os9@cbosgd.att.com (01/08/88)
OS-9 Discussions Thursday, January 7th 1988 Volume 4 : Issue 1
Today's Topics:
writing BIG OS9 L2 programs
Some thoughts about OS-9
CoCo Artist and MultiVue
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Date: Wed, 30 Dec 87 19:21:47 est
From: ihnp4!ihwpt!knudsen
Subject: writing BIG OS9 L2 programs
Keywords: Swapping, linking, C, cheating
I've been working on some techniques for writing
application programs whose combined data and program
take up more than the 63.5K available on Level 2
OS9 6809 systems. That includes Coco 3 plus
Gimix, Helix, Smoke, etc.
Some of these techniques are useful on Level 1
as well, if you can stand swapping (LOADing) from disk.
Specifically, tricks for doing it in C.
There is the nice, official way, and a more efficient
(for most cases) way that involves some dirty
tricks (well, slightly smudged tricks).
These tricks DO NOT compromise re-entrancy nor
hose up modules' CRCs in memory.
Preliminary tests are very encouraging.
I'll have more to say soon, if anyone's interested.
How about it, C hackers? Any BIG programs?
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 87 17:38:24 +0100
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From: rutgers!sems.se!olof (Olof Backing)
Subject: Some thoughts about OS-9
Finally I've got the OS-9/68K v2.0 running. Along with that even the C
v2.1. Ok, somehow buggy, but yet... I found some c-source in my
drawers on the computer which I downloaded via Roberto Bagnara's
Kermit68K. So I compiled both 'compress' and 'arc' that came on
comp.os.os9 in May I think. No problem at all with compiling and
running. A minor bug in 'arc' but I haven't digged more deeply in that
so far. One drawback is that 'compress' on OS-9 isn't compatible with
the UNIX-var. Even if I use the same number of bits in the
compress-algoritm. Have you any ideas? They are after all using the
Lempel-Ziv-algoritm.
I wounder also what I shall do with all source that I have and will
port from UNIX to OS-9. First you and then after approval from you to
the comp.os.os9? I would also like to get a summary of what has been
distributed on the NET for OS-9. I can asure you that I will use OS-9
a great deal of my time.
WHOAMI : Olof Backing (olof@sems.se) +----------------------+
WHERE : Havrevagen 14, S-175 43 Jarfalla, Sweden | Here's my little box |
PHONE : + (46) 758 33941, 35516 | w nothing special in |
UUCP : ...{uunet,mcvax,ukc,unido}!enea!sems!olof +----------------------+
[Moderator's Note: I've included a list describing the software that I
have stored on my machine. You can request any or all of the packages,
though be aware that machines in between may not like megabytes flying
by them. I don't have a reasonable way to supply tapes, disk, etc. nor
a dial-in (except within AT&T). You may also submit any of your source
packages for archive storage. Here's the list of what I have:
SOURCES:
Bison Public domain Yacc
MakPatch OS9 Patch Tools - Bob Santy
Memacs MicroEmacs 3.8i - ported to OS9 by Avy Moise
Pipe-cc Piped compiler (replaces cc)
Tsedit.pt1 80 column patches to Tsedit for Coco III
YASE Yet Another Screen Editor - OS9 68K
ar OS9 Compressing Archive Utility
defs OS9 Level II Defs
framegrabber Imagewise Digitizer capture program
ramdisk Driver for Coco III
unshar for OS9/68K - Bob Larson
uuencode /
uudecode OS9 versions
DOCUMENTS:
GF9 Graphics File Format OS9 Coco Users (proposed by Jim Omura)
gif.std Graphics Interchange Format Standard - CompuServe
There's a lot of good stuff available! - JDD]
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 88 20:15:57 est
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From: ihnp4!ihwpt!knudsen
Subject: CoCo Artist and MultiVue
Keywords: they're out! Review of Artist.
Couple days ago I picked up Color Computer Artist at the
local Shack for $30, and put down a deposit on MultiVue,
which the clerk won't order without some front money
since "it's a low runner." Actually, they should have
it running on the Coco 3 in the store, it would sure help
sell machines, but then it might un-sell the PClones
(Tandy 1000s) next to it, and ya can't have that now.
A few Delphi members have got MV and found that it hates
files with 3-letter extents (.txt, .scr, etc.).
Anyone here try it yet?
CoCo Artist (by Steve Bjork, of MegaBug fame) is not
the equal of non-OS9 Coco drawing programs -- it's
terribly slow and lacking in features.
It's 6809 code (yeah IDENT), just runs like Basic09.
It obviously does all graphics thru the "front door
above the table" in OS9 L2, and makes a nice demo of what
can be done, tho KissDraw is a cheaper demo (see below).
Speedwise, it convinced me to use VDG screens (direct
pixel-blasting of RAM) for my music editor!
But Artist DOES have some interesting aspects
First, it's object-oriented instead of pixel-oriented.
That is, it remembers what you drew and where as a whole
(box, circle, freehand squiggle) and can therefore move
or delete an object overlaying another object, without
disturbing the other object.
You can draw a temporary rectangle and select every object
that's totally inside the rectangle, and process them
as a group. That's right, just like Sun's FrameMaker and
CAD/CAM systems costing many kilobucks. (I use these daily.)
(I don't recall whether the KissDraw series in The Rainbow
is this way or not).
This explains the lack of Fat Bits (pixels are parts of wholes,
not individual items to mess with).
It would also allow very easy implementation of scaling,
stretching, and rotation, but these are not provided.
(Next month in KissDraw, or already maybe?)
And Artist uses the new TWO-BUTTON MOUSE, the first
application I know of to do so.
I mean this as a compliment (my work mice have 3 buttons
and use them all to advantage).
We old-mouse owners must hit ALT-3 to simulate
the second button.
Something to pick up cheaper at the next 'Fest...
Artist gives you the whole screen to draw on,
so you don't need a "hand" or "show screen."
Menus appear only when you click that "other" button.
Ya know, I wish {Color | Coco}-Max III could be set
up like this.
Finally, Artist adapts to any of the graphics window
modes, and can run on some pretty small windows
(I guess the use of Scaling makes the graphics run slower).
A separate handy utility pre-configures your system to
use or not use the optional HiRes joystick box and
select monitor/TV type.
Comments and questions welcome -- mike k
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The views expressed in OS-9 Discussions are those of the individual authors
only. Copies of digests are available by mail request.
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Moderator: John Daleske cbosgd!cbdkc1!daleske daleske@cbdkc1.ATT.COM
Submissions should go to: cbosgd!os9 os9@cbosgd.ATT.COM
Comments to the moderator cbosgd!os9-request os9-request@cbosgd.ATT.COM
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End of OS-9 Discussions
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