Is there a fixed goal and objective for Free42?

Discussion around the SwissMicros DM42 calculator
Post Reply
zeno333
Posts: 83
Joined: Fri Dec 29, 2017 1:34 am

Is there a fixed goal and objective for Free42?

Post by zeno333 »

The Free42 program has many diferences compared with the real HP 42S that are in addition to higher accuracy, that is of course fine...But it seems like as time goes by, changes in function and features keep coming...Is there a fixed non-moving objective regarding the functions and features for Free42?...Or is it pretty much a moving target that will be changed on going into the far future?...Just curious...
Thomas Okken
Posts: 1100
Joined: Tue May 02, 2017 5:48 pm
Location: Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Is there a fixed goal and objective for Free42?

Post by Thomas Okken »

I have no plans for new features at the moment.
zeno333
Posts: 83
Joined: Fri Dec 29, 2017 1:34 am

Re: Is there a fixed goal and objective for Free42?

Post by zeno333 »

I wonder if anyone besides me would like a special version alongside the regular Free42, of Free42 that has only the exact same functions as a real HP 42S, but has just increased accuracy and better algorithms for SOLVE and or INTEGRATION etc, but on only the same functionality as a real 42...In other words, a HP 42S withonly "internal improvements"...Just a thought
Thomas Okken
Posts: 1100
Joined: Tue May 02, 2017 5:48 pm
Location: Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Is there a fixed goal and objective for Free42?

Post by Thomas Okken »

1. Get the source code
2. In core_main.cc, in core_init(), change all the initializations of core_settings.enable_ext_* to false
3. Compile
4. Live happily ever after
5. You're welcome
User avatar
pauli
Posts: 252
Joined: Tue May 02, 2017 10:11 am
Location: Australia

Re: Is there a fixed goal and objective for Free42?

Post by pauli »

I have been tempted to add additional functions to Free42, I know how but I've not managed to get time yet.

For anyone interested in some hard core mathematical programming, there is a problem with the WP 34S's complex gamma function which I haven't managed to get to....


Pauli
User avatar
Walter
Posts: 3070
Joined: Tue May 02, 2017 11:13 am
Location: On a mission close to DRS, Germany

Re: Is there a fixed goal and objective for Free42?

Post by Walter »

pauli wrote:
Tue Sep 24, 2019 12:56 pm
For anyone interested in some hard core mathematical programming, there is a problem with the WP 34S's complex gamma function which I haven't managed to get to....
Feel free to sketch the problem else you won't get too much support, I bet ;)
WP43 SN00000, 34S, and 31S for obvious reasons; HP-35, 45, ..., 35S, 15CE, DM16L S/N# 00093, DM42β SN:00041
User avatar
pauli
Posts: 252
Joined: Tue May 02, 2017 10:11 am
Location: Australia

Re: Is there a fixed goal and objective for Free42?

Post by pauli »

The reported problem is:
WP34S emulator: (-6.2-7.6i)! = -20.3658 + i1.2046
WolframAlpha: (-6.2-i7.6)! = -9.8594e-11 + i3.2965e-12
The 34S is correct for positive values. My guess is the gamma function reflection formula is awry in the complex case.


Pauli
jch
Posts: 49
Joined: Fri Apr 28, 2017 9:11 am
Location: France

Re: Is there a fixed goal and objective for Free42?

Post by jch »

And if the way was the goal?
jch
DM42 Beta sn:00050 / DM41X Beta sn:00016
Thomas Okken
Posts: 1100
Joined: Tue May 02, 2017 5:48 pm
Location: Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Is there a fixed goal and objective for Free42?

Post by Thomas Okken »

jch wrote:
Sat Sep 28, 2019 4:04 pm
And if the way was the goal?
That's not how I feel about Free42. I don't work on it because I'm looking for something to do; I have always worked on it with a specific goal in mind.

However, new goals have appeared over time. When I first started, things like skins weren't on the radar (there was no point with the 160x160 screens of low-end Palm devices, which were my intended target), nor were printer emulation or program saving (I liked my real HP-42S just fine even though it didn't have those features, either (*)). But new goals were suggested to me, or suggested themselves to me, and so work continued, until it grew into something far fancier than what I had had in mind at first.

That's why I replied "I have no plans for new features at the moment" to zeno333's question. I wasn't trying to be evasive; I honestly have no plans for new features, at the moment, but I also can't rule out that that may change at some point in the future. If everyone switches to the DM41X or WP43 or whatever in the future, there will be little incentive for me to continue, but that will be fine. I was happy with version 1.0, and I'm happy with 2.5.9, so if it ends there, I can live with that.

(*) I didn't own an HP-82240, and still don't
cdmackay
Posts: 281
Joined: Fri Oct 05, 2018 8:33 pm
Location: Cambridge, UK
Contact:

Re: Is there a fixed goal and objective for Free42?

Post by cdmackay »

Thomas Okken wrote:
Sat Sep 28, 2019 5:17 pm
If everyone switches to the DM41X or WP43 or whatever
I can see myself getting one, or both of those (modulo key response issues being fixed), but I'll not be switching from my DM42, or the Free42 app on my phone. so thank you again for your work :)
Cambridge, UK
41CL/DM41X 12/15C/16C DM15/16 17B/II/II+ 28S 42S/DM42 32SII 48GX 50g 35s WP34S PrimeG2 WP43S/pilot
Casio, Rockwell 18R
Post Reply