ZX80 PROGRAMMING COURSE (FIRST EDITION)

The ZX80 Programming Course consists of a book and accompanying cassette containing a compilation of 8 programs for the 1K ZX80 (with 4K ROM).

ZX80 Programming Course Inlay
Details
Year: 1980
ROM: 4K
RAM: 1K
Cost: £7.50
Downloads
Inlay scan
Cassette photos
Program files
ZX80 Programming Course Screenshot
1. French Test 5. Hex Loader
2. Card Dealer 6. Code Breaker
3. Word Guess 7. Slot Machine
4. Timer 8. Bingo

The programs were recovered from an audio file of the original cassette recorded by Rob Gregorczyk. Unfortunately Rob does not have the book for the programming course and so scans of it are not available. Should you have an original copy of the book then I would be very interested in obtaining a scan of it for presentation on this webpage.


PROGRAM NOTES

The following table lists a summary of the programs. The names of the programs have been allocated by myself based on their function and might not match the original names given in the programming course. Each program is started using RUN.

Program Summary
French Test A word is displayed in English. Enter the French translation of it and you will be told whether your answer was correct.
Card Dealer Each press of NEWLINE selects a card at random and displays it.
Word Guess One player enters a word and then another player makes guesses as to the letters within the word.
Timer Press NEWLINE to start a timer. Press NEWLINE again to stop the timer and the elapsed time is displayed.
Hex Loader This is a simple loader program for entering machine code. You are first asked to enter the address that will run your routine after it has been entered. You input this as the low byte and then the high byte, pressing NEWLINE after each. After this you are asked to enter the address where you want to begin loading bytes to and then the number of bytes. You then enter each hex byte followed by NEWLINE one at a time. Once all bytes have been input, the entered routine will automatically be run.
Code Breaker This is a version of the game 'Hangman'. A random 4 digit code is generated, and you must guess them within 10 attempts. For each attempt enter the 4 digits separately followed by NEWLINE after each. A chequerboard bar is displayed for a correct digit entered but in the wrong position, and a black bar is displayed if for a correct digit in the correct position.
Slot Machine Press NEWLINE to pull the handle of a 4 reel slot machine. The symbols that end up on each reel is displayed and you are told how much you won. Occasionally after a win you will be asked if you wish to gamble the winnings, which you can do by entering 'G'.
Bingo Eight numbers are selected at random for you and the computer as your Bingo cards. Enter 'N' for a number to be chosen at random and if it matches a number of either of the cards then that position on the card is marked with a black square. Continue to enter 'N' until one player has matched all of their numbers.


ADVERTS




ZX80 PROGRAMMING COURSE (SECOND EDITION)

The ZX80 Programming Course consists of a book and accompanying cassette containing a compilation of 8 programs for the 1K ZX80 (with 4K ROM). The cassette for the second edition of the ZX80 Programming Course contains the same basic set of programs but the functionality of two of the programs is slightly different.

ZX80 Programming Course Inlay
Details
Year: 1981
ROM: 4K
RAM: 1K
Cost: £8.95, later dropped to £6.50
Downloads
Inlay scan
Cassette photos
Program files
ZX80 Programming Course Screenshot
1. French Test 5. Hex Loader
2. Card Dealer 6. Code Breaker
3. Word Guess 7. Slot Machine
4. Timer 8. Bingo

This version of the ZX80 Programming Course was also provided as an audio recording by Rob Gregorczyk. Unfortunately the book for this version of the cassette are also not available.


PROGRAM NOTES

The following table lists a summary of the program differences to the edition 1 version. As with the edition 1 version, each program is started using RUN.

Program Summary
French Test The version above stops after you have made your guess and the result is displayed. This version extends the functionality by then allowing you to enter 'Y' to run again, with any other input stopping the program.
Card Dealer The program is identical to the version above, differing only by the system variables.
Word Guess The program is identical to the version above, differing only by the system variables and the version above having the last used variables stored whereasthis version doesn't have any variables stored.
Timer Identical to the version above, differing only by the variables stored along with each program.
Hex Loader This version differs in that it doesn't ask for the execution address and therefore doesn't automatically run the user's routine after it has been entered. Instead this version includes REM lines that describe how to run a routine after it has been entered.
Code Breaker The program is identical to the version above, differing only by the system variables and the version above having the last used variables stored whereasthis version doesn't have any variables stored.
Slot Machine The program is identical to the version above, differing only by the system variables and the version above having the last used variables stored whereasthis version doesn't have any variables stored.
Bingo The program is identical to the version above, differing only by the system variables and the version above having the last used variables stored whereasthis version doesn't have any variables stored.


ADVERTS