Category: Programming
David Schmenk has announced the release of the latest version of the PLASMA programming environment for the Apple II series computers. PLASMA 2.0 Alpha 1 includes the following improvements: Improved entry/exit for 128K Apple IIe //c Improved entry for Apple /// Improved entry and function calls for 16 bit VM Apple3 ReadyToRun compatible images You can download the latest version of the PLASMA programming environment from the PLASMA GitHub page at:https://github.com/dschmenk/PLASMA
Microsoft released the source code to GW-BASIC this past week and then promptly made it un-modifiable announcing that the source code was for historical purposes only. No build scripts were included with the release and thus there is no way to create any binaries without a great heap of work. If you are still interested in seeing the source, you can check it out at:https://github.com/microsoft/GW-BASIC
A.P.P.L.E. member Dr. Marc A. Golombeck has developed a Double Low Resolution graphics amper-library for the Apple IIe Enhanced, IIc, and the IIgs. This library allows users to perform many advanced graphics functions in Double Lo-Res mode (80 x 48 pixels in 16 color mode) with simple to use amper routines all based in Applesoft BASIC. The Double Low-Resolution Amper Library includes a host of routines including: &GR: switches to double LORES mode and clears the screen &TEXT: returns to…
We’re rapidly approaching the midway point for the first two-liners programming exhibition of 2020! We currently have 9 shining, stellar examples of the “80’s Arcade” theme and have enjoyed playing them all over the past several weeks! If you’re still interested in participating, there’s plenty of time left! Write and submit your most impressive and inspired code that showcases the Apple II and your abilities as it relates to the theme above (and your own personal interpretation of course) and…
The 2020 rendition of the BASIC 10-Liner programming contest has begun. An announcement from the contest organizers on twitter read as follows:
David Schmenk has released another update to the PLASMA 2.0 Development Platform for the Apple II. PLASMA Version 2.0 Developer Release 4 includes several fixes and changes including: Improved editor auto-indenting Compiler fix for terneray operator precedence Machine check for HGR library About PLASMAPLASMA is a medium level programming language targeting the 8-bit 6502 processor. Historically, there were simple languages developed in the early years of computers that improved on the tedium of assembly language programming while still being low…
David Schmenk, creator of the PLASMA development system for the Apple II and III series computers, has released the latest version of the PLASMA Environment. PLASMA 2.0 Developer Preview 3 is the latest pre-release version of the environment and includes the following changes: File manipulation utilities fixed for Apple /// SOS vs ProDOS differences More optimizations for HiRes graphics libraries Spiders From Mars hires demo game You can download this and other versions of the PLASMA system from the PLASMA…
Happy 2020! It’s time for another friendly two-liners progamming exhibition and this time we’re going to try out a theme: “80’s Arcade”! Write and submit your most impressive and inspired code that showcases the Apple II and your abilites as it relates to the theme above (and your own personal interpretation of course) and submit it by March 31st, 2020. The winner selected will receive a $100 USD gift card and all the bragging rights that can fit into the…
Hugh Hood, Longtime Apple II fan and programmer has announced a new TimeOut series product, TimeOut Edit BASIC 5.4 for Appleworks 5.1 Users TimeOut series products have long been the defacto go-to products for users of Appleworks with its series of timely and useful plugin utilities, designed to make the Appleworks a more complete package. While most users have long given up Appleworks as their production package, the programming arena is one area of usage not really foreseen as one…
Homeputerium, sponsors of the 10 liner contest, have announced the 2019 rendition of the contest. The 10 Liner Contest is for 8 bit systems and is focused on 8-Bit systems. The object of the contest is for programmers to develop a complete playable arcade game within 10 lines. Three categories exist in the contest with the 80 character per line 10-liner, the 120 character per line 10 liner and the Extreme category or up to 256 character per line 10…
Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange (A.P.P.L.E.) released a new, expanded paperback manual for the popular Apple II machine language programming tool Big Mac: Macro Assembler. Originally published in 1981 by A.P.P.L.E. from author Glen E. Bredon, the new 128 page manual combines for the first time Big Mac, along with Big Mac.LC, Symbol Cross-Reference, and Symbol Symon that expand its capabilities. Availability Big Mac: Macro Assembler is available through the A.P.P.L.E. bookstore with production and fulfillment by Lulu.com. The programs…
David Schmenk has released a new Trival File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) server for the Apple II. The release is part of his PLASMA Programming Language for the Apple II release. To use the TFTP Server, boot the PLASMA System Floppy which you can download from the PLASMA Archive. Simply boot the floppy in your Apple II with Uthernet I or Uthernet II card installed. Once booted, you should see the PLASMA startup message. To run the TFTP server, type: +tftpd…
David Schmenck has released version 1.1 of PLASMA. The programming environment which allows users to use a modern programming language on all of the vintage Apple computers, is the first new programming language for the Apple II in more than 30 years. According to the release notes for PLASMA 1.1, changes in this version include: All known bugs are fixed PLASM compiler received a little performance boost with an assembly language helper for ID/keyword lexical scanner You can download the…
Joshua Bell, creator of the online version of the Applesoft and Logo interpreters and curator of Calormen.com, has a new project. The project, with full sources on GitHub, is a complete disassembly of the program known as Apple II Desktop or MouseDesk by Version Soft. According to the Apple II Desktop repository readme, The goal of this project is to disassemble/reverse-engineer the suite with an eye towards understanding how it functions, and eventually fixing bugs and adding functionality. While, Joshua…
David Schmenk has updated the PLASMA disk images. For those of you who have been running on the original version 1.0 floppy disk images, you will want to download the new disks. Included in this update are a number of Keyboard related updates for both the Apple II and the Apple III version of the programming environment. To download PLASMA, Check out the GitHub page at: https://github.com/dschmenk/PLASMA
PLASMA, the modern programming language for the Apple 1, II, and III series computers has been officially released. Version 1.0 was announced today by the developer, David Schmenk. The new version includes disks which will run on a variety of Apple platforms including the entire Apple II series as well as the Apple III. While the program does not run on the Apple-1, it does provide the means by which to develop programs for it as well. According to the…
The annual BASIC 10 liner programming contest is now under way. This contest allows users to write 10 line BASIC programs on any platform that they choose. The lines must conform with one of the contests three categories: 80 character, 120 character, or 256 character (extreme) programs. The contest runs from now until 24 March with the judging to occur there after and prizes given on the 7th of April. The rules according to the contest website: 1. Loading of…
David Schmenk has released the latest developers preview of his PLASMA programming environment. The third version of the 1.0 developers preview includes a few changes and fixes. PLASMA is a modern high level programming language for the Apple II, which has been in development for the past 12 years. Along with David Schmenk, a host of other participants over the years have had a hand in making PLASMA what it is including the following: Martin Haye: PLASMA programmer extraordinaire. Mr….
David Schmenk has released a second developer preview of PLASMA 1.0. This release includes a number of minor fixes and optimizations including a bevy of them from Peter Ferrie and John Brooks. The PLASMA Preview #2 1.0 System disk has been updated and is available for download from the PLASMA website. This release, while not initially intended for release, has its performance increased by 11.2 percent. It also adds a number of fixes to its clock support. For more information,…
David Schmenk has released his long awaited PLASMA programming language for the Apple II series computers. Under development since 2006, version 1.0 of PLASMA can be run both from floppy as well as from hard disk. It includes a bevy of improvements and enhancements with a number of people from the Apple II community taking part in improving this release. According to David’s website, PLASMA officially can support the 65802 as well as the 65816 16 bit features and can…
