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- From: stevev@miser.uoregon.edu (Steve VanDevender)
- Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48
- Subject: Re: Newbie Programming Question: Help!
- Message-ID: <STEVEV.93Jan10182435@miser.uoregon.edu>
- Date: 11 Jan 93 02:24:35 GMT
- Article-I.D.: miser.STEVEV.93Jan10182435
- References: <10JAN199316445615@scsuc.ctstateu.edu>
- Organization: University of Oregon Chemistry Stores
- Lines: 52
- NNTP-Posting-Host: miser.uoregon.edu
- In-reply-to: makovsky@scsuc.ctstateu.edu's message of 10 Jan 93 21:44:00 GMT
-
- In article <10JAN199316445615@scsuc.ctstateu.edu>
- makovsky@scsuc.ctstateu.edu (MAKOFSKY,STEVEN) writes:
-
- Hello All.... Just picked up my HP48sx 2 days ago, and, wow,
- what a machine. Anyways, I was wondering, what do I need to
- start programming for it. Ive seen several compilers.. So,
- what do I need to get me off and running? Thanks!
-
- You have all you need to start programming it right now. The HP
- 48 includes a powerful, useful programming language called RPL.
- Your manuals should cover it in enough detail to get you started.
-
- Once you have mastered RPL (often also called "user RPL") then
- you may want to learn the more advanced discipline of system RPL.
- User RPL is designed to be very robust so that programming
- mistakes are not likely to result in data loss. System RPL is
- the language that most user RPL words have been written in.
- System RPL is much faster but also much less forgiving; system
- RPL words generally assume that you are giving them the right
- arguments and not satisfying those requirements may result in
- severe crashes. However, many programmers find system RPL to be
- excellent for developing more sophisticated applications where
- speed and precise control of the HP 48 are important.
-
- Finally, there is Saturn machine language. The Saturn is a
- unique processor with some very nice features and some
- interesting quirks.
-
- As I said before, you can program the HP 48 in user RPL right out
- of the box; all the necessary software is built-in (a simple
- program editor and a debugger).
-
- There are two main options for programming in system RPL -- the
- HP Tools kit, which runs on MS-DOS machines and includes a system
- RPL compiler and Saturn assembler; or Detlef Mueller's <-RPL->
- library, which runs on the HP 48 itself. <-RPL-> is my favorite,
- although you will need a memory expansion card to use it since
- the table of system RPL words requires about 22K. The HP Tools
- RPLCOMP is apparently similar to the development system used to
- write the HP 48 system software, and may be a better choice for
- very large applications.
-
- The two most popular Saturn assemblers are the SASM assembler in
- the HP 48 Tools kit and Jan Brittenson's STAR assembler. My
- personal preference is STAR since it uses an alternative Saturn
- mnemonic set that is much more similar to standard assembly
- languages; SASM has many devotees as well.
- --
- Steve VanDevender stevev@greylady.uoregon.edu
- "Bipedalism--an unrecognized disease affecting over 99% of the population.
- Symptoms include lack of traffic sense, slow rate of travel, and the
- classic, easily recognized behavior known as walking."
-