Jotto
Jotto
While i am typing stuff I want to tell a little childhood programming story that will end in a download not particularly well suited to the forum, but has it's roots in Sinclair and I think it will be fun.
Once upon a time, SAnello received a new TS1000. It was his first computer if you do not include the Odyssey 2 (videopak) computer intro cartridge. He programmed the heck out of that 2 k. One day he had what he thought was a brilliant idea. He wanted to make a computer version of a 5 letter word game called Jotto! More info on that here. http://www.panix.com/~sos/bc/jotto.html Anyway. There was no internet in 1983 nor did he have access to some kind of electronic dictionary, so he and a buddy took out a dictionary and started to write down on paper all the 5 letter words in it. A daunting task, but they did it! He then actually started writing code on paper before using the computer to do it. Having no concept of how little memory he had, he then started typing away his words in an array. In short order, the letters started to disappear as he typed. "What is going on?" he thought. Is it broke. His older brother scoffed, "it's not broke, you need way more memory." Disappointed, SAnello gave up for a couple weeks until a local KMart had a 16k expansion module half price on sale for $49.99 1983ish dollars! He quickly broke his piggy bank and begged his grandfather for the rest, bought the cartridge, ripped open the package, and plugged it in. It took a little longer, but as soon as that inverted K showed up on the screen, he loaded the tape he saved of his previous work and began typing away again. Guess what happened. Out of memory again. Totally discouraged, the project was shelved. that was until his younger brother purchased a Commodore 128 from money he made corn detasseling of all things. The programming was on again and finally computerized Jotto was born! It only took the machine 8 hours or so to sort out it's first guess! Years later, he rewrote it for a 486sx-25 in QBasic with much more playable results. Here it is.
Edited by a moderator to spilt Jotto posts from the Z80-21 Yet Another "BlackJack" topic. Mark
Once upon a time, SAnello received a new TS1000. It was his first computer if you do not include the Odyssey 2 (videopak) computer intro cartridge. He programmed the heck out of that 2 k. One day he had what he thought was a brilliant idea. He wanted to make a computer version of a 5 letter word game called Jotto! More info on that here. http://www.panix.com/~sos/bc/jotto.html Anyway. There was no internet in 1983 nor did he have access to some kind of electronic dictionary, so he and a buddy took out a dictionary and started to write down on paper all the 5 letter words in it. A daunting task, but they did it! He then actually started writing code on paper before using the computer to do it. Having no concept of how little memory he had, he then started typing away his words in an array. In short order, the letters started to disappear as he typed. "What is going on?" he thought. Is it broke. His older brother scoffed, "it's not broke, you need way more memory." Disappointed, SAnello gave up for a couple weeks until a local KMart had a 16k expansion module half price on sale for $49.99 1983ish dollars! He quickly broke his piggy bank and begged his grandfather for the rest, bought the cartridge, ripped open the package, and plugged it in. It took a little longer, but as soon as that inverted K showed up on the screen, he loaded the tape he saved of his previous work and began typing away again. Guess what happened. Out of memory again. Totally discouraged, the project was shelved. that was until his younger brother purchased a Commodore 128 from money he made corn detasseling of all things. The programming was on again and finally computerized Jotto was born! It only took the machine 8 hours or so to sort out it's first guess! Years later, he rewrote it for a 486sx-25 in QBasic with much more playable results. Here it is.
Edited by a moderator to spilt Jotto posts from the Z80-21 Yet Another "BlackJack" topic. Mark
Last edited by 1024MAK on Sun Aug 14, 2022 12:06 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Reason: New topic for Jotto
Reason: New topic for Jotto
-sanello
Re: Jotto
I'll have a look at "JOTTO". I enjoy the challenge of adapting programs to the ZX81. That is why I stop my work on my "IMPROVED PROGRAMS" to work on "Z8021".
AS for the for the slow down of the inkeys in the blinking question, I will try to fix that.
Please to meet you. I'll be doing more on my ZX now because my life as a badminton player is getting shorter and shorter. Old age creeping in. Sad but a reality.
AS for the for the slow down of the inkeys in the blinking question, I will try to fix that.
Please to meet you. I'll be doing more on my ZX now because my life as a badminton player is getting shorter and shorter. Old age creeping in. Sad but a reality.
Re: Jotto
Previously S. Anello mentioned a program "JOTTO" that he tried to adapt to the ZX81 but was running out of memory(16K). I told him I would look to the possibility to adapt the program to the ZX. Since the version he supplied me was in 3 parts, made for a PC running under QBASIC. Eventualy I will try to combine all 3 parts into one part. Meanwhile here is the first part "the rules". It will take a little longer to get a running 2nd part. Have fun!
- Attachments
-
- JOTTORUL.P
- (2.38 KiB) Downloaded 102 times
Re: Jotto
Yep,
Interesting program to convert to ZX81...
In "DONE.TXT", 13725 bytes to store in the BASIC and the VAR memory and a long way to scan them.
We had to be clever, and organize all strings as a string compressor.
We had to code a word with 255 bits as a string data for the first 3 characters, and the 2 last characters.(two butes)
Exemple: "ABA" + "SH" =1+4 =CHR$ 1+CHR$ 4="ABASH" word.
Buy, it will be better to create a new tread to expand the most claver ideas.
Interesting program to convert to ZX81...
In "DONE.TXT", 13725 bytes to store in the BASIC and the VAR memory and a long way to scan them.
We had to be clever, and organize all strings as a string compressor.
We had to code a word with 255 bits as a string data for the first 3 characters, and the 2 last characters.(two butes)
Exemple: "ABA" + "SH" =1+4 =CHR$ 1+CHR$ 4="ABASH" word.
Buy, it will be better to create a new tread to expand the most claver ideas.
Last edited by XavSnap on Fri Aug 12, 2022 2:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
Xavier ...on the Facebook groupe : "Zx81 France"(fr)
Re: Jotto
I already started writing the program. Yes! Time is a factor on the ZX. But so far so good.
The playing screen is working and so are many messages on/off.
The word picked by the player for the computer is checked. The computer can pick his word and the word is also checked ok.
I am now at the stage of the player and the computer to play. It is progressing well.
I agree with you "JOTTO" should have its own topic.
The playing screen is working and so are many messages on/off.
The word picked by the player for the computer is checked. The computer can pick his word and the word is also checked ok.
I am now at the stage of the player and the computer to play. It is progressing well.
I agree with you "JOTTO" should have its own topic.
Re: Jotto
I didn't expect anyone to try. Go ahead and make a new thread. My version works on an XT so I figured it was at least relevant as a program that works on an 8 bit machine. On the Commodore, done.txt was an array and not a separate file. Hurray 128 kb! My word list expanded when it got to an ms-dos machine so I don't know if it would fit the Commodore now.
-sanello
Re: Jotto
OK, thinking about making a thread under development for JOTTO. However, consider my news first. It is good and bad news. The good news is that I found a way to quickly get a complete list of 5 letter words. The bad news is that I found a way to quickly get a complete list of 5 letter words. There are 9066 of them. Here is updated JOTTO that reflects that.
Last edited by sanello on Sun Aug 14, 2022 6:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-sanello
- 1024MAK
- Posts: 5153
- Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 10:56 am
- Location: Looking forward to summer in Somerset, UK...
Re: Jotto
If you want me to split the Jotto posts into a new topic, please let me know,
Mark
Mark
ZX81 Variations
ZX81 Chip Pin-outs
ZX81 Video Transistor Buffer Amp
Standby alert
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Looking forward to summer later in the year.
ZX81 Chip Pin-outs
ZX81 Video Transistor Buffer Amp
Standby alert
There are four lights!
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb
Looking forward to summer later in the year.