book: MASTERING MACHINE CODE ON YOUR ZX81

Discussion about ZX80 / ZX81 Software
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David G
Posts: 387
Joined: Thu Jul 17, 2014 7:58 am
Location: 21 North, 156 West

book: MASTERING MACHINE CODE ON YOUR ZX81

Post by David G »

an oldie from 1982, but a goodie

A book worth having in paper form so you can go through it go through the book systematically and ponder over the lessons

The HTML is great for reference, and the typed-in program listings for double-checking your work (if you type in the programs, you will understand it better)
[edit:] 2nd edition of] "MASTERING MACHINE CODE ON YOUR ZX81 or ZX80 by TONI BAKER" cover has drawing of a ZX81 and behind it is a smaller ZX80
(Interface Publishing, paperback 186 pages ISBN 0907563236)
Mastering Machine Code (white).jpg

USA edition with yellow or orange cover has a blurb "use this book with your Timex Sinclair 1000 Computer!" pasted over a photo of the ZX81
(a Reward Book, Reston Publishing, hardcover 180 pages, ISBN:9780835942614, 0835942619)
Mastering Machine Code (yellow).jpg
Mastering Machine Code (orange).jpg
Last edited by David G on Mon Oct 03, 2022 9:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
David G
Posts: 387
Joined: Thu Jul 17, 2014 7:58 am
Location: 21 North, 156 West

book: ... On Your Timex Sinclair 1000/1500

Post by David G »

1983 variation of the original, with edits for the Timex Sinclair 1500
Mastering Machine Code (wizard cover)
Mastering Machine Code (wizard cover)
T/S 1500
T/S 1000
ZX-81
Mastering Machine Code on Your Timex Sinclair 1000/1500
Toni Baker

Finally, a "simple English" guide to machine code!

BookWare TM
For the Timex Sinclair 1000, Timex Sinclair 1500 and ZX-81 Computers
R
The 'R' is for Reston Publishing, a subsidiary of Prentice Hall
ISBN-10 0835942554
ISBN-13 978-0835942553
UPC 021898425546
Moggy
Posts: 3232
Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2008 2:00 pm

Re: book: MASTERING MACHINE CODE ON YOUR ZX81

Post by Moggy »

The first pictures are the second and third revisions of the book.

The first edition is pictured below.

All editions have the same errors which were never corrected however Thurnors web version along with some maths corrections in the ROM I supplied fixes this, the calculator single byte instruction for raising to powers is still absent and the authors own convoluted routine still in place.

There is a bit of ambiguity as to whether he was she.

This first edition has the author referred to as he by Tim Hartnell in the foreword and and he also uses the masculine name Tony as per the front cover, later editions he is altered to she and Tony to Toni.
There is a page in the first edition only in which the author points to a change of gender in the future and the very final program in the later revisions of the book have been altered by the author to reflect this change so not really ambiguous as to gender at that time in my opinion, which was actually a big deal back then and not something generally broadcast only alluded to by those under going such a transition

As for being a good book I found it very weak with errors, especially the maths routines, with poor examples and an over emphasis on drawing a draughts board alongside a large section on the Z80 codes themselves which was done better by Rodney Zacs.
Only my opinion and no doubt others will think differently.
Attachments
MasteringMachineCode.Front.jpg
David G
Posts: 387
Joined: Thu Jul 17, 2014 7:58 am
Location: 21 North, 156 West

Re: book: MASTERING MACHINE CODE ON YOUR ZX81

Post by David G »

thanks. I updated the "original" to "2nd edition"

The only difference on the cover that i can spot is spelling of the name: 1st edition has it as Tony, 2nd: Toni
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