George Beckett
@markgbeckett.bsky.social
I am an academic, computational scientist, and research-programme manager, working in high-performance computing, though often found tinkering with 1980s 8-bit micros.
You could use the extra words to create a simple 'screen' list routine. N.B. This is a photo of a picture-in-picture display with Minstrel 4th screen on right and PC terminal on left. Base is set to `HEX` on Minstrel 4th.
November 30, 2025 at 1:43 PM
You could use the extra words to create a simple 'screen' list routine. N.B. This is a photo of a picture-in-picture display with Minstrel 4th screen on right and PC terminal on left. Base is set to `HEX` on Minstrel 4th.
For anyone following along with my attempt to port Tree Forth to the Minstrel 4th, latest ROM includes basic support for the new serial card -- `TX ( N -- FLAG )` and `RX ( -- N )`. github.com/markgbeckett...
November 30, 2025 at 1:37 PM
For anyone following along with my attempt to port Tree Forth to the Minstrel 4th, latest ROM includes basic support for the new serial card -- `TX ( N -- FLAG )` and `RX ( -- N )`. github.com/markgbeckett...
About 4Kb of ROM?
November 26, 2025 at 7:35 AM
About 4Kb of ROM?
Aquarius performs well!
November 13, 2025 at 9:48 PM
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
November 11, 2025 at 8:49 PM
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.
November 11, 2025 at 8:43 PM
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
November 10, 2025 at 7:40 PM
`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.
November 6, 2025 at 10:18 PM
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
November 6, 2025 at 7:28 PM
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.
November 2, 2025 at 8:21 PM
#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).
November 1, 2025 at 10:12 PM
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
November 1, 2025 at 9:59 PM
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!
November 1, 2025 at 8:43 PM
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...
TreeForth – Timex/Sinclair Computers
www.timexsinclair.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:41 PM
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...