TM4C1294NCPDT: RESURRECTION of TI-59 on a TM4C124NCPDT board.

While I too remember my beloved TI-59 calculator, alas, that was before all documentation was on the WEB in PDF format. I have no access to the TI-59 design documentation. TI calculator development has evolved and moved. Even the site where the TI-59 was designed is no longer a TI site. In short, you are likely on your own in this Quixotic quest.

Hello John,
Yours is an interesting challenge. Did/will you create an open access document platform for development and collaboration?
I don't think I have ever touched such a calculator (ok, you might want me to call it computer) - my first toying with programming anything were with a Sinclair ZX-81 derivate, and that was circa 1985... The TI-59 was not coming out of factories anymore.
Do you plan to create a complete hardware (as in display and keys), or will that be some sort of UART console on a PC?
Good luck on your personal goal! I'll keep an eye, and in case the brain here is able to help on something, it shall!
Regards
Bruno

PS: as expected, there are service manuals for sale on Ebay, as well as "complete libraries" of strip code.
www.ebay.com/.../192148859810

Thank you Bruno & Thank you Bob.
I'm aware of that resources at e-bay. My plans are to code a firmware on TM4C1294NCPDT that will implement the functionality of TI-59 programming commands. A kind of a firmwared compiler. Input will be a color touch screen with the look of the original TI-59 calculator. Output may be anything, a) a serial debug window where the programming commands will be also displayed during programming, b) a small serial thermal printer, c) the input touch LCD display itself, d) a 2x40 characters digital display, e) a network console e.t.c. Also a microSD card will be used for program storage purposes.
TI may still have the documents in its archives but I'm not sure if these documents are available under certain license for public use.
If case someone in TI could check on this that would be great.
John

One stone - yet unturned - "Hobby groups" which sprang up around that (and similar) devices.    

These individuals - if you can identify & reach them - are more likely than "corporate types" (even this hallowed vendor's) to share your fanaticism - which I'd bet - (such fanaticism) proves an "absolute" requirement.

May I note that our small tech firm - periodically engaging w/"VC" (*) firms - has observed that (pardon) "money" has a way of, "Speeding, Easing & Enhancing" the acquisition of such: "Persons, devices & key/critical/detailed data" - long believed to be - especially believed to be, "dead/buried."

Note: the above is simple, "Statement of fact."    Neither firm nor I are soliciting funds - we ARE (instead) suggesting an approach which (usually) escapes those "not" working @ the nexus of Tech, Law & Finance...

* VC Venture Capitalist    (firms dedicated to raising funds for new/growing ventures)

Hello cb1_mobile and thank you very much for the valuable indirectly given info. I appreciate that. However, another approach also seems to fit my queries for this project at the moment. I already posses all "ancient" documentation on TI-59. I mean all, apart from the firmware. Schematics, service manual, programming manuals, libraries source and lots, lots more. So what I'm thinking of doing is to purchase a TI-59 from e-bay or elsewhere for some $ and use it as a working guide on the project. Then I'll follow PHOENIX's BIOS practice, of some 30 - 32 years ago, called Clean-Room-Approach from then on, which won a law case of IBM against the PHOENIX BIOS company regarding the BIOS of the first PCs on the basis of intellectual property. POENIX's argument was that they can built a BIOS that uses all hardware options of a PC and offering all available functionality, without knowing anything from IBM's BIOS source. That was proved under court's supervision by PHOENIX engineers closed in a room and coding few BIOS parts based only on some of the hardware/software requests that a PC should comply with. That was a big success that broke IBM's monopoly and allowed for very powerful BIOSs in the future. So, I hope that I will be able to code the functionality of the TI-59's firmware by just following what the specific programming commands do. Recall that the 958 or so available programming steps on TI-59 were all direct assembly commands by the very true meaning of the word.
Anyway, this is a long-term project and none is in a harry. I'll enjoy it along with anyone else would like to join.
It will combine modern 32-bit ARM technology with 4/8 bit guts that can really be very useful educationally wise, apart from other benefits.
Again thank you a-lot,
John

Thank you - in the interest of your project's success - I'll provide some/slight history - as firm/I have encountered (somewhat) similar, "Launch/Start-up" situations - hundreds of times!

The suggestion to find one "equally" fanatic - & invested as are you - has proven (time & again) to be a, "game-changer."    I don't doubt your skill, experience & desire - yet w/out the enthusiasm & participation of "others" - success is RARELY noted!

Funds provide a spectacular aid to such development.    "One man shows" are notorious for "failing" to raise needed operating capital.   And - operating alone - your personal commitment will be beyond harsh - and your emotional investment (most always) clouds/confuses judgment!    Group analysis & decision making - in stark contrast - when (the group) is properly:  experienced, aware, together and committed - unquestionably - yields superior results.

While you (now) believe the project to be "reasonably" simple - the devil does lurk in fine detail - and even those trained to: "identify, prioritize, analyze & manage" such detail (i.e. "dwell in it") - may not have access to, "All of the facts - all of the time - and in a timely & sufficient manner!"   

From my personal, past, (and repeated) tech business experience - I'd bet (highly) that a fanatical (past) hobbyist is likely to have facts & insights (in excess of your own) which will prove invaluable - both to your project - and to your "financial & mental" health...     Your (apparent) decision to, "Short-Cicuit" your search for such a hobbyist - in my experience - opens "too many doors to failure" - and (just one) to success!

Dear cb1_mobile, again thank you for your fruitful suggestions. Indeed, you are 100% precise in identifying the causes of failure projects and also 100% accurate in pointing to the crucial role of the participation of others in such efforts if they are to be eventually successful. Yet, I don't do this for business reasons. It's done for fun, preservation of our founding scientific methods and tools, and ultimately, for purely educational purposes. If one can see a possibly successful business model at the top of such a project, I have none obvious reason to object. On the contrary. But I also run a business and my times are already much constrained.So, this project will almost be tackled during my free time. If TI can and want to help on this that would be great. If this is not the case and others want to participate in this project that would be also great. But I'm not sure if such a "vintage" project could gain much momentum, although it will involve and will ask for almost most of the TM4C1294NCPDT functionality. I have no other mean to communicate with TI tech guys that would be possibly interested in such a project other than this forum. That's why I started this post. I even hope that some may find it useful. All the best,

John

To all of your most recent points, John - your "recruitment" of a, "Skilled, knowledgeable (obsessive) Hobbyist" provides - by far - the most effective answer!    

Note too - that often - such unique person, "KNOWS SEVERAL OTHERS - OF VERY SIMILAR BENT!"    Have you not then John - graduated from "Lone Ranger" to, "FULL TEAM STATUS?"  

And John - is it (at all) realistic to believe that, "One man - motivated (only) by "fun & purely educational purposes" - under time constraints - will be able to maintain focus, drive & the ongoing: "Physical, psychological & financial" demands of such a project?     Costs WILL be incurred & (always) exceed expectations!      And alone - these must flow ONLY from your (diminishing) pockets!

Even worse John - you (alone) have come to this "neat project" realization.     Yet - if you operated from w/in a, "Clever & Experienced" group - might a more detailed (GROUP) analysis enable the, "Identification of a related project - with, "FASTER, SPECTACULARLY GREATER, AND LONGER LASTING PAY OUTS?"     And may out-perform your initial, "fun & educational" objectives!

That TEAM proves a most powerful & effective FORCE MULTIPLIER - which I (strongly) sense - is EXACTLY what you REALLY NEED!

Thank you cb1_mobile, <indeed> I'm not, never was, a "Lone Ranger".
Any suggestion regarding your advises?
John

I believe that (many) suggestions have arrived, John.

If instead - you seek guidance on "finding" fellow fanatic - I believe that I can assist - but is it not better for you to think, review & consider first - prior to my suggestion? Where are these individuals likely to be now? What do they read? What is their current interest?

And - I am (sometimes) told, "Google is (our) friend." I will help - not my style to invest this time/effort - then disappear. Clearly best for you to think/consider - I've no monopoly there...