[HN Gopher] Running CHIP-8 on an HP 48 calculator (2020)
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Running CHIP-8 on an HP 48 calculator (2020)
Author : hggh
Score : 47 points
Date : 2024-05-11 11:59 UTC (1 days ago)
(HTM) web link (tobiasvl.github.io)
(TXT) w3m dump (tobiasvl.github.io)
| floor_ wrote:
| CHIP-8 was what caused me to stop using github and host my
| projects privately. I had no license set and had everything
| marked as copyright and it still ended up on being ported to the
| Nintendo Switch without my permission. I deleted the repo
| thinking that would be the end of it but it gets worse. When I
| type my uniquely spelled name with co-pilot enabled it starts
| auto completing my full name and code. :(
| hombre_fatal wrote:
| Tbh All of that seems cool to me: my chip8 emulator, of all
| things, compelling people to port it to the Switch, and showing
| up in LLM.
|
| Different strokes.
| Bayaz wrote:
| The HP 48 was an absolute joy to use. It's a shame that TI
| dominated the educational market.
| eric__cartman wrote:
| I still use an HP 48GX for all my university courses that
| require a calculator (not many nowadays, the best math courses
| are the ones without numbers in them). I bought it used in 2020
| and it's been one of my favorite sub $25 purchases I've ever
| made!
| icedchai wrote:
| Yep! I had an HP 48 (48SX, I think) in high school. Everyone
| else had TIs.
| personalityson wrote:
| HP 48s were forbidden at my school because they could do some
| symbolic stuff, like derivation etc.
|
| I had one anyway
| asdefghyk wrote:
| Could also solve quadratic equations. Also could work with
| imaginary numbers ( j notation) used in electrical
| engineering problems
| jhbadger wrote:
| This is actually how I discovered CHIP-8. Yes, I know it dates
| back to the 1970s, but it was the version on the HP48 in the
| 1990s that introduced me to it.
| blagie wrote:
| I really, really miss the HP48 series.
|
| It's obsolete now, but it's the best calculator design in the
| history of calculator designs. I wish there was a modern version.
| The old ones are starting to break down, and many cost more today
| than they did new. Many common operations are very, very slow
| relative to modern models.
|
| The TI calculators are horrible in comparison, and the HP Prime
| is a blunt kludge.
|
| Key features I'd like:
|
| - High-quality keys
|
| - RPN
|
| - Being able to handle units. Can't tell you how many times
| that's saved me from metaphorically blowing up a space shuttle.
|
| - Very rapid use of variables. `<< 1/ SWAP 1/ + 1/ >> P A R STO`
| and 11 keystrokes later, I have a function defined for parallel
| resistors.
|
| - Comprehensive equation libraries
|
| - Ideally, some level of backwards-compatibility (even through an
| emulator kludge)
|
| Key modernizations:
|
| - A fast CPU
|
| - A high-resolution color touch screen, with nice rendering of
| symbolic equations
|
| - A more modern engine for symbolic manipulation
|
| - Python (integrated with RPL, for the numeric libraries)
|
| - Modern connectivity (802.11+USB-C+bluetooth, supporting data
| streaming, external keyboards / mice, acting as a keyboard /
| mouse, streaming to an external screen, etc)
|
| - Open-source, and software packages (apt-get style, ideally, and
| app store style, possibly)
|
| One thing I've considered doing -- if I ever had time -- was to
| make an HP48 keyboard for my desktop. I don't need the
| portability, and I wouldn't even mind if the software were
| running on my desktop.
| whartung wrote:
| The iHP48 app on iOS is very good.
|
| It's not the same as an original due to the lack of real keys,
| and, frankly, I don't think the phone holds as well as the
| original calculator. Phone also feels heavier.
|
| However, having the backlight is a vast improvement. I'd enjoy
| the original with a backlight. My modern eyes just can't read
| the original screen well any more.
|
| Mind the other benefit of the app is simple ubiquity being part
| of the phone. All reasonable trade offs.
|
| But I can't see using the phone for extended work compared to
| the original. The overall ergonomics just aren't there.
| blagie wrote:
| If I could use my Android screen with a dedicated keyboard,
| that might be a compromise. A keyboard is maybe a week's
| worth of work, all-in (PCB design, installing firmware, etc).
| I'm not sure how much software work it would be to make it
| happy with an emulator -- probably much more.
|
| I really wish the HP48 software were released as open-source.
| It'd be a huge good will gesture right now. Right now, this
| whole ecosystem is quasilegal. iHP48 is one DMCA takedown
| notice from ceasing to exist. With that uncertainty, it's not
| a place I want to devote my time.
|
| In 2024, I'd really like to have crisp fonts, more than 4
| items in my stack, and ideally, touch for the menus, and
| simple upgrades like that. I think that would, practically,
| require source code rather than just emulation.
| epcoa wrote:
| > A fast CPU
|
| The HP50g which I guess qualifies as part of the HP48 series
| did replace the Saturn with a Samsung ARM920T based SOC which
| was relatively screaming.
|
| I have both the 48GX and the 50g and did end up gravitating to
| the 50g even though it doesn't quite have the same level of
| build quality, it isn't a piece of shit either. I also smashed
| the LCD on it, again much harder to do with the 48 though the
| contrast in the latter was pretty bad.
| personalityson wrote:
| SwissMicros is making very HP-like RPN calculators
| https://www.swissmicros.com/products But nothing that could
| compare to the 48 series, yet
| bornfreddy wrote:
| I loved my HP48GX, no other calculator ever came close. It's
| been in the drawer for decades now, I guess I should sell it to
| someone who will use it... Need to look into that. I didn't
| think there is no replacement for it, still.
| banish-m4 wrote:
| Erable was a damn advanced and flexible CAS that chewed up most
| vector calculus and differential calculus problems.
| blagie wrote:
| Huh. That took me down a rabbit hole. I wasn't aware this was
| released as open-source. That solves a few unrelated problems
| for me.
|
| Expanding on the above post:
|
| Erable was replaced with Xcas / giac, which is the more
| advanced CAS used on the HP Prime. Almost all of this is
| open-source (with the exception of small bits of Erable
| developed by HP, not needed for Xcas /giac), under a mixture
| of LGPL and GPL3 licenses (mostly the latter).
|
| This gives a surprisingly advanced and complete symbolic
| algebra system for use in your own programs. Although
| developed in C/C++, it has interfaces to many languages,
| including oddly enough, JavaScript. In that case, the C/C++
| is compiled to WebAssembly with enscripten. But of course,
| more common ones like Python or LaTeX exist too.
|
| It is used in many systems, including Geogebra.
|
| It is developed in France, and feels, for a lack of a better
| word, French. I have the odd experience of having seen SWE
| culture in several countries, and this is firmly in the
| French camp. I suspect if it were more American, it would be
| better-known given the level of completeness and quality.
| chungy wrote:
| I still use my HP 48G+ near daily. My favorite calculator of all
| time, by far.
| banish-m4 wrote:
| Saturn RPN gang, represent! ;)
|
| Oh the memories of joys of turning on and off the physics lecture
| hall TVs from 20m/60' away.
|
| And the RAM upgrade hacks.
|
| Recently, I bought an interesting accessory, an LCD overhead
| projector for the HP 48.
| asdefghyk wrote:
| My 1st computer (45 years ago) was the "Dream 6800" and it had a
| CHIP-8 interpreter in a 2 KB EPROM. It was DIY construction
| published in Electronics Australia in 1979 Link has lots info
| about the computer , including from original designer
| https://www.google.com/search?q=Michael+Bauer+Dream+6800
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