80s BASIC

I'm currently reprogramming a game I did before called Seven/Eleven. The game looked a little dull so I'm remaking all the interfaces. This made me realize how much I enjoy some 80s BASICs over others.

Here is a list of my Favorite 80's BASICs that I use fairly regular, from favorite to least favorite.

1 TI-99 Extended BASIC

2 TI-99 BASIC

3 Tandy Extended Color BASIC 2.0

4 Tandy Extended Color BASIC 1.1

5 Tandy BASIC

6 Commodore BASIC V2

7 Atari BASIC

8 AppleSoft II BASIC

I should note that my first exposure to Tandy BASIC and Apple II BASIC was mostly as a teenager through public schools.

Why TI at the top? Most control in the easiest way. I really think if most companies and found someone better than Microsoft to develop their BASIC language, they could have been much better. What I like about Tandy and Commodore is that what ever they lack in BASIC features, they are quite hackable. It is possible to get to modes the physical computer could do that were not addressed in the BASIC environment.  Really, that is why Microsoft had the PEEK and POKE commands because there was so much they did not know how to translate into BASIC usefully.  And the way Microsoft used their graphics modes were so over complicated and stupid.  Really just limiting.  For the most part, programmers that understood the hardware capabilities and used assembler/machine language were really able to make the most of these computers.

It is not like TI-99 Extended BASIC was perfect as there were feature that were not addressed until the late 80s and early 90s with Super Extended BASIC by third party developers - but by that time most of the world had moved on from TI-99.  TI-99 popularity now is just mainly from people that remember fondly how much they enjoyed using TI-99 in the late 70s and early 80s.

Sadly the two most fun computers  TI and Tandy were the two most physically limiting computers.  TI-only made a 32K memory expansion for their computer that was shipped out with 16k.  TI also made their computers slower than need be by running code in video memory.  Tandy did not provide a dedicated 3 voice or better sound chip and a video processing chip that only handled 9 colors on both the CoCo 1 and 2. 

TI did make up in other areas though.  Best built in sprite capabilities, 16-bit processor, and S-Video output.  Tandy did make up for it with the easiest, but powerful, graphics and music programming commands. With some hacking past Microsoft's made limitations, graphically Tandy could put out some nice graphics with only 9 colors. 

Building a computer by scratch (and other stuff)

 Been a moment since I have posted.  What tech-wise has kept me occupied?

1)   I'm building a computer by scratch.

2)  and programming on a TI-95.   Yes, I'm making a dice roller for it and will soon have screen shots.

3)  I'm making a storage interface for the TI-95.

4) other programming exercises. 

TMS9900 CPU

Studying the TMS9900 processor of the 70s and 80s, I have learned that it was capable of Multi-user preemptive multiprocessing. This is very sad that I'm not aware of this every being utilized with the TI-99/4A computer. This can be done with workplace register pointers that can be handled by the CPU, but stored in memory.





Because we are using pointer, this can be changed on the fly. Because of the interrupt processes, we can go back and forth between tasks.

Texas Instruments Computer history

I have created a page that is a brief overview of Texas Instruments' Computer history.

This is the timeline of TI mini computers, TI desktop computers/home computers, and TI handheld computers.

 https://mrgibson.com/TI/ti-history.php

My TI-99 machines.

This is just a show and tell post.

This is my two TI-99/4As - my 2nd and my 3rd side by side.


TI #3 On my primary Dell monitor using TI's S-Video/Standard Audio to RCA to HDMI


TI #3


TI #2 beside my file/audio file server


My video switching system between my computers.






Testing math functionality against other retro computers like Atari, Apple, Commodore, and IBM


My favorite game controller for the TI-99 is Sega's Genesis




TI #2 displaying a randomizer application on my TV


TI #2 displaying a different randomizer on my TV


TI #2 displaying on my TV.


My TI #2

TI-99 32K expansion

The most common TI-99/4A 32K RAM chip is the 28 pin AS6C62256 RAM chip.  Any solution I look at will likely use this chip.

The exact spec is 32k Ram AS6C62256-55PCN 28DIP 0.6″.  It is a 32kx8 memory array chip which was very common, but not when the TI-99/4A was released.  Texas Instruments used a totally different configuration.  Below has the pin description. 

All the additional pieces you will need for a TIPI setup. 

SN74HCT245N IC TXRX NON-INVERT 5.5V 20DIP

CD74HCT21E IC GATE AND 2CH 4-INP 14DIP

SN74HCT138N IC DECODER/DEMUX 1X3:8 16DIP

2N3904BU Transistor NPN 40V 0.2A TO92-3

ICS-314-T 0.3″ IC SOCKET, DIP, 14P 2.54MM

ICS-316-T 0.3″ IC SOCKET, DIP, 16P 2.54MM

ICS-320-T 0.3″ IC SOCKET, DIP, 20P 2.54MM

ICS-628-T 0.6″ IC SOCKET, DIP, 28P 2.54MM

CONN EDGE DUAL FMALE 44POS 0.100 395-044-524-202 (Requires Modification)

44 PIN (Two Row 22PIN 2.54mm Pin Header) (Made with Smaller pieces)

3 PIN 2.54mm Pin Header (For Power Jumper)

2.54mm Jumper

DC 2.1×5.5mm power jack

3mm RED LED

680 Ohm 1/4W Resistor

2 ) 1k Ohm 1/4W Resistors

10k Ohm 1/4W Resistor

4 ) 0.1uf (104) capacitors

2.54mm Round Female Socket Pin Header Strip (88Pins are required)

TI-99/4A side port

I now have the 44 pin side port for the TI-99/4A mapped out and documented.

You can find my documentation here:

https://mrgibson.com/TI/TI-side-cart.php

But there is a lot more to this than the connections. As I continue to research, I will post here.

working with TI-99 4/A in 2025

This is a photo of one of my TI-99/4A computers that is hooked up to the file serving computer on the right. I would like to take this further and use this secondary computer as a RAM management for the TI also.

Why? Well the 32k RAM expansion gives you additional memory for TI-Extended BASIC, assembly language programs and GPL programs. The additional RAM is also is required for:

- Most of the upper end utilities and few fun 3rd party and many of the cooler home-bew stuff.

- Editor Assembler requires 32k memory expansion.

- Extended Basic can use up to 24k of the 32k memory expansion and 8k is available for loading assembly language programs.
- Logo can use 32k

- Microsoft Multiplan requires 32k memory expansion

- TI-writer requires 32k memory expansion

So how to go about it?  I'm going to study the pin configuration and chipsets used for existing solutions, then hopefully make something cheaper and more efficient that will work with what I have to work with.  Then document it like I have for other TI related projects to share and help others.

So, hopefully more to come soon.

I finally picked up another TI Expanded BASIC module/cart

I have been looking and looking and looking for a TI Extended BASIC cartridge for some time now. I finally purchased one tonight. Just happened to come with a TI-99/4A that I didn't need, but it looks better than the TI I have now.

This TI looks pretty clean.



No visible warping, scrapes, or scratches.



Cart looks really good too.