Chapter 3: Application Development Process 121
TI-83 Plus Developer Guide Third Release May 28, 2002
Applications
Applications, or apps, are assembly language programs. These programs are different
from ASM programs primarily in that they are stored in and run from the Flash ROM,
where they are not likely to be erased, and they take no RAM space. Applications only
need RAM for any variables they might create. Apps have access to all the same
system routines as ASM programs and they can be much larger than ASM programs.
Apps must be created on a PC. They have special requirements on content and linking.
They must be digitally signed if they are to be distributed. Additionally, a user calculator
must have an internal digital certificate in order for the app to run. This is not true if the
app is freeware or shareware.
ASM versus Applications
Assembly programs written to be ASM programs must be modified in order to function
correctly as Applications. The major difference is that ASM programs run from RAM, but
Applications run from Flash ROM. Therefore, applications cannot be self-modifying,
whereas ASMs can. Applications also need additional identification code at the start of
the program. They need additional code to handle errors and exceptional events. And,
they must be digitally signed if they are to be distributed.
DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM
The simulator is for general development use and the steps for setting it up, getting
started, and creating a sample application are presented in the following sections.
Using the Simulator System — Requirements for
Getting Started
The following are the requirements to be able to develop TI-83 Plus applications using
TI’s simulator development system. The Zilog Developer Studio and TI-83 Plus
Simulator/Debugger installation and operations are covered in Chapter 4.
• IBM PC compatible computer.
• Windows 95 operating system
• The Zilog Developer Studio
• The TI Simulator/Debugger
With the above environment up and running, let us look at creating a sample
application.
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