[Coco] CoCoFEST - Dart Time Sharing System Contest
Arthur Flexser
flexser at fiu.edu
Sun Aug 24 17:30:08 EDT 2014
What is the TEST command supposed to do? My best guess is that Line 0
indicates a direct-mode error, and there is maybe supposed to be an
argument for the TEST command?
Art
On Sun, Aug 24, 2014 at 4:29 PM, Wayne Campbell <asa.rand at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Kip,
>
> I decided to try a simple test program first, and found that I got
> unexpected results. I would like to know if the following is normal with
> the DTSS system, or if I am misunderstanding something. What follows is my
> documentation of the session.
>
> Actually it was two sessions, because I did not type SYSTEM BASIC before I
> performed this first, so afterward, I quit the session, started over and
> typed SYSTEM BASIC before I began writing the code. I found that the system
> defaults to SYSTEM BASIC because I got the exact same results the second
> time.
>
> I started by typing NEW PGRM to begin a new program. Then I entered the
> code as you see it below. I saved the program by typing SAVE PGRM. The file
> named PGRM showed up in the folder. Loading it into TextPad (my editor of
> choice) showed it to be a normal text file, as were the other files. Then I
> quit the session and started fresh to be sure nothing was lingering from
> the editing session.
>
> If I type OLD PGRM*** I get an error that the program is not saved.
> If I type OLD PGRM it loads, and typing LIST produces the listing.
>
> 10 LET X = 1
> 20 LET Y = 10
> 30 FOR Z = X TO Y
> 40 PRINT Z, Z-X; Z-Y
> 50 PRINT Z, Z+X; Z+Y
> 60 NEXT Z
> 70 END
>
> If I type RUN I get the expected output.
>
> 1 0 -9
> 1 2 11
> 2 1 -8
> 2 3 12
> 3 2 -7
> 3 4 13
> 4 3 -6
> 4 5 14
> 5 4 -5
> 5 6 15
> 6 5 -4
> 6 7 16
> 7 6 -3
> 7 8 17
> 8 7 -2
> 8 9 18
> 9 8 -1
> 9 10 19
> 10 9 0
> 10 11 20
>
> If I type TEST, I get the following ten times.
>
> ILLEGAL NUMBER IN
> 0
>
> I do not know what to think. Why an error in a non-existent line? And, why
> ten times? Is it a run-time error, once for each iteration of the FOR/NEXT
> loop?
>
> Wayne
>
> On Sat, Aug 23, 2014 at 8:15 PM, Kip Koon <computerdoc at sc.rr.com> wrote:
>
> > Hi Wayne!
> > Yes, the BASIC program will need to run in the simulator. There is a
> save
> > command that stores your program with a six character filename on your
> > computer as well as a load command to retrieve it again so all the
> > development can be done in the DTSS simulator. This will give you a more
> > realistic feel for the programming environment of the actual DTSS. For
> > those that have not tried the DTSS simulator yet, the yellow teletype
> paper
> > is also simulated. I thought that was a nice touch also. Anyhow, I'll
> let
> > you read the manual for the DTSS and find out about everything else.
> Take
> > care my friend.
> >
> > Kip Koon
> > computerdoc at sc.rr.com
> > http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Kip_Koon
> > http://computerpcdoc.com/
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Coco [mailto:coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com] On Behalf Of Wayne
> > Campbell
> > Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2014 9:53 PM
> > To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
> > Subject: Re: [Coco] CoCoFEST - Dart Time Sharing System Contest
> >
> > Hi Kip,
> >
> > OK, I need to get this straight. The program is required to run in the
> > emulator? Or is it just a BASIC program using only the statements and
> > functions that the original included?
> >
> > I read about the INPUT statement being added later (v. 2 I suppose), and
> > the
> > emulator including it anyway. I would rather make use of the READ and
> DATA
> > statements anyway, as it would feel more like the first version, and
> would
> > be more reminiscent of those times when data had to be hard-coded, or
> input
> > in some other manner.
> >
> > I will see what I can do. To be honest, I do not expect to win any awards
> > for anything I produce, but I do think doing this would allow me to
> > experience the original BASIC in a way I never have before.
> >
> > Thanks again for this effort, Kip. It is worth doing just for the
> > experience.
> >
> > Wayne
> >
> >
> > On Sat, Aug 23, 2014 at 2:56 PM, Kip Koon <computerdoc at sc.rr.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Wayne!
> > > You are very welcome. I'm so happy that you have finally realized a
> > > dream you thought would never happen! I wonder how many other people
> > > out there in classic/retro computer land have similar aspirations.
> > > I guess I need to specify that you do NOT need to use ALL the
> > > statements or functions, just the ones you feel lead or desire to use.
> > > Any combination of statements and/or functions is just fine. Let your
> > > imagination be the limit! Join in if you like. It will be fun!
> > > As a side note, though this simulator does have the INPUT statement,
> > > the original/first version of the BASIC Compiler had no INPUT statement
> > at
> > all.
> > > Any data needed by the students' program had to be included in DATA
> > > statements and read into the program for processing with the READ
> > > statement much like Coco BASIC programs of today (and yesteryear for
> > > that matter) include machine language programs to be POKEd into ram
> > > and run during the execution of the BASIC program.
> > > Thanks for letting me know your situation so I had the opportunity to
> > > include ALL BASIC Programmers no matter what their level of expertise.
> > > One of the points of this contest is to have fun doing it in addition
> > > to see what all we can do with a maximum of 15 statements and 10
> > functions!
> > > Everyone is invited! Thanks again Wayne! Take care my friends.
> > >
> > > Kip Koon
> > > computerdoc at sc.rr.com
> > > http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Kip_Koon
> > > http://computerpcdoc.com/
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Coco [mailto:coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com] On Behalf Of Wayne
> > > Campbell
> > > Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2014 5:35 PM
> > > To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
> > > Subject: Re: [Coco] CoCoFEST - Dart Time Sharing System Contest
> > >
> > > This is the first time I've ever seen the original BASIC language. I
> > > had given up hope of ever getting to see it decades ago. I am looking
> > > at it now.
> > > As to whether or not I will try to place an entry depends. I have
> > > never taken trig and have never used the trig functions in any of the
> > > BASIC languages I have ever used. I know absolutely nothing about
> > > them. This would make any attempt I make a guessing game, and would
> > > probably result in ugly code. If the idea is to use all 15 statements
> > > and all 10 functions, then I think I should refrain from the attempt.
> > >
> > > That said, I do appreciate finally being able to see and study the
> > > original original BASIC as developed at Dartmouth. Thanks Kip! :)
> > >
> > > Wayne
> > >
> > > On Sat, Aug 23, 2014 at 2:18 AM, Kip Koon <computerdoc at sc.rr.com>
> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hi Basic Language Enthusiasts!
> > > >
> > > > During the August Meeting of the Glenside Color Computer Club, I
> > > > suggested that the club present/demo the Dartmouth Time Sharing
> > > > System Simulator during the CoCoFEST Back To Basics Conference in
> > > > 2015. As some of you probably know, two computer programmers who
> > > > held PHDs in Computer Science invented the Basic All-purpose Symbol
> > > > Instruction Code (BASIC) programming language at Dartmouth College
> > > > on a GE-235 Mini-frame computer system and was first brought online
> > > > one evening in May 1964. DTSS is a simulator written by one of
> > > > those creators of BASIC to simulate the actual environment the
> > > > students at Dartmouth College used to get their coursework
> > > > calculations done without having to study to become computer
> > > > programmers - hence the name of the language.
> > > >
> > > > I also suggested during the Glenside Color Computer Club meeting
> > > > that maybe we could hold a contest to see what kind of variety of
> > > > BASIC programs could be created using only the 15 statements and 10
> > > > functions provided by this very early version of BASIC which runs on
> > > > this DTSS Simulator. Everyone at that meeting were very interested
> > > > in this idea, so I'm putting out an Official ALL-CALL to EVERYONE in
> > > > the Color Computer Community World Wide to participate in this
> > > > contest even if you cannot attend. Maybe everyone's programs will
> > > > be able to be collected together in some form and shared at the
> > > > CoCoFEST and be
> > > available for download from someone's web site.
> > > >
> > > > The simulator and all available information, manuals, etc. is
> > > > available on the DTSS site at the link below. If you are interested
> > > > in participating in this contest or just want to see and experience
> > > > the environment the Creators of the Basic Language programmed on and
> > > > the students at Dartmouth College had to use, go download this
> > > > simulator from the following web page. Also at the bottom of the
> > > > page, some of the ACTUAL Assembly Language Source Code that ran on
> > > > the
> > > > GE-235 computer for the BASIC Compiler has been preserved!
> > > > Much of the mnemonics for the GE-235 computer look VERY SIMILAR to
> > > > 6809 Mnemonics! It was so cool to be able to see this source code
> > > > for what may very well be one of the most popular programming
> > > > languages ever
> > > created!
> > > >
> > > > Link to the DTSS Simulator Web Page.
> > > > http://dtss.dartmouth.edu/#download
> > > >
> > > > These are the links for the software itself. DTSS Simulator
> > > > software for [Windows] <http://dtss.dartmouth.edu/DTSS-Win.zip> and
> > > > [Macintosh] <http://dtss.dartmouth.edu/DTSS-Mac.sit> .
> > > >
> > > > It is my hope that everyone who enjoys our beloved Cocos will at
> > > > least consider this proposal and at some level participate in it.
> > > > This could turn out to be quite an interesting experience for us
> > > > all! Take care my friends.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Kip Koon
> > > >
> > > > <mailto:computerdoc at sc.rr.com> computerdoc at sc.rr.com
> > > >
> > > > <http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Kip_Koon>
> > > > http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Kip_Koon
> > > >
> > > > <http://computerpcdoc.com/> http://computerpcdoc.com/
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Coco mailing list
> > > > Coco at maltedmedia.com
> > > > http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Wayne
> > >
> > > The Structure of I-Code
> > > http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/The_Structure_of_I-Code
> > >
> > > decode
> > > http://cococoding.com/wayne/
> > >
> > > --
> > > Coco mailing list
> > > Coco at maltedmedia.com
> > > http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Coco mailing list
> > > Coco at maltedmedia.com
> > > http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Wayne
> >
> > The Structure of I-Code
> > http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/The_Structure_of_I-Code
> >
> > decode
> > http://cococoding.com/wayne/
> >
> > --
> > Coco mailing list
> > Coco at maltedmedia.com
> > http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
> >
> >
> > --
> > Coco mailing list
> > Coco at maltedmedia.com
> > http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Wayne
>
> The Structure of I-Code
> http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/The_Structure_of_I-Code
>
> decode
> http://cococoding.com/wayne/
>
> --
> Coco mailing list
> Coco at maltedmedia.com
> http://five.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>
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