Re: The DOS 3.3 SYS.COM Bug Hunt

On Tue, 25 Feb 2025 08:02:04 -0000 (UTC)
Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> wrote:

On Tue, 25 Feb 2025 07:28:37 +0000, Kerr-Mudd, John wrote:
 

Raspberry Pi sort of wanted to revive that simpler times, but it only
works with a higher level language (Python); (ARM assembly is
notoriously obscure).

 
Now days the definition of “low-level” programming is using a language
like C. Note also that the Pi, being a full Linux system, has access to
all the range of languages available in any major Linux distro. Maybe you
want to try C++ or D instead of C? Ada? Smalltalk? Really want to get your
hands dirty an old-style assembly language, for some vintage architecture
like the PDP-11? Apple II? Altair 8800? IBM 1401? Software emulators for
all of these are available.
 
Modern assembly/machine language is the way it is because it’s designed
for compilers to generate efficient code, not for humans to understand.

Bu that was the thrill of those early home computers; wrestling
the cpu into doing your bidding and really getting to understand the
fundamentals.

Disclaimer: I never can quite grasp logic diagrams with NAND gates. I
follow the steps, see it for a moment, then fail to "really understand the
fundamentals".

--
Bah, and indeed Humbug.