TI99/4A programming: worth it?

[Harry Potter]

Is the TI99/4A computer worth programming?  Should I program it?

[GDMike]

If you enjoy programming, yes. There's always a curve to overcome, 16 bit programming and an 8 bit data bus AND little memory to use. But there are new toys to help overcome this.

I started learning assembly 2 years ago along with learning Turboforth and have enjoyed all of it.

If you like BASIC, the new RXB 2021 just came out, it gives you lots of power.

Edited February 21 by GDMike

[+Lee Stewart]

1 hour ago, Harry Potter said:

Is the TI99/4A computer worth programming?  Should I program it?

 

Of course. Check out the TI-99/4A development resources thread for all kinds of ways to program it—Forth, C, Basic, Fortran, Pascal, TMS9900 Assembler, Logo, etc. Did I mention Forth?

 

...lee

[GDMike]

51 minutes ago, GDMike said:

If you like BASIC, the new RXB 2021 just came out, it gives you lots of power.

As a matter of fact, just ask rich himself about the power of rxb

Edited February 22 by GDMike

[Harry Potter]

Thank you. Now, where can I find a C compiler for the TI99/4A?  I prefer cross-platform, but TI99/4A-hosted is okay.

[mizapf]

13 hours ago, GDMike said:

If you enjoy programming, yes. There's always a curve to overcome, 16 bit programming and an 8 bit data bus AND little memory to use.

However, the multiplexed 8-bit data bus is nothing that bothers you in programming, unless execution speed is important.

[matthew180]

2 hours ago, Harry Potter said:

where can I find a C compiler for the TI99/4A?

See Lee's reply above (2nd response to your question).

[+chue]

2 hours ago, Harry Potter said:

Thank you. Now, where can I find a C compiler for the TI99/4A?  I prefer cross-platform, but TI99/4A-hosted is okay.

Check out the development thread, as mentioned in @Lee Stewart's post above.

[GDMike]

FBFORTH, Turboforth, Camel forth are actually awesome

[Harry Potter]

Thank you!  

[AtariNostalgia]

TI Extended Basic is one of the best interpretations out there.

[senior_falcon]

On 2/21/2021 at 6:45 PM, GDMike said:

If you like BASIC, the new RXB 2021 just came out, it gives you lots of power.

And don't overlook XB 2.8 G.E.M. which unlocks lots of graphics power, among other things.

[gferluga]

Definitely yes!

I learned programming with a TI-99 with Extended Basic and 32K sidecar memory expansion, during studies.

That was the maximum configuration that could be afforded in 1984 in a modest country like Italy.

That become my job, migrating to PCs and later Mainframes.