curzon@kaoa01.dec.com (Richard Curzon TRS 5/2 DTN 640-2149) (05/18/88)
There are 2 runtime packages (at least) for Action! The one that
was sold by OSS (and now presumably by ICD Inc) is the original by Clint
Parker. It is not PD. The other one I did a quick review of last year:
The other (PD) package is by Jeff Reister (sp?) of Mount Vernon,
Washington. It includes an adaptation of the ST Reversi game published
by Analog, and a font editor, along with their source codes, and the
assembler sources for the runtime package code.
The actual runtime package is contained in one relatively short file
(RUNTIME.ACT). It seems to be quite a bit more compact than the OSS
runtime package. There is also a program RTSCAN.COM (with sources) that
scans 1 or more source code files, and compiles a list of each of the
RUNTIME symbols that will be required. The list can be output to any
device. It lists symbols in the same order as they appear in the
RUNTIME.ACT file, and the number of calls made to each. Then it is
simple to load a copy of RUNTIME.ACT into the editor, and kill all the
unused routines/variables.
[There has since been posted to GEnie a program like RTSCAN,
except it actual creates the "minimum size" RUNTIME.ACT file, with only
the routines required by your sources. Any body tried that one?]
In all, this package makes less demand on your symbol table capacity
than the OSS package (fewer symbols). And, RTSCAN makes it easy to
include only the direct and indirect routines needed, to make your
runable binary file as small as possible, and minimize symbol table
demands.
If however you encounter symbol table capacity problems in
compiling a very large program, this package does not include a routine
to increase symbol table space (like BIGST.ACT distributed with the OSS
package), nor does it have documentation on exactly what system
variables need to be changed.
However, BIGST.ACT was released to the world by Clint Parker's BBS,
as copyright but to be freely distributed, so that could be used in
conjunction with this PD runtime package.
The package comes with a notice that although this runtime package
is PD, Action! programs can still not be sold for profit unless cleared
with OSS Inc. [PROBABLY ICD INC - NOW]
It is a very fine package, and a definite improvement over the OSS
package in ease of use-- no bugs found yet.
[I have since used the PD runtime package on a couple of small programs--
it works great...]