Clive Sinclair of C5 fame just died

[Citizen of Legoland]

My first computer programming manual, RIP Sir Clive.

ZX81 BASIC Programming

CHAPTER 1
Setting up the ZX81
& how to use this manual, whether or not you know BASIC.

CHAPTER 2
Telling the computer what to do
How to type things in to the computer
, , RUBOUT, NEWLINE

CHAPTER 3
A History lesson

CHAPTER 4
The Sinclair ZX81 as a pocket calculator
Statement: PRINT with commas & semicolons
Operations: +, -, *, /, **
Expressions & scientific notation

CHAPTER 5
Functions
Statement: RAND
Functions: ABS, SGN, SIN, COS, TAN, ASN, ACS, ATN, LN, EXP, SQR, INT, PI, RND, FUNCTION

CHAPTER 6
Variables
Statements: LET, CLEAR
Simple numeric variables

CHAPTER 7
Strings
Operation: + (for strings)
Functions: LEN, VALSTR$
Strings, simple string variables

CHAPTER 8
Computer programming
Statements: RUN, LIST
Programs
Editing programs using , & EDIT

CHAPTER 9
More computer programming
Statements: GOTO, CONT, INPUT, NEW, REM, PRINT
STOP in INPUT data
BREAK

CHAPTER 10
If...
Statements: IF, STOP
Operations: =, <, >, <=, >=, <>, AND, OR
Function: NOT

CHAPTER 11
The character set
Functions: CODE, CHR$
The character set is thoroughly non-standard
GRAPHICS

CHAPTER 12
Looping
Statements: FOR, NEXT, TO, STEP

CHAPTER 13
SLOW & FAST
Statements: SLOW, FAST
The ZX81 operates at two speeds: one neat, the other fast.

CHAPTER 14
Subroutines
Statements: GOSUB, RETURN

CHAPTER 15
Making your programs work
Flowcharts & debugging

CHAPTER 16
Tape storage
Statements: SAVE, LOAD

CHAPTER 17
Printing with frills
Statements: CLS, SCROLL
PRINT items: AT, TAB
CHAPTER 18
Graphics
Statements: PLOT, UNPLOT

CHAPTER 19
Time & motion
Statement: PAUSE
Function: INKEY$

CHAPTER 20
The ZX81 Printer
Statements: LPRINT, LLIST, COPY

CHAPTER 21
Substrings
Slicing, using TO

CHAPTER 22
Arrays
Statement: DIM

CHAPTER 23
When the computer gets full
Odd things happen

CHAPTER 24
Counting on your fingers
Binary & hexadecimal counting

CHAPTER 25
How the computer works
What the individual chips do
Statement: POKE
Function: PEEK

CHAPTER 26
Using machine code
Statement: NEW
Function: USR

CHAPTER 27
Organization of memory

CHAPTER 28
System variables

APPENDICES
A The character set
B Report codes
C The ZX81 for those that understand BASIC

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

The spectrum was a great bit of kit until you fucked up the keyboard playing Daley Thompson's decathlon.

He was one of those people who had great ideas but could never make it successful

That was a great game!

My mate's mum bought a C5 and we'd ride it round the estate. Was a glorified bogey looking back but all the kids wanted a go.

RIP

 

[TonyM]

RIP

I was so excited to spend my Confirmation money on a ZX Spectrum and when I did I had no idea what to do with it. :-)

 

[lefty goldblatt]

The spectrum was a great bit of kit until you fucked up the keyboard playing Daley Thompson's decathlon.

Manic Miner and Jet Set Willy, too.

Pity I was shite at computer games

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

RIP

I was so excited to spend my Confirmation money on a ZX Spectrum and when I did I had no idea what to do with it. :-)

Never could afford the Spectrum but on the ZX81 it was usually hours and hours of programming things like this, a couple of minutes play, then losing all your work due to RAM wobble.

 

[Kiss this guy]

My first computer, utter shite, called it the zx Spactrum, the Commodore 64 was better but Sir Clive got me started. RIP.

 

[wayne71]

Genuinely quite sad to hear about this. I do think in years to come he will be regarded as one of Britains most influential people in the modern era

Whilst the thread mentions the C5, it's a bit disrespectful to think that is what he should be remembered for. He invented the ZX Spectrum and the UK owes a substantial part of its IT industry to Sir Clive.

In the 1980s he made the first popular, cheap, home computer and if you're of a certain age there's pretty much a guarantee you learnt to program computers on a ZX Spectrum. His invention created the first bedroom programmers and they wrote games, without any training. He helped to create a new industry.

The Spectrum is as iconic as the Mini. Growing up in the 80s, the British made Spectrum introduced BASIC to kids. The rubber let's, the style and the cost were all exceptional

Of course as an eccentric innovator Sir Clive ventured into many areas, some not as great as the Spectrum. However, when I see the popularity of escooters to get around town, he had the idea of small electric vehicles decades ago. He was genuinely ahead of his time.

Thanks Sir Clive for providing me with the opportunity to get into programming, to go to University and enjoy a career in a fascinating industry. I say that on behalf of thousands upon thousands of others who benefitted enormously from his far sighted genius. I meet them regularly.

RIP Sir Clive. Might have a game of Manic Miner or Football Manager tonight!

10 PRINT "RIP Sir Clive"
20 GOTO 10

RUN

 

[Bobby the blue]

Spectrum was my first computer. Set me on the way for years. Many an evening after school spent playing kick off. Seems like a man who was way ahead of his time.

 

[cookster]

RIP Clive, ZX 80 was my first PC. Migrated to a Commodore 64 after that.

 

[Fat Chance]

He made a black digital watch, not much kop but ' made in england' does have its followers