3 ms·
I remember that my ZX Spectrum 48k came with a big orange book of BASIC programs to type in. One of which was some sort of mystical “reflect on the runes” prog
by urbandw311er 3mo ago
I remember that my ZX Spectrum 48k came with a big orange book of BASIC programs to type in.
One of which was some sort of mystical “reflect on the runes” program that printed ancient symbols to contemplate. It had a written comment in the docs that it would self destruct after three attempts “to guard against frivolous use”. And, sure enough, if you typed it in without understanding it - there was the BASIC command that soft reset your computer on the third iteration! I can’t remember that command now - RANDOMIZE USR 0 perhaps? Happy days.
- zimpenfish 3mo agoIIRC it was something like "hexagrams" which printed the I Ching hexagrams[0] [0] https://www.iching-online.com/hexagrams/ https://www.iching-online.com/hexagrams/
- egypturnash 3mo agoLooks like. https://zx.tr/basinc/help/topics/manual_appd.html https://zx.tr/basinc/help/topics/manual_appd.html, scroll down. "Here is a program to throw coins for the I Ching. (Unfortunately it produces the patterns upside down. but you might not worry about this.)" Last statement: NEW.
- urbandw311er 2mo agoAh yes! Great find. And “ Press Enter a sixth time, and the program will erase itself this is to discourage you from using it frivolously.”
- buildsjets 3mo agoAnd from a recent Show HN: I Ching simulator with accurate Yarrow Stalk probabilities https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46261942 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46261942