[8bits Z80 4Mhz] Porting on extra low-tech hardware.

Discussion and questions about boards that can run MicroPython but don't have a dedicated forum.
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unidual
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[8bits Z80 4Mhz] Porting on extra low-tech hardware.

Post by unidual » Thu Nov 25, 2021 8:32 am

Bonjour, noob here, but [Z80 connaisseur](http://orgams.wikidot.com/)!

I'd like to port a lightweight language to a Z80-based computer older than you (the Amstrad CPC 6128), and to CP/M as well if there is interest.
* Sub-goal: porting a vm.
* Main-goal: having the whole toolchain on the native machine (no cross-compilation)
More context [here](https://www.pouet.net/topic.php?which=1 ... =1#c571455).

MicroPython is a pretty interesting candidate.

My first questions are:
- Is there already related work for such low requirement hardware? PicoPython? My google-fu wasn't strong enough.
- Is anyone interested to work on that with me? (I'm an outgoing introvert, according to my dog).

Cheers!

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pythoncoder
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Re: [8bits Z80 4Mhz] Porting on extra low-tech hardware.

Post by pythoncoder » Thu Nov 25, 2021 10:04 am

unidual wrote:
Thu Nov 25, 2021 8:32 am
...
I'd like to port a lightweight language to a Z80-based computer older than you (the Amstrad CPC 6128), and to CP/M as well if there is interest...
Not older than me. I was programming micros before the Z80 was invented ;)

Porting MP to an 8-bit arch would be a substantial task, and I'm not aware of anyone attempting this. There is a pic16bit port which you might like to study to see what might be involved.
Peter Hinch
Index to my micropython libraries.

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yeti
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Re: [8bits Z80 4Mhz] Porting on extra low-tech hardware.

Post by yeti » Thu Nov 25, 2021 10:06 am

I don't think MicroPython can fit there. Have a look at Snek instead.

The compilers (T)ACK or/and Cowgol could be small enough to run natively on a Z80.
I have a natural instinct for science. — D.J. Trump
"Don't we all wait for SOMETHING-ELSE-1.0?" — yeti
"Stay OmmmMMMmmmPtimistic!" — yeti

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scruss
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Re: [8bits Z80 4Mhz] Porting on extra low-tech hardware.

Post by scruss » Thu Nov 25, 2021 6:55 pm

Even the best Z80 cross-compilers are only C89-ish, so it would be essentially a rewrite. Seconding Snek: it's nothing like MicroPython, but it's small (or possibly even smol).

Also, the Amstrad CPC's got a really small contiguous memory space for a 64 K machine. The bank-switching on the 6128 is very granular, and fitting anything around that would be a nightmare.

chuckbook
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Re: [8bits Z80 4Mhz] Porting on extra low-tech hardware.

Post by chuckbook » Fri Nov 26, 2021 4:01 pm

Try Borland Pascal :-)
I used it some 40 years ago with great success.
You get an integrated dev environment including a screen editor (like wordstar) and a compiler that generates machine code.
All within 64K!

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