Free42 with big stack, test version

[Thomas Okken]

(02-04-2021 08:02 AM)Peet Wrote:  It is, but not in a good way. x=0 is not the same as an empty stack and you can't clear the stack with "0 enter enter enter" etc.
It has been pretty reckless on the part of HP to ignore the habits of many RPN users in such a mean way.

If you don't like "zero" being distinct from "no data" or having to use CLST (three keystrokes) to clear the stack, then don't use it, I'm not forcing this on anyone. The four-level stack is still there and works as always.

Just like HP, I'm adding capabilities to make the app more useful. In the case of the HP calculators, the dynamic stack wasn't merely an option, it was a central part of the new design. The new design was carefully thought out and very capable, but not compatible with certain habits. You can call that unfortunate; I find it odd to call it reckless or mean.

(02-04-2021 08:02 AM)Peet Wrote:  You have no idea how often my HP48 almost flew out of the window because of "Error: To Few Arguments" which even appeared on the HP48 if you wanted to push it away with <-, the HP28S and the Prime (also the Free42 test version) does it better in this case. But in contrast to the HP calculators, the Free42 does not show the function that triggered the error.

Just like the HP-42S, Free42 never tells you which function triggers an error, any error. You can tell because it's the one you just pressed on the keyboard, or, if it happened while running a program, it's the one that the program halted on, which you can see by going into program mode. This is how RPN keystroke programmable calculators have always worked.

(02-04-2021 08:02 AM)Peet Wrote:  I like to juggle the stack myself in programs instead of using register but the limited stack in particular forces you to make it understandable e.g. if you look at such a program again after years.

Style is a personal choice. You can use stackrobatics in a way that makes programs hard to understand, but you don't have to. Just like the Obfuscated C Contest doesn't mean C programs are necessarily hard to read.