TI calculator/Z80 Hobby
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I've taken up assembly programming as a hobby that I do at night time for the TI-83/84 calculators which has a Z80 processor. I did some assembly in college years back and have some interest in it again. However, this stuff just does not roll off the fingers like the high level languages I use at work. Does anyone here swim in assembly? Do you have any Jedi mind tricks in use while you code? I have all the needed resources/documentation, so I can figure out how to do anything I need. It is just the molasses between the keyboard and coder that is the problem.
Waaay back in the 80's when I programmed in Z80 Assembler for the TRS-80, I would print out everything so that I had something to refer to when stepping through the code. I also wrote clock counts beside each line and before each section of code so I would have an easier time optimizing everything. Cheers, Drew.
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Waaay back in the 80's when I programmed in Z80 Assembler for the TRS-80, I would print out everything so that I had something to refer to when stepping through the code. I also wrote clock counts beside each line and before each section of code so I would have an easier time optimizing everything. Cheers, Drew.
Thanks. I knew even at this hour I'd find an actual z80 coder on cp.
Drew Stainton wrote:
I would print out everything
I am basically doing this with a window, but printing would help.
Drew Stainton wrote:
I also wrote clock counts beside each line
Are you refering to labels in jump or call statements? In that case, I guess I'd have to really avoid adding code in the middle of the existing code, since those addresses will shift and the comment will be off.
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I've taken up assembly programming as a hobby that I do at night time for the TI-83/84 calculators which has a Z80 processor. I did some assembly in college years back and have some interest in it again. However, this stuff just does not roll off the fingers like the high level languages I use at work. Does anyone here swim in assembly? Do you have any Jedi mind tricks in use while you code? I have all the needed resources/documentation, so I can figure out how to do anything I need. It is just the molasses between the keyboard and coder that is the problem.
Think in a high level language prior to writing the assembly. You need to understand how to convert the basic high level constructs, if, for, while, switch and the like into the assembly language. It's then just a matter of playing the role of a human non-optimizing compiler by translating each high level atatement into the assembly code.
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Think in a high level language prior to writing the assembly. You need to understand how to convert the basic high level constructs, if, for, while, switch and the like into the assembly language. It's then just a matter of playing the role of a human non-optimizing compiler by translating each high level atatement into the assembly code.
yep, what you said.
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Think in a high level language prior to writing the assembly. You need to understand how to convert the basic high level constructs, if, for, while, switch and the like into the assembly language. It's then just a matter of playing the role of a human non-optimizing compiler by translating each high level atatement into the assembly code.
Thanks. There are actually some good resources for those translations online. The trouble I run into is when I attempt to wing it myself and then realize that the "ld" command does not work with every combination of registers that exists like the one I had happened to type. My real beef is with the ancient IDE I am using and weak debug tools.
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Thanks. There are actually some good resources for those translations online. The trouble I run into is when I attempt to wing it myself and then realize that the "ld" command does not work with every combination of registers that exists like the one I had happened to type. My real beef is with the ancient IDE I am using and weak debug tools.
IDE = 8 data switches, 8 IP switches and a load key. Debugger = a single blinking diode. Just keep doing it, You'll soon spot the patterns.
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I've taken up assembly programming as a hobby that I do at night time for the TI-83/84 calculators which has a Z80 processor. I did some assembly in college years back and have some interest in it again. However, this stuff just does not roll off the fingers like the high level languages I use at work. Does anyone here swim in assembly? Do you have any Jedi mind tricks in use while you code? I have all the needed resources/documentation, so I can figure out how to do anything I need. It is just the molasses between the keyboard and coder that is the problem.
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Pencil meet paper. With assembly (and I haven't done much) the trick I have found is to put it all on paper. You really need to know what you are writing before you code.
Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation." --Stephen Crane
Ennis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote:
the trick I have found is to put it all on paper
:thumbsup:
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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Think in a high level language prior to writing the assembly. You need to understand how to convert the basic high level constructs, if, for, while, switch and the like into the assembly language. It's then just a matter of playing the role of a human non-optimizing compiler by translating each high level atatement into the assembly code.
Wow, you would think they would invent something to deal with that, like a compiler ;P
xacc.ide
IronScheme - 1.0 RC 1 - out now!
((λ (x) `(,x ',x)) '(λ (x) `(,x ',x))) The Scheme Programming Language – Fourth Edition -
I've taken up assembly programming as a hobby that I do at night time for the TI-83/84 calculators which has a Z80 processor. I did some assembly in college years back and have some interest in it again. However, this stuff just does not roll off the fingers like the high level languages I use at work. Does anyone here swim in assembly? Do you have any Jedi mind tricks in use while you code? I have all the needed resources/documentation, so I can figure out how to do anything I need. It is just the molasses between the keyboard and coder that is the problem.
Put on your state machine hat and be prepared to use a lot of state transition diagrams. Pencil and paper are definitely required tools. I started by writing an assembler and O/S for the Intel 8080, and thought the Z-80 was God's gift to programmers. It was a generational advance over what I learned on. Draw a register map, and copy it many times. Ditto for a memory map. Do your initial designs in RTN (Register Transfer Notation) and make copious notes about each step on separate pages. Insert highlighted memory and register map pages as needed to see what you're doing to each. On each sheet, write notes to yourself about what you are trying to do, because you'll forget tomorrow. It's tedious, but far more rewarding intellectually than drawing cute pictures with the Windows APIs. Have fun! You're about to enjoy your profession far more than your peers will ever know... :-D
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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I've taken up assembly programming as a hobby that I do at night time for the TI-83/84 calculators which has a Z80 processor. I did some assembly in college years back and have some interest in it again. However, this stuff just does not roll off the fingers like the high level languages I use at work. Does anyone here swim in assembly? Do you have any Jedi mind tricks in use while you code? I have all the needed resources/documentation, so I can figure out how to do anything I need. It is just the molasses between the keyboard and coder that is the problem.
Wow,
Z80assembly is wonderful, IMHO far better than6502derivatives! Enjoy yourself programming it. :)If the Lord God Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the Creation, I would have recommended something simpler. -- Alfonso the Wise, 13th Century King of Castile.
This is going on my arrogant assumptions. You may have a superb reason why I'm completely wrong. -- Iain Clarke
[My articles] -
Thanks. There are actually some good resources for those translations online. The trouble I run into is when I attempt to wing it myself and then realize that the "ld" command does not work with every combination of registers that exists like the one I had happened to type. My real beef is with the ancient IDE I am using and weak debug tools.
Z80 assembly developers use no IDE, the debugger is their brain. ;)
If the Lord God Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the Creation, I would have recommended something simpler. -- Alfonso the Wise, 13th Century King of Castile.
This is going on my arrogant assumptions. You may have a superb reason why I'm completely wrong. -- Iain Clarke
[My articles] -
I've taken up assembly programming as a hobby that I do at night time for the TI-83/84 calculators which has a Z80 processor. I did some assembly in college years back and have some interest in it again. However, this stuff just does not roll off the fingers like the high level languages I use at work. Does anyone here swim in assembly? Do you have any Jedi mind tricks in use while you code? I have all the needed resources/documentation, so I can figure out how to do anything I need. It is just the molasses between the keyboard and coder that is the problem.
Start with a character output routine, that prints a character to a serial port, or to the display. Expand that to a string print, then add hex numbers. Now you can add debug statements, without having to single step anonymous code... It's the way I always started with new hardware!
You should never use standby on an elephant. It always crashes when you lift the ears. - Mark Wallace C/C++ (I dont see a huge difference between them, and the 'benefits' of C++ are questionable, who needs inheritance when you have copy and paste) - fat_boy
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puromtec1 wrote:
assembly programming as a hobby
Why don't you pick up a hobby which has something to do with the outdoors instead? Wait a minute, I spend most of my time on the internet.... :)
Abhinav S wrote:
puromtec1 wrote: assembly programming as a hobby Why don't you pick up a hobby which has something to do with the outdoors instead?
Extreme assembly half way up a mountain?
Help me! I'm turning into a grapefruit! Buzzwords!
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I've taken up assembly programming as a hobby that I do at night time for the TI-83/84 calculators which has a Z80 processor. I did some assembly in college years back and have some interest in it again. However, this stuff just does not roll off the fingers like the high level languages I use at work. Does anyone here swim in assembly? Do you have any Jedi mind tricks in use while you code? I have all the needed resources/documentation, so I can figure out how to do anything I need. It is just the molasses between the keyboard and coder that is the problem.
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I like the idea. The main issues revolve around the craptastic Zilog Developer Studio not letting my wheel scroll the page and also, when debugging in the TI-83 emulator, i really don't know where the !@#$ I am a lot of times while I step through the instructions, since my nice labels are removed at compilation time.
You use a mouse to program Z80? When I were lad we used switches and we were grateful...
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Wow,
Z80assembly is wonderful, IMHO far better than6502derivatives! Enjoy yourself programming it. :)If the Lord God Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the Creation, I would have recommended something simpler. -- Alfonso the Wise, 13th Century King of Castile.
This is going on my arrogant assumptions. You may have a superb reason why I'm completely wrong. -- Iain Clarke
[My articles]I hope you're not trying to spark a religious war! My BBC is most certainly better than your Spectrum :-P
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I hope you're not trying to spark a religious war! My BBC is most certainly better than your Spectrum :-P
Russell Jones wrote:
I hope you're not trying to spark a religious war!
We don't need. War is over. We've won it. ;P
Russell Jones wrote:
My BBC is most certainly better than your Spectrum :-P
Maybe. However the ZX made me a Klingon Developer. :-D
If the Lord God Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the Creation, I would have recommended something simpler. -- Alfonso the Wise, 13th Century King of Castile.
This is going on my arrogant assumptions. You may have a superb reason why I'm completely wrong. -- Iain Clarke
[My articles] -
Wow,
Z80assembly is wonderful, IMHO far better than6502derivatives! Enjoy yourself programming it. :)If the Lord God Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the Creation, I would have recommended something simpler. -- Alfonso the Wise, 13th Century King of Castile.
This is going on my arrogant assumptions. You may have a superb reason why I'm completely wrong. -- Iain Clarke
[My articles] -
I've taken up assembly programming as a hobby that I do at night time for the TI-83/84 calculators which has a Z80 processor. I did some assembly in college years back and have some interest in it again. However, this stuff just does not roll off the fingers like the high level languages I use at work. Does anyone here swim in assembly? Do you have any Jedi mind tricks in use while you code? I have all the needed resources/documentation, so I can figure out how to do anything I need. It is just the molasses between the keyboard and coder that is the problem.
After BASIC, I lived in 6502 and 8086 assembly language for years, in addition to a smattering of embedded system processors, one of which was a cool extension to the Z80 but I can't remember which one. Even in assembly language though, I never did anything with the Motorola CPU's, 6800, 68000, etc. Contrary to what Robert said, throw away everything you've learned about high level languages. Think in terms of 4 (or is it 2?) puny little variables, a pointer or two, and a whole lot of little cells to put stuff into and grab it out of. Forget structure, if-then-else, switches, loops, etc, and think in terms of signed compares, equality compares, and increments and decrements. Oh, and create a consistent "interface" for subroutines. What registers are the input registers, what registers are the output registers? Personally, I would love to toss out all this object oriented crap and, with enough little subroutines, I imagine I could code just as quickly in assembly. Marc
