[comp.emacs] MicroEmacs on T1000

chet@uwovax.uwo.ca (03/02/90)

Sometime ago, looking for a small version to run on 4.77MHz machines, I
posted a request for MS-DOS screen driver code for early versions of
Microemacs. There were a half dozen letters as a result of this
indicating that others shared my need, but that was all. I am now no
longer sure that this would help anyway. This note documents why and
then suggests some alternative ways of dealing with the problem.

(1) load times on a 4.77 MHz Toshiba T1000
MicroEMACS 3.10d with stock emacs.rc file	25 secs
Microsoft MASM Editor				19 secs
Microsoft 3.10d with no emacs.rc file		16.5 secs
Microsoft 3.7 with no emacs.rc file		16 secs
Word Perfect Editor				12 secs
TED 10-function assembly lg. editor		0.5 sec

(Microsoft's and WP's editors are included for the times only. I can't
imagine that anyone would ever want to use them.)

Two conclusions may be drawn from these times: (a) the start-up file, if
it is sizeable, slows things down quite a bit, (b) although v.3.10d is
almost 120 Kb and 3.7 only 87 Kb, the difference in loading time is
insignificant.

(2) Using MicroEMACS with the T1000 There are times, e.g. when
travelling, when one has a legitimate case/need for using MicroEMACS
with the T1000 (or other little machine). I confess that even on the
slowest AT and hard disk, the editor starts up quickly enough that I
usually simply exit from it, compile my code, and reenter the editor,
etc. It is this practice which is hopeless if you have to wait 25 secs.
Obviously one can shorten this time by simply not using the startup
file--renaming it something else. An even better procedure is to remain
within the editor. Although many users already do this, the steps are
outlined below because they are not spelled out in the current release:

(a) copy the file shell.cmd onto your disk (which already has your
compiler, library and include files, and emacs.exe)
(b) load emacs with the program you are working on
(c) when ready to compile, save your work but do not exit from emacs,
instead, type M-X and at the colon prompt, type: execute-file shell.cmd
(d) at the resulting A> prompt, type "tcc progname" (or "cc" or whatever
calls your compiler).
(e) your program will be compiled. note errors and
(f) use ^x-b to go to the buffer with your program for editing
(g) etc.

This procedure is fragile in the sense that with only 512 Kb of memory,
and the editor and the compiler running, there is just not room for a
long program or even two short ones. But for small, idea-testing, work,
it appears to be practicable. execute-file can be bound to a key,
including a Shift-Function key on cpage.cmd, if desired.