Re: A92: C Compiler on the TI

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Re: A92: C Compiler on the TI


Impossible?!!  Any compiler impossible?!!  there are already 3 ASM on-calc compilers out there!!

Noah Medling
http://xp.calc.org/


---- "Aaron Hill" <serac@lightmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > > There already is a C compiler for the TI89 and 92+.  It's called TIGCC
> > 
> > I guess he was talking about an on-calc compiler which I find completely 
> > useless.
> 
> I wouldn't find an on-calc C compiler useless but impossible.  None of the
> TI platforms have the resources for a decent, on-calc C compiler.  So then
> any possible compiler would be useless.
> 
> It seems that there has been of late much discussion about writing on-calc
> assemblers, compilers, and other programming languages.  Probably the main
> reason being is that we do not always have a computer available to program
> our calculators.  Sure I can remember many times in math class, I'd wished
> I could program my 92 (excluding TI-BASIC).  I usually just wrote out some
> instructions on paper with the intent to try them when I got home.  What I
> wonder now is how good an on-calc assembler would have been?  I don't know
> about you, but I've crashed my calculator more times then I have crashed a
> computer in my life.  The on-calc assembler probably would be the one that
> crashed, because I had a bad source file.
> 
> What I'm trying to get to is that our wonderful TI calculators, that we so
> fondly call computers, are nothing more than an embedded-system.  They are
> no better than your thermostat, microwave, washing machine, etc. . . .
> 
> Okay, that was a little much, but not wrong.  This way of thinking affects
> our programming too.  Why would anyone want to write an on-microwave C/C++
> compiler?  (Actually all of programmers that pop popcorn or wave something
> for a midnight, programming snack would.)  I think it's about time we stop
> over-glorifying this piece of plastic and silicon.  No, I am not saying we
> stop programming for it.  No, I am not saying we must only do "calculator-
> type" things with it.  No, I am not saying that all programmers eat snacks
> at midnight while programming.  (Hmm...)  I'm saying that we need to focus
> on the platform when we consider what and how to program.
> 
> Now all of you probably have a new e-mail opened ready to flame me.  I can
> understand so if you do, please send them to me ONLY (serac@lightmail.com)
> and not to the list.  (Trying to keep the list free from useless junk.)
> 
> Creativity and innovation are great, but I think most of us can tell which
> ideas are just plain silly and a waste of time.
> 
> 
> ====
> Aaron Hill (Redmond, Wash.)
> Electronic Mail: serac@lightmail.com
> IRC Nickname: serac (on EF-Net)
> ActiveWorlds Citizenship: serac
> 
> 
> 

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