Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

A C Compiler For The HP49g+

Posted by michael on from the geek-out dept.

Cheese Source writes "As previously mentioned on Slashdot, HP's latest and greatest calculator is the HP49g+. While it sports a very powerful (for a calculator) ARM9 cpu, it is only 3 times the speed of the 49g, running at 4MHz. This is because it has to emulate an older processor. Of course, some calculator geeks are now writing adapting a free, open-source C compiler for it. Based on GCC, you can now make programs that run natively on the CPU between 12 and 203MHz. 1000 factorial is calculated and displayed in the blink of an eye (the built in command takes 30 seconds). It will also allow for some great games."

4 of 194 comments (clear)

  1. HP49g+ details by goon · · Score: 5, Informative

    for those interested in the the 49g+ in all it's gory technical details.

    --
    peterrenshaw ~ Another Scrappy Startup
  2. Re:GCC on TI by khuber · · Score: 5, Informative

    GCC has been available for calculators with HP's Saturn processors since 1994 (hp48xgcc). This is about using gcc as a cross-compiler for HP's new ARM-based calculator. The summary makes it sound as though someone is writing a compiler which is of course not the case. They are just writing the glue code and linker portions specific to the HP49G+.

  3. Re:30 seconds? by BarryNorton · · Score: 5, Informative

    No, the Saturn has an external word size of 4 bits, but 64 bit registers and instructions.

    At three to seven (the actual comparison) times the 4MHz 48g speed, there is far less than a gap of >>30 between the speed of the emulated processor and the physical one so I stand by (for now) my speculation that there is surely an algorithmic difference between the built-in (example?) one and the new 'native' one...

    (But what do I know, I'm just flamebait... apparently...)

  4. Re:What is the point by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    oops, some more I forgot

    Is the 49g+ RPN?

    Not by default - but you can set it to be with about 3 button pressed. Then its a proper RPN* calculator unless you set it back.

    *The RPN it uses is different from HP's early implementation. The earlier versions have a 4 level stack only. The HP48/9 series effectlvly have an unlimited stack, and you can put all kinds of objects (matrices, programs, symbolics etc) on it. Its alot more powerful then the RPN of say a HP15c, but naturally more complicated to use

    Will there be a linux/BSD/[other OS] port?

    Well, you have a 203MHz CPU, 512kb RAM, and 2MB ROM. If you can fit linux on that then go for it!