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