HP Prime Programming Language
| Company type | Product |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electronics, Calculators |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founder | Hewlett-Packard |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Graphing calculator with CAS |
The HP Prime Graphing Calculator, initially introduced by Hewlett-Packard in 2013 and produced by HP Inc. until 2021, is currently developed, manufactured, distributed, and supported under license by Moravia Consulting spol. s r.o. and Royal Consumer Information Products, Inc.. It boasts a full-color touchscreen paired with an application-focused interface, aiming to rival smartphones in terms of ease of use.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name It is promoted as the smallest and thinnest calculator worldwide equipped with a CAS (Computer Algebra System).[1]
Beyond its physical device offerings, HP Prime extends its capabilities through emulation software compatible with PCs, Macs, and smartphones, thereby expanding its presence beyond hardware alone.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Design and software
The HP Prime’s graphical user interface incorporates two separate home screens, one of which integrates a computer algebra system (CAS) powered by the open-source Xcas/Giac 1.5.0 engine, tracing its heritage back to the HP 49G series. Both the standard and CAS modes function independently, enabling swift toggling—contrasting with rivals like the TI-Nspire series from Texas Instruments, which offer distinct CAS and non-CAS editions.
The G1 variant is equipped with a 1,500 mAh battery that supports up to 15 hours of operation per charge, whereas the G2 model upgrades this to a 2,000 mAh battery. Unlike the HP 50g, the HP Prime does not include an SD card slot or an integrated beeper.
Exam Mode
An Exam Mode on the HP Prime allows selective deactivation of certain features such as CAS functionality, user-installed applications, and notes for durations ranging between 15 minutes and 8 hours. This mode can be enabled directly on the calculator or through HP’s connectivity software. Instructors receive visual cues when the device is operating in Exam Mode. Although prohibited in some standardized assessments like the US ACT, it has gained acceptance in exams overseen by Dutch CvTE, Swiss IB, and education authorities in Alberta, Canada.
Programming
On its non-CAS home screen, the HP Prime supports entry methods including textbook style, algebraic, and 128-level RPN (referred to as Advanced RPN). Unlike RPL, which triggers errors on dynamic stack overflow, the Prime employs a fixed-size stack that discards values when overflow occurs, similar to traditional four-level RPN. The calculator operates on a newly developed operating system unrelated to HP’s prior Saturn-based platforms, rendering it incompatible with User or System RPL code as well as Saturn or ARM assembler programming.
Programming is facilitated through HP PPL (Prime Programming Language), a Pascal-inspired language that also supports application development. This language traces its roots to an earlier version introduced on the HP 38G and subsequently enhanced across later models.
Hardware revisions and model variants
The original 2013 release (NW280AA, hardware revision A) did not feature wireless connectivity, direct USB communication between units, or data streaming capabilities. Produced by Inventec Besta, it runs on a customized Besta OS.
In 2014, the second iteration (G8X92AA, revision C) introduced wireless functionality through the HP Prime Wireless Kit (FOK65AA), enabled unit-to-unit USB data transfer via USB OTG, and supported data streaming using the HP StreamSmart 410 (NW278AA) four-port streamer. The wireless kit allows connection of up to 30 calculators to a single PC for classroom environments.
The third version, released in August 2016 under model number G8X92AA and hardware revision C, maintained previous technical specifications but adopted a darker blue and orange color scheme aimed at enhancing keyboard visibility; packaging indicates a 2016 copyright date.
In July 2018, HP unveiled its second-generation hardware (model 2AP18AA, revision D), known as "G2." This model incorporates an NXP i.MX 6ULL MCIMX6Y2 processor featuring an ARM Cortex A7 core that delivers approximately triple the processing speed. It also offers expanded RAM (256 MiB compared to 32 MiB) and Flash storage capacity (512 MB versus 256 MB), running atop the FreeRTOS operating system.
See also
- Comparison of HP graphing calculators
- HP calculators
- Hewlett-Packard product list
- DB48X (RPL language for HP Prime)
Further reading
External links
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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