN Y=999
Without support for string input, how the heck can the program accept "Y or N" from the user?
Answer: In this dialect, INPUT accepts not just numbers, but expressions. Single characters (A-Z) are valid expressions and evaluate to the value in that variable. So in this program, typing "Y" sets A=2999 and typing "N" sets A=N (some uninitialized value). Then the next line checks A=Y (true if user entered "Y") and, if so, sets Y to 999 ("difficult game" value). Else, Y is left at 2999 ("easy game" value).
Li-Chen is absolutely some kind of genius.
It is nice when a program's author leaves a source comment with well-wishes for future readers, and they are received almost 50 years later.
https://archive.org/details/dr_dobbs_journal_vol_01/page/n143/mode/1up
Okay, now I have EMIT(n) to turn an ascii code back to a printed character. #MailStation #basic
Hacked barebones string support into Palo Alto TinyBasic.
It is now possible to input a string with IN$, then access its characters as $(0), $(1), ...
As in the original language, there is no way to convert a numeric character code back to a character and display it on the screen. (Yet!)
