Date: Wed, 20 Feb 1991 00:16 CST
Subject: Re: 48sx machine language programming
Organization: Imperial College Computer Centre
Keywords: HP48SX, machine code, Saturn, HP28
Summary: Various sources exist, including some books
Lines: 37


Several people have asked recently about sources of info on HP48SX
machine language programming. Folks who have been reading
comp.sys.handhelds (csh) for some time will know about Alonzo Gariepy's
processor notes, available from some ftp sites. Alonzo in turn refers to
the HP-71B IDS documents which describe the original Saturn processor
(level 1, I believe HP call it), and to my book "Customize Your HP-28",
which provides a description of the extra instructions in the level 2
Saturn in the HP-28S as well as covering simple methods of machine code
programming and other stuff, including the instruction set. Naturally, I
refer to the IDS too. There is also a French book but I do not have it
here, and it is likely to be of interest only to folks who read French.
Pierre David - if you are reading this - please provide more detail -
Pierre is one of the authors and has sent me a copy. There is, as yet,
NO book specifically about machine code programming on the HP48SX,
though the above-mentioned items will get you started. There are also
some programs to assemble Saturn machine code, available on ftp sites.
The German machine code plug-in card has been delayed - they now promise
to send me a copy on Monday (Feb 18th). As for a book, that would need
to cover machine code (done already, see above), entry points (Jake
Schwartz has just posted the most comprehensive list available outside
HP and HP IDS sites), and information on how to use the above
information to create HP48SX programs (try reading some csh articles). I
would certainly be interested in doing such a book to follow Customize
Your HP-28 but things are changing so fast that anything published in
the near future would be way out of date by the time it was printed and
on sale. Besides, the machine code instructions are already available,
HP might release a list of entry points themselves, and the German ROM
card will help with program entry. So, I am waiting before I start on
such a project. Maybe someone else is already working on it (Joseph?).
Would those people who have posted stuff on csh be willing to have it
incorporated in a book? I know Alonzo has aked that his contributions not
be used commercially.
Comments would be welcome,
Wlodek Mier-Jedrzejowicz, Space & Atmospheric Physics, Imperial College,
London.
No, I do not speak/write on behalf of HP or my employer here.