Since I have my SCELBI cassette interface working, I was able to take a trial run of the SCELBI integrated development environment otherwise known as MEA. This environment has a editor, assembler and debugger that is pretty smoothly integrated.
I would say the editor is pretty clunky, even by most vintage standards. However the integration with the assembler and mass storage (cassette interface) worked very well. I was able to enter source for my small SCELBI boot loader, assemble it, and then use it to load another program with my 2400 baud serial interface dongle. Saving source to tape is trivial, as is saving or loading an assembled program. Relocation and reloading the boot loader was very easy by simply changing the program origin and reassembling and reloading. I'll try to make a video of the system operating within a few days.
So far, I am impressed by the reliability and ease of use of the cassette interface, much less trouble than the later Apple 1/Apple II implementation. It's very insensitive to cassette output volume levels and rarely reads data starting from the wrong place on the tape.
regards,
Mike Willegal
I would say the editor is pretty clunky, even by most vintage standards. However the integration with the assembler and mass storage (cassette interface) worked very well. I was able to enter source for my small SCELBI boot loader, assemble it, and then use it to load another program with my 2400 baud serial interface dongle. Saving source to tape is trivial, as is saving or loading an assembled program. Relocation and reloading the boot loader was very easy by simply changing the program origin and reassembling and reloading. I'll try to make a video of the system operating within a few days.
So far, I am impressed by the reliability and ease of use of the cassette interface, much less trouble than the later Apple 1/Apple II implementation. It's very insensitive to cassette output volume levels and rarely reads data starting from the wrong place on the tape.
regards,
Mike Willegal