mknox@NGP.UTEXAS.EDU (mknox) (06/01/86)
On some of the "wishes", I will make the following comments:
o A converter from xxxx source code (assembly) to 68000 assembly
language: A real simple minded one is very easy to write, in
fact, I did one once as a set of VMS MACRO macros (doubt if I
can find it anymore, though). Problem is, the resultant program
ran like molassis! The problem of going from the 8080, 8088,
Z80, ... series is with the condition code register. It is not
updated on a large series of instructions which the 68000 DOES
update. So a lot of programmers use sequences like:
...
DCR B
MOV A,H
INX D
JNZ wherever
and it is the result of the DCR several instructions back that
determines the jump. So the "converter" program winds up putting
out a LOT of code that wastes time saving and restoring the
status register. What is needed is a slightly more sophisticated
program than a simple one-to-one conversion; a program which
can optomize and only update the "status" when it will be needed
later (a small percentage of the time). It is a quite do-able
program, just a little more work than I have had time for
lately.
o A software company that knows what CP/M-68K is: Sure, TriSoft
kn{_ows, Mark of the Unicorn knows, Compuview knows, LMI knows,
Whitesmith knows, Alcyon knows, SVS knows (but won't talk to
you anyway, so that doesn't help), DRI is trying to forget,
First Software knows (ask DRI) but they have laid off so many
people its hard to find anyone who will admit anything, ...
A lot of companies know CP/M-68K and have a product for it. The
trouble is, most of them only have one or two of their own
products for it. The companies which do NOT know CP/M-68K are
the BIG mail order companies. All they seem to know about is
PC-DOS. WESTICO (now defunct) was one of the last I know
about which carried just about EVERYTHING for EVERYTHING.
By the way, a sideways plug for a company called The Programmer's
Shop. They don't normally carry CP/M-68K stuff, but they have
about as general a stocking as I see anywhere. And they maintain
a LARGE referral list. I send a lot of people to them who are
looking for oddball or unusual packages. And they have indicated
that they will carry CP/M-68K stuff, IF they get enough calls
for it. [Note: I can't plug TriSoft here; wouldn't be polite.]
mknox@ngp.utexas.edu