z80 vs Python

[Corey Coughlin]

Personally, if I had the time, I'd try porting python to a gumstix
board:

http://www.gumstix.com/

It probably wouldn't be too hard, but still, it'd be fun to get it
onto that tiny board.  :)




"Janusz U." <nopsoft at poczta.onet.pl> wrote in message news:<cbetoc$ljp$1 at atlantis.news.tpi.pl>...
> > I wouldn't recommend this. The standard Python interpreter is quite hefty
> > (>700K dynamically linked), not to mention the standard libraries. Seeing
> > as Z80 has only 64K address space, I don't see a full implementation as
> > possible.
> 
> I know. Sorry, I didn't precise. I thought exactly about eZ80F91 - it's
> based on Z80 but much more expanded... I will start on the module (and
> deviloper kit) for that procesor. It would be  independent platform for
> tests software in the Python.
> 
> > What you /could/ do would be to implement a (very) small subset of Python;
> > i.e. leave out generators, new-style class, list comprehensions, ability
> > to override built-in types, functions, and operators, and most of the
> > standard library, then you /might/ be able to fit a language with Pythonic
> > syntax in that address space.
> 
> I think to expand language by own library for Python - eg. control GPIO of
> eZ80, read
> 
> >
> > Another issue would be speed. Z80s, though they've gotten faster over the
> > years, still only run at speeds on the order of 10MHz. You might be better
> > off writing a Z80 compiler for a Python-esque language -- this would save
> > both speed and memory.
> 
> speed 50MHz (or 20MHz in F92, F93...)
> 
> >
> > If you can pick a different chip, go with something like a StrongARM.
> > These have the power and address space necessary for Python. Plus, it's
> > been done before (Python runs beautifully on modern PDAs).
> 
> I have just bought the developer kit for eZ80 so I have limited way. I'd be
> happy to run Python on eZ80 platform.
> 
> thx
> Janusz U.
> 
> > If you stick with the Z80 though, you've got quite a challenge ahead of
> > you - good luck! If you succeed, you'll be sure to make hackers of Game
> > Boys, TI-83s, and TRS-80s everywhere deliriously happy.
> >