TI-Basic Z80 Programming/Necessary Items
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All that is required to write BASIC is a TI calculator. These can be purchased at many stores, or online at the Texas Instruments website. With the version of TI-BASIC explained in this book, a TI-83, TI-83+, TI-84+, TI-83+ Silver Edition or TI-84+ Silver Edition is needed.
[edit] Other Utilities
It is also possible to program TI-BASIC and test these programs off the calculator by using free software for your Windows, MAC, or Unix PC.
While it may be convenient to write the program and test it on the fly on your calculator, it is quicker to type up the code on a computer and it is possible to test the program with a virtual calculator emulated by your computer. An added advantage of writing the code on a computer is the ability to include lower case letters (ie. d, g, y, ...) when displaying text. Keep in mind that lower case letters are ONLY supported on the TI-83 Plus calculators, NOT on the regular TI-83 calculators.
A common application to program TI BASIC on the computer is TI Edit. This program allows the user to program just as they would be able to on a calculator, with built-in menus and functions. The drawback of this program, however, is that it cannot compile the code. It will, however, save the code as a file that can be trasferred to the calculator. The best thing to do while using this program is to use a TI emulator (such as VTI) to test the programs you write before you transfer them to a calculator. Remember to always backup your calculator before you transfer, as there is a small chance that your program could crash your OS.
Normally, when buying a TI calculator, a CD comes with the set and includes computer software that enables you to write the code on the computer and that allows the user to send files to and from their computers via a TI PC Link, which, unfortunately, is not included, but is sold anywhere the TI products are sold.
The included link software is by Texas Instrument and is called TI-Connect, while the included program writing software is called TI-Graph Link, which can also be used as a linking program, but may be out of date.
Other 3rd party free software can be found at ticalc.org, which has a large user based community of fellow TI calculator owners and programmers. This specific page in ticalc.org's directory contains a large list of Windows, MAC, and UNIX related software in the win, mac, and unix directories respectively.
For Windows users, Virtual TI may be their best bet as a TI emulator, while Pindur TI might do just fine as well; however, the required emulators must be obtained from the user’s calculator using such methods and programs listed here.
Furthermore, Texas Instruments has their own excellent and all-included emulator/debugger for the TI-83 and TI-83 Plus calculators, called TI-83 Plus SDK, as it is free for anyone who registers their owned TI calculator. The software, among others by Texas Instrument, can be found here.
