Aquarius performs well!

ZX #Forth has built-in printer support and allows user to provide their own printer driver. By setting this to `TX`, I can easily send data to PC. For those following along, you can get ROM from github.com/markgbeckett... and I will provide some instructions soon to get you started. #retrogaming

Now I can `store` and `load` screens, I can do some experimentation. I've started with @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk Software Serial Card and borrowed the send- and receive-character routines from @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk modifued ROM.

`store` and `load` implemented, using #JupiterAce code, as it is more robust than ZX-Forth original. This means you cannot load screens from #ZX81, though you could load screens into Ace Forth (if you can think of a use for that). With that done, I can now start coding! #minstrel4th #retrogaming

32,767, I think.

Good to read a contemporary review of what is nowadays often thought of as being a bit too cheap, compared to its rivals. I sometimes get frustrated with 4K BASIC compared to 8K version that followed, but I'm probably being unfair. #retrogaming

#Minstrel4th has a very nice built-in Ace Forth, so why bother? Well, Tree Forth supports sophisticated multitasking, which could lead to some interesting projects.

The other oddity is that ZX-Forth's `WHILE` loop is backwards. The loop continues so long as the test is false, which is non-standard (and confused me for a while).

This is my (currently hacked) port of ZX-Forth to #Minstrel4th / #JupiterAce. Not having to serve display means it is very fast. It can find primes in first 500 integers in less than a second! #retrogaming

White text on a black background is a big clue!

Very nice explanation of #Z80 multitasking. Tree Forth used a similar mechanism on #ZX81, with option to set custom schedules for tasks. www.timexsinclair.com/article/tree...

Have been re-reading this recently. I like the style and it has some thoughtful exercises.

blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2024/08/mins...

I think a lot of thought and effort went into this program. A shame it didn't get more exposure, though good it has been saved. #FastLife runs nicely on #Minstrel4D with #ZX81 ROM. I'm still to get a good, vibrant colony: maybe I should change the parameters?

Most importantly (!), it included brown in colour palette (using `BRIGHT 1` with colour `0`, if I remember rightly). Made some #zxspectrum games a bit odd-looking though.

ZX-Forth includes a preemptive multitasker, which allows you to schedule tasks at certain times, with certain regularities, or as soon as possible: and can handle around 10 concurrent tasks. A 32-bit timer means you can schedule up to three years into future! github.com/markgbeckett... #retrogaming