A85: "Assemble This!"


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A85: "Assemble This!"




Why not make "Assemble This!" open source software?  There's no way 
you're going to profit from it either way, and if you generate enough 
publicity on the list and on the web, the general public will know when 
someone pirates code.  In fact, the GNU copyleft might be a good 
starting point for releasing shells.

On a more technical note... any chance you'd make it EASY to switch 
shells?  I'm looking at something like:  AT! programs have one header, 
AT! shells have another.  When a shell is running, the kernel responds 
to a certain key combination, which loads a list of all shells on the 
calculator.  The user selects one, and the kernel sets that shell as the 
default.  Control is then dropped back to the (new) shell.  While a 
program with a non-shell header (or some other identifying 
characteristic) is running, the kernel is not hooking any keypresses.  
Except for perhaps an optional teacher-key.  But the teacher-key might 
be best left to the shell to support.

Idea for shell--this may not be feasible for most users, but some might 
appreciate it.  An assembly shell is written for the client calculator.  
A host calculator has a different shell on it--one which only responds 
to EXIT and the link port.  Basically it's a dumb variable server.  The 
client shell uses the host shell as a simulated hard disk for storing 
variables.  The host could display the name of a variable being sent for 
its output.  Or perhaps it could display realtime information about the 
shell/program being executed on the client calculator.  The 
possibilities are nearly infinite.  The protocol could be written in 
such a way that unless a variable is asked for, anything coming across 
the link port will be ignored.  So one host could server perhaps three 
or four (technically the only limit would be the power requirements for 
the link cable) clients, as long as the "network" didn't get too busy.  
This type of network would require zero coding, and provide very minimal 
services.

Just some stuff to chew on.  =)

--Matt Cooper

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