SpeedScript
Encyclopedia
SpeedScript was a type-in
word processor
for various home computer
s. Approximately 5 KB
in length, it provided many of the same features as commercial word processing packages of the early 8-bit
era, such as Easy Script and Bank Street Writer
.
Program Editor Charles Brannon for the Commodore 64
and VIC-20
, and published in the January 1984 issue of the Gazette. It was later ported
to various other computers that used the 65xx family
of CPUs
, including the Atari 8-bit family
and the Apple II family. SpeedScript was written entirely in assembly language
, and COMPUTE!
Publications later released a book/disk combination that contained the complete commented source code (as well as compiled object code in MLX format).
A DOS version of PC SpeedScript was created in 1988 by Randy Thompson and published in book form by COMPUTE! Books, ISBN 0-87455-166-8. PC SpeedScript was written in Turbo Pascal
with portions written in assembly language
. This version added incremental new features to the word processor, such as additional printer commands, full cursor-control (to take advantage of the PC's Home, End, PgUp, and PgDn keys), and a native 80-column mode.
was released, featuring an 80-column display, many users requested an updated version of SpeedScript to take advantage of this new capability. In June 1986, COMPUTE!'s Gazette published SpeedScript-80, a short patch
for SpeedScript 3.0 or higher, which enabled the use of the VDC's new 80-column capabilities on a Commodore 128 running in 64 mode. However, this did not take advantage of the C128's expanded memory, and a few minor commands were eliminated due to the alterations to the existing code. SpeedScript-80 was enhanced soon after with SpeedScript-80- Revisited, by Bob Kodadek.
A native version for the C128 called SpeedScript 128, also written by Kodadek, was finally released in October 1987. This version eliminated the problems of the patch and took full advantage of the C128's 80-column screen, its expanded memory and the enhanced keyboard.
In December 1987, COMPUTE!'s Gazette published Instant 80, a utility for the C64 version of SpeedScript that allowed 80-column document previewing (though not editing) on a standard C64. This was done by using half-width characters on a high-resolution graphics screen.
, additional utilities were soon published to fill this hole. In December 1985, SpeedCheck was published in COMPUTE!'s Gazette. This external utility accepted SpeedScript files (as well as those from compatible word processors, such as PaperClip
) and spell-checked them against a user-defined dictionary. An enhanced 80-column version for the C128, SpeedCheck 128, was published in September 1988.
Type-in program
A type-in program, or just type-in, is a computer program listing printed in a computer magazine or book, meant to be typed in by the reader in order to run the program on a computer....
word processor
Word processor
A word processor is a computer application used for the production of any sort of printable material....
for various home computer
Home computer
Home computers were a class of microcomputers entering the market in 1977, and becoming increasingly common during the 1980s. They were marketed to consumers as affordable and accessible computers that, for the first time, were intended for the use of a single nontechnical user...
s. Approximately 5 KB
Kilobyte
The kilobyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information. Although the prefix kilo- means 1000, the term kilobyte and symbol KB have historically been used to refer to either 1024 bytes or 1000 bytes, dependent upon context, in the fields of computer science and information...
in length, it provided many of the same features as commercial word processing packages of the early 8-bit
8-bit
The first widely adopted 8-bit microprocessor was the Intel 8080, being used in many hobbyist computers of the late 1970s and early 1980s, often running the CP/M operating system. The Zilog Z80 and the Motorola 6800 were also used in similar computers...
era, such as Easy Script and Bank Street Writer
Bank Street Writer
Bank Street Writer was a word processor for Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore, Macintosh, and IBM PC computers.It was designed in 1981 by Jeff Nilson, software manager at Intentional Educations in Watertown, MA and Gene Kuzmiak, then a senior at Harvard College...
.
Versions
Initially, SpeedScript was written by COMPUTE!'s GazetteCOMPUTE!'s Gazette
COMPUTE!'s Gazette was a computer magazine of the 1980s, directed at users of Commodore's 8-bit home computers. Publishing its first issue in July 1983, the Gazette was a Commodore-only daughter magazine of the computer hobbyist magazine COMPUTE!....
Program Editor Charles Brannon for the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
and VIC-20
Commodore VIC-20
The VIC-20 is an 8-bit home computer which was sold by Commodore Business Machines. The VIC-20 was announced in 1980, roughly three years after Commodore's first personal computer, the PET...
, and published in the January 1984 issue of the Gazette. It was later ported
Porting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
to various other computers that used the 65xx family
MOS Technology 65xx
MOS Technology 65xx is a family of 8-bit microprocessors from MOS Technology, based on the Motorola 6800 . The 65xx family most notably included the 6502, used in several home computers such as the Commodore PET and VIC-20, the Apple II, and the Atari 800.One popular 6502 based computer, the...
of CPUs
Central processing unit
The central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in...
, including the Atari 8-bit family
Atari 8-bit family
The Atari 8-bit family is a series of 8-bit home computers manufactured from 1979 to 1992. All are based on the MOS Technology 6502 CPU and were the first home computers designed with custom coprocessor chips...
and the Apple II family. SpeedScript was written entirely in assembly language
Assembly language
An assembly language is a low-level programming language for computers, microprocessors, microcontrollers, and other programmable devices. It implements a symbolic representation of the machine codes and other constants needed to program a given CPU architecture...
, and COMPUTE!
COMPUTE!
Compute! was an American computer magazine that was published from 1979 to 1994, though it can trace its origin to 1978 in Len Lindsay's PET Gazette, one of the first magazines for the Commodore PET computer. In its 1980s heyday Compute! covered all major platforms, and several single-platform...
Publications later released a book/disk combination that contained the complete commented source code (as well as compiled object code in MLX format).
A DOS version of PC SpeedScript was created in 1988 by Randy Thompson and published in book form by COMPUTE! Books, ISBN 0-87455-166-8. PC SpeedScript was written in Turbo Pascal
Turbo Pascal
Turbo Pascal is a software development system that includes a compiler and an integrated development environment for the Pascal programming language running on CP/M, CP/M-86, and DOS, developed by Borland under Philippe Kahn's leadership...
with portions written in assembly language
Assembly language
An assembly language is a low-level programming language for computers, microprocessors, microcontrollers, and other programmable devices. It implements a symbolic representation of the machine codes and other constants needed to program a given CPU architecture...
. This version added incremental new features to the word processor, such as additional printer commands, full cursor-control (to take advantage of the PC's Home, End, PgUp, and PgDn keys), and a native 80-column mode.
80-Column Updates
The original versions of SpeedScript were designed for the 40-column Commodore 64 and the 22-column VIC-20. When the Commodore 128Commodore 128
The Commodore 128 home/personal computer was the last 8-bit machine commercially released by Commodore Business Machines...
was released, featuring an 80-column display, many users requested an updated version of SpeedScript to take advantage of this new capability. In June 1986, COMPUTE!'s Gazette published SpeedScript-80, a short patch
Patch (computing)
A patch is a piece of software designed to fix problems with, or update a computer program or its supporting data. This includes fixing security vulnerabilities and other bugs, and improving the usability or performance...
for SpeedScript 3.0 or higher, which enabled the use of the VDC's new 80-column capabilities on a Commodore 128 running in 64 mode. However, this did not take advantage of the C128's expanded memory, and a few minor commands were eliminated due to the alterations to the existing code. SpeedScript-80 was enhanced soon after with SpeedScript-80- Revisited, by Bob Kodadek.
In December 1987, COMPUTE!'s Gazette published Instant 80, a utility for the C64 version of SpeedScript that allowed 80-column document previewing (though not editing) on a standard C64. This was done by using half-width characters on a high-resolution graphics screen.
Spelling checkers
Although SpeedScript did not include a built-in spell checkerSpell checker
In computing, a spell checker is an application program that flags words in a document that may not be spelled correctly. Spell checkers may be stand-alone capable of operating on a block of text, or as part of a larger application, such as a word processor, email client, electronic dictionary,...
, additional utilities were soon published to fill this hole. In December 1985, SpeedCheck was published in COMPUTE!'s Gazette. This external utility accepted SpeedScript files (as well as those from compatible word processors, such as PaperClip
PaperClip
PaperClip was a word processor for the Commodore 64, 128 , and Atari 8 bit personal computers.The Commodore 64 version of PaperClip was written by Steve Douglas and was rewritten for the Atari personal computer by Steve Ahlstrom and Dan Moore....
) and spell-checked them against a user-defined dictionary. An enhanced 80-column version for the C128, SpeedCheck 128, was published in September 1988.
 SpeedScript 3.0 for the Commodore VIC-20 Commodore VIC-20 The VIC-20 is an 8-bit home computer which was sold by Commodore Business Machines. The VIC-20 was announced in 1980, roughly three years after Commodore's first personal computer, the PET... |
 SpeedScript 3.0 for the Atari 400/800/XL/XE Atari 8-bit family The Atari 8-bit family is a series of 8-bit home computers manufactured from 1979 to 1992. All are based on the MOS Technology 6502 CPU and were the first home computers designed with custom coprocessor chips... |