Date   : Sun, 21 Nov 2010 03:01:49 +0100
From   : rick@... (Rick Murray)
Subject: BBC file formats

On 20/11/2010 22:57, Steve Fewell wrote:

> So any ideas on how they would test the Machine Code program?

These days, I'd say "you're the tester". ;-)


Back then? You had to be a highly disciplined and clever coder as making 
"simple" changes to the code would require incredible amounts of faffing.


> transfer the disk to another machine to run the machine code, and
> then transfer the disk back to update and save the source program!

Multiple machines could well be the simplest, but it doesn't help much 
when you need to poke around to see what want astray. Serial ports are 
incredibly useful for spitting a running dialogue. Debian still does 
this, the serial port on my OSD is extremely chatty, as are some 
satellite receivers.


Best wishes,

Rick.

-- 
Rick Murray, eeePC901 & ADSL WiFI'd into it, all ETLAs!
BBC B: DNFS, 2 x 5.25" floppies, EPROM prog, Acorn TTX
E01S FileStore, A3000/A5000/RiscPC/various PCs/blahblah...