[Coco] CoCoFEST - Dart Time Sharing System Contest
Louis Ciotti
lciotti1 at gmail.com
Sun Aug 24 20:53:59 EDT 2014
Sounds like the TEACH folder contains the instructor source code and the test program is maybe doing a compare. To verify the student typed the code correctly.
-----Original Message-----
From: "Wayne Campbell" <asa.rand at gmail.com>
Sent: 8/24/2014 7:22 PM
To: "CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts" <coco at maltedmedia.com>
Subject: Re: [Coco] CoCoFEST - Dart Time Sharing System Contest
I did some more digging. It appears that the only program files that the
triple-* suffix applies to are the ones in the LIB folder. The file LIBCAT
in that folder shows that all of the files contained in it have the
triple-* appended in the file. The files themselves do not have that.
I believe that this means all of the sample files in the main folder are
loadable by using the OLD <filename> command (without the triple-*.
I have also determined that the TEACH test files were prepared by the class
instructor as a means of allowing the student to test the code prior to
turning it in. I do not know that I would be able to produce such a file,
as I am not certain how to go about that. I am not a programming
instructor, nor am I familiar enough with the DTSS system to know how to
proceed.
My best guess (for this exercise) is to run your code over and over until
you iron out the bugs, then save the code to a file. I have also found that
the output window does not allow you to copy/paste anything in it. It
produces a run-time error that causes the emulator to quit. I had to type
the results and error message into TextPad to create the post I sent
previously. Also, I kept getting errors initially because I was entering
everything in with caps lock off. Apparently the emulator is case
sensitive, and does not recognize lowercase in the program code you write.
Hope this helps those participating in the contest.
Wayne
On Sun, Aug 24, 2014 at 3:56 PM, Wayne Campbell <asa.rand at gmail.com> wrote:
> I did more investigation. I believe I found the issue. If you compare the
> PIE test program in the TEACH folder to the PIE program in the LIB folder,
> you will see that the PIE test program is much different. I believe that
> this means that in order to use the TEST command, there must be a
> corresponding TEACH program to go with the student's actual code program.
> Since there is no TEACH program to go with my PGRM code, TEST is returning
> an error at line 0 because there is no line 1, because there is no PGRM
> teach program.
>
> At least, that is what makes sense to me. Now to determine what I need to
> do to create a TEACH program to test PGRM with.
>
> Thanks for the input guys. :)
>
> Wayne
>
>
> On Sun, Aug 24, 2014 at 2:30 PM, Arthur Flexser <flexser at fiu.edu> wrote:
>
>> 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
>> >
>>
>> --
>> Coco mailing list
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>>
>
>
>
> --
> Wayne
>
> The Structure of I-Code
> http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/The_Structure_of_I-Code
>
> decode
> http://cococoding.com/wayne/
>
--
Wayne
The Structure of I-Code
http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/The_Structure_of_I-Code
decode
http://cococoding.com/wayne/
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