CP/M essentials
CP/M is the operating system running inside the emulated computer. It loads programs and provides access to disk files and the terminal. Triptych is the machine environment around it. The browser's file-management controls operate on the emulated disks while the CP/M prompt accepts commands inside the guest computer.
The prompt and current drive
At an A> prompt, A is the current drive. Entering B: selects drive B. DIR lists files on the current drive and TYPE POSTAGE.SK8 displays a source file. Enter each command followed by Return. The prompt itself is not part of the command.
A setup may contain protected release disks and writable personal disks. Use a writable disk for editor output and generated programs. The course's Skate starter uses B for this purpose. A different Triptych setup can have a different arrangement, so check the selected configuration before working on a file.
Source and executable files
CP/M filenames have a name of up to eight characters and an optional extension of up to three. POSTAGE.SK8 is source text and POSTAGE.COM is an executable. EDIT POSTAGE.SK8 starts the editor with that source. SKATE POSTAGE.SK8 compiles it. Entering POSTAGE loads and runs the executable.
After a compilation failure, check the diagnostic before running a program. An older .COM file may still be present. Check the compilation result before treating a later run as evidence of your edit.
Saving work
Ctrl-S in EDIT saves text into the guest disk and Ctrl-Q exits the editor. Persisting that disk in browser storage is a separate step handled by the browser host. A downloaded backup keeps a copy outside that browser profile. Resetting the machine does not save text still held only in the editor.
The detailed browser controls depend on the Triptych release. Consult its browser guide for file transfers and backup operations matching your setup.