TRIANGULAR μOS 1.11-1.19 for VIC-20 in BASIC

[TRIANGULAR OS]

Update: Beta0 in progress. DISK program works (I will test it more). Calculator app called MATH: work in progress, I'm trying to move it from key operated to cursor operated. Don't had/have time recently, but as I finish those 2 programs I will post OS version Beta0 for testing/try.

[TRIANGULAR OS]

TRIANGULAR OS 1.10beta0 VIC-20 release. It's first beta or rather pre-beta.

What's new:
- DISK displays disk content in window and will run clicked file
- MATH calculator early BETA version
- Cursor can now move diagonally (e.g.: up and left)
- Minor bugfixes and improvements
- For better testing experience autoloading command now visible (they will revert to black/invisible ones in final release)

Preview (YouTube):


DOWNLOAD (1.10beta0):

TRIANGULAR OS 1.10beta0 VIC-20.zip

(9.13 KiB) Downloaded 43 times

Planned for next release (1.10beta1):
- MATH improved from current state to planed functionality screen:


- MONITOR program will be added
- In Start Menu instead of SETTINGS user can go back to DESKTOP. SETTINGS can be accessed from DESKTOP icon
- Add APPS and GAMES folders with at least 2 programs (MATH & MONITOR) and 1 game in them
- Further improvements of current codebase

After that I will add wordprocessor and that will be full backbone of this system. To that I will be adding 3rd party programs and games + some minor improvements & bugfixes.

Enjoy and stay tuned!

[TRIANGULAR OS]

TRIANGULAR OS 1.10beta1 VIC-20 release.

What's new:
- MATH calculator allows additional operations
- MONITOR added to edit memory
- APPS and GAMES folders added (GAMES right now is empty)
- DISK and CMD loading mechanism has file not/present detection
- Icons updated
- Start Menu go to DESTOP instead of SETTINGS. SETTINGS icon on desktop
- Minor visual changes and bugfixes

Preview (YouTube):


DOWNLOAD (1.10beta1):

TRIANGULAR OS 1.10beta1 VIC-20.zip

(11.39 KiB) Downloaded 42 times

Next update (beta2) will contain wordprocessor and at least 1 game plus further improvements & bugfixes.

[chysn]

I understand that this project is more for amusement than practicality, but at least have the calculator accept keyboard input. Nobody's going to abide a joystick-driven calculator!

Also, the monitor should show 8-bit values instead of 16-bit values.

[TRIANGULAR OS]

chysn: I'm reverting calculator to keyboard operated one since it is rather buggy + cursor/joy operated mechanics take so many RAM, that many operations from PET version won't fit in. Plus it will have similar layout as wordprocessor that I'm currently working on.

MONITOR's command SHOW now displays 2 hex digits.

All these changes will be released soon as beta2.

[Mike]

I understand that this project is more for amusement than practicality, but at least have the calculator accept keyboard input. Nobody's going to abide a joystick-driven calculator!

The calculator application reminds me of my own attempts to replace the drab VIC-20 start up screen with a more fancy intro for my first own language implementation, CAL: (link)



The border colour is red - this makes the tag line appear as if printed into the border ... ... and yes, it's actually an interpreter, not a compiler: in those days I thought of any language not being an integral part of the OS being a compiler.

[chysn]

Nothing remains of my 1985-ish programming environment, SEB. It wasn’t present on any of the old tapes I tried to load last year. But… I don’t think it had much that would make it interesting, except maybe some syntax that made music creation easy.

[orion70]

Mike, didn't we already provide our VICdesk environment with a good typewriter-looking word processor and a nice calculator? Our friend Triangular may feel free to grab and modify from there...

[Mike]

Mike, didn't we already provide our VICdesk environment with a good typewriter-looking word processor and a nice calculator?

Regarding the calculator, I'm not quite sure - IIRC, I only did a prop with calculator face and joystick controlled pointer, in MINIGRAFIK.

I have kept the project folder on my HDD and will take a look this evening, the word processor should be there.

[Mike]

Here we go: vicword.prg. It needs at least a +8K RAM expansion, though.

As I wrote above, the calculator 'app' is just a prop... CAL has more functionality.

[TRIANGULAR OS]

TRIANGULAR OS 1.10Beta2 for VIC-20 is ready to release. I've made small progress in it.

What's new:
- MATH calculator improved. Will need some improvements.
- MONITOR - SHOW command: shows 2 hex digits memory values (instead of 4)
- WORD app added. Very alpha - can only write text and exit by F8 key (new, load, save and print do not work).
- APPS icons redesigned.

DOWNLOAD (Beta2):

TRIANGULAR OS 1.10beta2 VIC-20.zip

(12.54 KiB) Downloaded 51 times

No game as promised, still grappling with MATH and WORD apps to achieve some functionality there.

Future beta3 version will have improved launching app & BIOS (minimal visually). SETTINGS will be enhanced. Will improve MATH and further develop WORD. Finally add this promised game. And that should be core of this system (only some program & games added in later versions).

@Mike: Thanks for vicword. I will study it (and Kp Word Pro) and try to utilize as much as I could.

[orion70]

Here we go: vicword.prg. It needs at least a +8K RAM expansion, though.

As I wrote above, the calculator 'app' is just a prop... CAL has more functionality.

Ah yep, I forgot we implemented more functions in this version... it's in fact a rip-off of an old Italian original program from the Play on Tape series. Here's the original, with less functionality, still in Italian, but running smoothly on the unexpanded machine (yet, you can't type and store much with the factory 3K RAM):

easyword.prg

Instructions, translated from Italian:

EASY WORD

EASY WORD is a program that helps you discover new talents of your computer. The program transforms the VIC 20 into a sophisticated electronic typewriter that has the possibility of making corrections directly on the screen using the DEL key. Holding down the SHIFT key will produce capital letters, which you can lock with the SHIFT LOCK combination. To return to the last line, press the RETURN key. With HOME you return to the first line and with CLR you delete the key in memory. Using the CRSR UP and CRSR DOWN keys you can move the image of the sheet on the machine and with CTRL+1, CTRL+2 and CTRL+3 you can change the spacing between the lines. The selected spacing appears with the number to the left of the carriage. The typed text can be saved on tape, on disk or directly printed on paper through the printer.

WARNING: after 40 lines of typing the memory starts to run out, so it will be better to save the text to avoid... having worked in vain.

[our friend Triangular seems to ignore our contributions, indeed ]

[TRIANGULAR OS]

@orion70: Thanks for this program! Definitively l will check it. I was to ask for those programs of Yours, but since You are uploading them, thank You!

[orion70]

You're very welcome to use / modify it, or get some sot of inspiration from it

[TRIANGULAR OS]

Through of previous weekend I spend my time on perfecting main codebase. Enhanced architecture and by doing this also most programs.
Main change is that SETTINGS is split into too 2 programs: SYSTEM and COLORS (memory constrain). Added are possibility to change work disk and printer port (no or #4 to #7).
TRIANGULAR OS launcher program have some decent improvements. BIOS get some visual improvements. DESKTOP (program) renamed GUI and host desktop and 2 folders THIS VIC (renamed from THIS PC) and SETTINGS.

I also reviewed code of VICWORD, EASY WORD and Kp Word Pro. So once I finish my WORD and add some game I will release Beta3. I don't promise, but try to scramble some time to release it before upcoming weekend. If will have time I will add some beta manual to it.

BTW, anyone where to get screen memory start and color memory start in VIC-I graphic chip registers? Right know I have simple mechanism implemented to determine where screen memory starts: PRINT {cursor down} + character and if peek one of 2 locations (4096/$1000 or 7680/$1E00) )