Python comes to the Casio fx-CG 50

[StephenG1CMZ]

(10-24-2018 05:35 PM)ijabbott Wrote:  No graphics in CG50 MicroPython yet, but perhaps they'll add some support in a later release.

I gather there is now an OS3.50 for the Cg50 (or an OS3.40 for the Casio 9860giii) that allows pixels to be addressed... Though it is unlikely to have reached UK stockists yet.

[toml_12953]

(12-04-2020 10:50 PM)StephenG1CMZ Wrote:  

(10-24-2018 05:35 PM)ijabbott Wrote:  No graphics in CG50 MicroPython yet, but perhaps they'll add some support in a later release.

I gather there is now an OS3.50 for the Cg50 (or an OS3.40 for the Casio 9860giii) that allows pixels to be addressed... Though it is unlikely to have reached UK stockists yet.

Pixels were in fx-CG50 OS 3.40 as well.

from casioplot import *
set_pixel(x,y,rgbcolor)

[StephenG1CMZ]

Nice picture.
My local stockist tells me there is one version of the Cg50...and unlike the Cg50, the 9860 has Python advertised.
I wonder what that would look like in OS 1.00?

[Dave Britten]

(12-05-2020 08:19 AM)StephenG1CMZ Wrote:  Nice picture.
My local stockist tells me there is one version of the Cg50...and unlike the Cg50, the 9860 has Python advertised.
I wonder what that would look like in OS 1.00?

Python wasn't added to the fx-CG50 until well after it was released, so the packaging might not make any mention of it. They all can run Python, you just have to make sure the firmware is up to date. The fx-9860giii and fx-9750giii were both introduced early this year, as I recall, and both included Python in the original firmware release.

[Steve Simpkin]

One of the more interesting aspects of these Casio models is the price in the U.S. The fx-CG50 sells for about US$80 and the fx-9860giii about US$40. These are much cheaper than the equivalent TI models here and include python and even CAS (KhiCAS). Unfortunately TI has a lock on the U.S. educational market so even if Casio gave them away for free, you would not see many of them in U.S. classrooms.

[lrdheat]

I like/prefer the graphical analysis tools on these CASIO’s. They are much more complete, easier to use than on the TI’s. The only thing that surprises me on the CASIO’s is the inability of dealing with non-continuous integrals. I am forced to create 2 integrals, and enter a starting or end point of the interval +/- 1E-12 from the discontinuity. The TI’s are pretty good in dealing with this.

[lrdheat]

off topic...the one function that I miss on the HP 42s function set is NRoot!

[grsbanks]

(12-05-2020 01:56 PM)Dave Britten Wrote:  The fx-9860giii and fx-9750giii were both introduced early this year, as I recall, and both included Python in the original firmware release.

I have an fx-9860GIII with OS V3.21.0200 (not yet had time to update it) and it does indeed include python.

[critor]

(12-05-2020 07:32 PM)grsbanks Wrote:  I have an fx-9860GIII with OS V3.21.0200 (not yet had time to update it) and it does indeed include python.

Yes, but without the casioplot module to address pixels in Python.

You'll need to update to 3.40 in order to get this.

[StephenG1CMZ]

Any tips for finding out which OS a Casio has?
(Prior to purchase/order)?

[cdmackay]

(12-05-2020 10:11 PM)StephenG1CMZ Wrote:  Any tips for finding out which OS a Casio has?
(Prior to purchase/order)?

You mean a CG-50? It doesn't matter, surely, since you can just upgrade it?

[StephenG1CMZ]

Apparently you need a PC to upgrade either the Cg50 or the 9860 giii... And if Santa brings a PC with full Python, I won't need a Casio without.
(Though the portability would be nice to have).

So far, I am reluctantly leaning towards the 9860 giii, which at least has a (non-graphical) Python. Unless there is a way to buy a newer version?

[grsbanks]

(12-05-2020 10:41 PM)cdmackay Wrote:  You mean a CG-50? It doesn't matter, surely, since you can just upgrade it?

The Casio update thing is Windows only. Not even MacOS is supported. Linux? Forget it.

Edit: There is an updater for MacOS.

[toml_12953]

(12-06-2020 09:47 AM)grsbanks Wrote:  The Casio update thing is Windows only. Not even MacOS is supported. Linux? Forget it.

Can't you use WINE on Linux to run the Casio updating software?

[grsbanks]

(12-07-2020 03:09 AM)toml_12953 Wrote:  Can't you use WINE on Linux to run the Casio updating software?

I have to admit that I've not tried, but I'd be very surprised if it did work given that it has to install USB drivers for the calculator to be recognised. Device driver installation generally won't work in WINE. USB device driver specifically definitely won't work.

[critor]

(12-06-2020 09:47 AM)grsbanks Wrote:  The Casio update thing is Windows only. Not even MacOS is supported. Linux? Forget it.

Sorry, I have to object, there are fx-CG50 updaters for both Windows and MacOS :
http://edu.casio.com/download/index.php

[grsbanks]

(12-07-2020 08:52 AM)critor Wrote:  Sorry, I have to object, there are fx-CG50 updaters for both Windows and MacOS :
http://edu.casio.com/download/index.php

I stand corrected! Thanks for the info.

[Steve Simpkin]

(12-07-2020 08:52 AM)critor Wrote:  

(12-06-2020 09:47 AM)grsbanks Wrote:  The Casio update thing is Windows only. Not even MacOS is supported. Linux? Forget it.

Sorry, I have to object, there are fx-CG50 updaters for both Windows and MacOS :
http://edu.casio.com/download/index.php

Very true but for the 9860GIII they only seem to have a Windows updater, not a Mac version.

[cdmackay]

(12-07-2020 11:22 AM)Steve Simpkin Wrote:  Very true but for the 9860GIII they only seem to have a Windows updater, not a Mac version.

ah, that's a pain. I knew they did CG-50 for MacOS, since that is what I've used to update mine, hence my comment, but I don't have a 9860GIII.

[bxparks]

(This 4-year old thread seems to be the most appropriate for my comments...)

I tried creating a few MicroPython programs on my Casio fx-CG50 for the first time. I can describe the experience in a few words: awful, terrible, horrible, frustrating.

One of the first things I tried was a 2-line program to read a string from the keyboard, and printing it out:

Code:

s = input("s?")
print(s)

Problem 1: It is *extremely* tedious to type alpha-letters on a non-QWERTY calculator keyboard with the letters distributed seemingly randomly: most rows have 6 letters, 1 row has 3 letters, and the 'z' appears by itself on the last row. It takes forever to find the letter that I want. I wanted to throw the calculator across the room after a few minutes.

Problem 2: The color scheme of the ALPHA letters is not very good: dark-red on black background. It makes the letters difficult to read except in bright light conditions.

Problem 3: When I run the above simple program, I get the prompt "s?". Then I want to type a string containing some ASCII symbols, like '%', '$', '\' (backslash), '&'. Those symbols are not exposed to the Casio keyboard, and the `input()` function provides no access to those symbols as far as I can tell. Some of the math function buttons are bound to their Python equivalents. For example, pressing the `sin` button enters the string "sin()". And pressing the `x^2` button enters the string "**2". But I cannot see anyway to enter most ASCII symbols during the `input()` function. (If you thought that SHIFT CATALOG would be available during the `input()`, you would be mistaken like me.)

Problem 4: The CG50 ships with a very old version of MicroPython, v1.9.4 (I don't recall which version of Python3 this corresponds to, maybe 3.4?). It does not support many features of Python3 that normal Python programmers would expect. Two examples that I ran into quickly:

4a) It does not support Unicode. In other words, entering the following in REPL mode (called "SHELL" in the Casio menu) produces an exception:

Code:

>>> chr(256)
ValueError: chr() arg not in range(256)

4b) It does not support the new Python3 f-strings. For example, `f"{254:2X}"` is supposed to print "FE" (hexadecimal of 254). But on the Casio, this is a syntax error.

In contrast, the Linux version of MicroPython (e.g. v1.17) and the MacOS version of MicroPython (e.g. v1.24) support both Unicode and f-strings.

Problem 5 The built-in editor has a limit of 300 lines, of 255 characters per line. In reality, I'm not sure that these limits actually matter, since it is so painful to create and edit programs on the calculator.

Workarounds

The only way I could do anything productive with the Casio MicroPython environment, was to enter my program on my laptop using a real editor and a real keyboard. Then debug the program on the laptop using the desktop version of MicroPython. Then upload the *.py file to the Casio calculator using the USB cable.

There is no workaround for the lack of Unicode.

But f-strings can be replaced with the OG old-school '%' operator. In other words, `f"{254:2X}"` can be written as `"%2X" % 254`.

Summary

The on-board MicroPython programming environment on the Caiso fx-CG50 calculator is awkward and unproductive. Without a QWERTY keyboard, it is time-consuming and frustrating to type anything non-trivial on the calculator. In some contexts (e.g. the input() function), it is impossible to enter many ASCII symbols that are found on normal computer keyboards. The version of MicroPython on the CG50 is too old and not compatible with modern Python3. It is not clear to me how the Python environment on the CG50 is useful for anything.