| Author | Comment |
turtlbrdr
Marine
Posted: 28 Jan 2010
16:35 GMT
Total Posts: 39 | [copied from original document}
The Tortoise Shell Application is an app currently in development by the staff of StarAeritha Productions.
The Tortoise application is the most recent project commissioned here at StarAeritha Productions, branching off of the idea of a games selection menu for the Turtle engine Tortoise will provide much support for not only Turtle gaming engine games, but other programs, games, and apps as well.
Platform:
Tortoise is planned for the entire line of 83+ and 84+ series of calculators. Using routines embedded within itself, and avoiding volatile bcalls (ones introduced in subsequent releases of OS) Tortoise could prove to be very versatile.
Features:
Tortoise is designed to be a central shell, much in the same as MirageOS. There will be support for those who develop for Tortoise and support for programs that aren’t built for Tortoise. Installing programs should be easy with the also-in-development installation program, and programs that aren’t built for Tortoise can be added and installed for use in Tortoise’s menus. Also in the works is for Tortoise to emulate the clock’s workings for calculators that don’t have one. To allow programs that support the emulation to draw from a ram location, to at least give some support to those with the 83’s. There is bound to be more features added to the lineup (including one I’ve personally been want for a long time,) but at this point, a week in development it’s too early to tell.
Timeline:
Tortoise will most likely be the first real program to roll off the conveyor belt here at SA Productions, other than side programs I’ll be translating from basic into asm. Turtle’s timeline has been mostly undecided so far. However, it is likely the first working version will be in beta around August at the latest.
Developers:
Those looking to develop for Tortoise will be waiting at least until it’s released, as the header format is still changing here almost daily; but so far I have one that I’m marginally happy with and includes space for a 16x16 icon, a 32 character full program name, and a 128 character description.
Beta testing:
Beta-testing is closed for now, however like I’ve said before, I always accept applicants.
Contact info:
Travis
turtlbrdr@yahoo.com
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Head, and only, programmer of StarAeritha Productions |
turtlbrdr
Marine
Posted: 8 Jul 2010
14:53 GMT
Total Posts: 39 | Update 7/8/2010:
I have begun numerous improvements and documentation related to Tortoise. These documentations will define Tortoise’s many features. It may be a little unorthodox, but it will be from these documents that the backbone of the Tortoise App will be borne. I have already begun work on the program, but I am looking for help from anyone able/willing.
I am not good with graphics of any kind and will most likely require someone who can at least tutor me in the ways of manipulating the screen display.
Those interested should head over to the “Help Needed” post on my forum.
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Head, and only, programmer of StarAeritha Productions |
turtlbrdr
Marine
Posted: 7 Aug 2010
14:21 GMT
Total Posts: 39 | 8/7/2010
Finally a semi-sound backbone for Tortoise’s development has been started. Right now, programming effort is going into the startup procedures; both those for a user’s first time starting the program and those continuing to use Tortoise. However, right now work is on hold while the main cast of Tortoise’s features is decided as these will need space for operation and saving.
One of the hot topics flying around the development studio (aka: my room) is the possibility to use custom VAT entries to help handle the variable types for features that I have planned. I have started a post over on the <http://www.revsoft.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1175 Revolution software forums>, as to facilitate the discussion of this possibility of doing so. Because, as of my knowledge, I believe this is the first time someone has asked about the possibility, as evidenced by the lack of discussion concerning it and the fact that, as to of writing this, I have not received one reply as to my original question to whether or not it is possible. I would also like an answer to this before embarking on some of the planned features of Tortoise programming (compression, widget)
Overall, quite a bit of progress has been made on the previous model of Tortoise, however there is still a large amount of work to go until it hits website archives as a full, non-beta, version.
Eventually, I will find an area to post the overview guide I have been programming Tortoise to fit. This overview guide is not only intended to define to me how Tortoise should work, but will also act as the general user’s manual, answering a user’s many questions about how the different features of Tortoise will work.
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Head, and only, programmer of StarAeritha Productions |
turtlbrdr
Marine
Posted: 14 Aug 2010
10:04 GMT
Total Posts: 39 | 8/14/10
It has been decided that Tortoise will support both reduction and compression for certain TI data formats.
Reduction being the process of reducing the amount of data stored in an element. For example the normal TI real number variable uses a 14 digit, nine byte, floating point number to store the number it holds. However, if one only uses 5 digits of the 14, reduction of those digits can occur. In this example one could save 4 bytes.
The compression algorithms are, as of yet, undecided. It will likely be either a single simple compression algorithm, or a combination of two methods. Later on I hope to accomplish a working DEFLATE-like algorithm.
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Head, and only, programmer of StarAeritha Productions |
turtlbrdr
Marine
Posted: 2 Sep 2010
07:00 GMT
Total Posts: 39 | 9/2/2010
Working on deciding the features to implement into the options menu. After I’m complete with that I will be working on developing and designing the main menu system.
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Head, and only, programmer of StarAeritha Productions |
Barrett
Administrator
Posted: 4 Oct 2010
11:09 GMT
Total Posts: 1676 | Any progress in the last month?
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-Barrett A |
turtlbrdr
Marine
Posted: 6 Oct 2010
09:45 GMT
Total Posts: 39 | Not really, just started school again so I'm getting swamped up by the workload. I hope to get some more done next month.
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Head, and only, programmer of StarAeritha Productions |
