Jupiter ACE 9+

Some nice quality of life improvements added in the last few months! It can still feel a little clunky to use, but I think that’s more a reflection of the Ace (and retro computers in general) than a criticism of this app.
I just discovered the integrated Z80 debugger, which really puts this emulation on another level!

Overall, a cool emulation of an interesting piece of computing history.

UPDATE: New version of app with symbol lock and short text in about screen about the Ace Forth version.

UPDATE 2: Tapping on the emulated screen will give you the option to view the Jupiter ACE Manual, which includes more information about the version of Forth in appendix D.

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Thanks for the review!

We can accommodate your request for a symbol lock setting in the next update. We can also add a summary about the Forth version in the about screen.

This is pretty fun to learn forth and hopefully z80, but it is almost impossible to type the period. The symbol key is too near the period and the backspace , and on an iphone it doesnt work most of the time or it conflicts with the app switcher. It would be nice to have shift buttons that you dont have to leave pressed, but stay on for the next character.

Thanks for the review! Regarding the shift and symbol keys, in the settings screen there are Caps Lock and Symbol Lock enable options - these will leave the keys pressed. Yes, on the smaller iPhone devices the keys are more fiddly, so tapping the “Practical” layout option above the keyboard in portrait orientation can be helpful.

You mentioned learning Forth and the Z80. When tapping on the simulated screen with iOS/iPadOS 14+, more options will be revealed including the Jupiter ACE manual and a Z80 debugger. The best experience is on an iPad where this functionality opens in a separate adjacent window/scene and the app virtual keyboard is easier to use.

This app is a recovery of a fascinating past in the evolution of computer science.

The Jupiter Ace was the best implementation of a fully integrated Forth system. Even though Forth has lived on silently in, for example, the BIOS of Sun SPARC systems, it never quite reached the level of public exposure — program listings in computer magazines! — that the Ace brought.

I am so happy and grateful for this app.

Thank you for sparing time to send a review.

Forth was a brave choice and distinguishes this computer from others during a diverse golden era of home computing. Sometimes this lesser known language is pointed to as a key factor behind the ACE not achieving marketplace success. However, most buyers would have been naive about the built in ROM language and more likely to be swayed by color graphics and the momentum of other more established brands.

Let us not overlook the clean architecture of the computer, which makes is relatively plain sailing to emulate and as a bonus requires a low load on the host iOS/iPadOS device.

Satisfying to read that you value this app. We shall continue to update it.