A follow up to a previous post about GG’s Homebrew Z80 Computer. He’s implemented a BASIC interpreter using the AM9511 math processor. Oh, and did I mention the whole thing fits into 3Kb of ROM? He writes:
Hi, I finally wrote a Basic interpreter language for my Z80/AM95 8-bit NANO COMPUTER in order to easily program it.
I called it “8BASIC” because everything must clearly fit the 8 digit LED display.
The video shows all commands and statements, plus two famous benchmarks vs. contemporaneous 1970’s-80’s computers.
Due to the strong mathematical support of the AM9511 math processor, the BASIC interpreter runs reasonably fast for a 2.5 MHz machine, offering seven significant digits floating-point arithmetic.
Very impressive!
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.
Python for Microcontrollers — Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: Retrofitting old computers, Pinguin and much more! #CircuitPython @micropython @ThePSF @Raspberry_Pi
