Re: A85: Saving the 85
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Re: A85: Saving the 85
Well, i'm definately excited about this. I can't wait to start to
program it.
>From: "Kaus" <kaus@cybrzn.com>
>To: <assembly-85@lists.ticalc.org>
>Subject: Re: A85: Saving the 85
>Date: Thu, 6 Aug 1998 00:16:49 -0500
>Reply-To: assembly-85@lists.ticalc.org
>
>
>Well, then, quite a response. i was hoping for it.
>
>I have a few ideas and comments to add to my previosuly stated ones:
>
>
>We do agree on the fact that the E2 is a necessary component right?
> We will need some protocol specs on that. The kernal will be
> based around this pretty much, soo.....
>Also, for the link port communications, does anyone know if the E2
> has one on the device for extra communications??? if not,
> maybe we could presuade someone of the hardware guys to put
> in a port like a mem module, similar to the way Grant's ide is
> hooked up.
>If we can get some type of extra link to be usable, we could implement
> sometype of networking support, or direct calc-to-calc/computer
> support. This may seem a bit out there, but it doesnt have to
be
> part of the origiinal kernal, it can be just an addon TSR we
could
> do later.
>For the E2 support, this opens up whole avenues of things to support
> that make programming for the thing a blast and a breeze.
>The programs are strored on the E2, then when the kernal wants to
> run them, it loads them into RAM, relocates them, and executes.
> he program can load whatever libraries, overlays, or data files
it
> needs from the E2 into RAM as it needs them, and save games
> and stuff to the E2 and delete the data on RAM when its done.
> The next prog has complete control over the RAM (all 26K or so
> (after the kernal and TI-OS vars one may want on the system))
> without having to work around other pograms.
>Only the actual Bootstrap loader needs to be a TI variable. It can
laod
> the rest of the OS at runtime from the E2
>The Kernal can support Allocation and Deallocation of RAM by the
> running program, and if a program wants to remain resident, it
> just tells the kernal not to deallocate its space. Easy TSRs.
>Programs can easily run other programs by starting a process, and
> the OS takes care of the rest. If we really wanted to, we
could
> even do a type of preemptive multitasking, tho it would be a
bit
> slow. :)
>With the E2, we can have OS functions that let programs
> automatically load, relocate, and even run overlays by jsut
calling
> a simple function.
>On startup, the program can tell the OS which DLLs to load and link,
> and then not worry about it, and when it doesnt need one
> anymore and wants some more room, it can unlink them and get
> rid of it, and load a new one.
>Since we have an entire E2 to use of os space, we can have DLLs
> premade with GCP/ZCP support, picture support, sound support,
> graphics libs, I/O libs, filemanaging libs, etc. programming
will
> be a breeze!!! :)
>We dont really need any TI-OS var maniputlation functions to be built
> into the OS, but if ppl want 'em, we jsut have to release
antoehr
> DLL!!
>We can have an entire DLL with just the original Usgard functions and
> library functions that can be autoloaded when we want to run
> Usgard progs. We can even have the ZShell/Usgard support be
> only extra DLLs that dont take up RAM unless we are actually
> running a ZShell/Usgard program!
>The relocation tables, which may need to be a bit more complicated
> thatn the Usgard ones, wont matter, because they only will be
> loaded into RAM by the OS when it initally relocates a program
> or overlay or DLL and then removed.
>Heck! we can even have an emergency save calculator state TSR
> taht, at the touch of a key, copies everything to the E2,
including
> all RAM and registers. Unplug the E2 and the teacher can let
you
> use it for tests and such. When your done, you plug back in
the
> E2, run the emregency restore calculator state program, and ta
> da! your calc was EXACTLY where you left off, down to screen
> contents and stack position. You can have been in the middle
of
> a jump in one of the games we hope will come about on this
> thing, and after restorring, you better watch where you are
> landing!!
>One of the major things about this will be that we can have online
> Word processors, spreadsheets, databases, graphing
> programs, etc, very easily. and to encourage this type of
> programming, what we really need as soon as possible is a C
> compiler for it. Many ppl know C, few know asm.. this will
> broaden the developer circle to more ppl and get them
interested
> in it. We will have enough room, so we just need someone to
> port a compiler. That could be difficult, but someone can do
it.
>And, one final note for now: I wish we could get the bootstrap loader
> to be in initial ROM, so that the OS could start automaticaly
on
> calculator turn on/reset, but as definition of ROM denies this,
i
> think we are looking at another CUSTM hack. This wll load the
> rest of the OS and whatever shell the person wants to use (how
> soon is someone availble to prot win95?=)
>
>That about sums up what i thought of to say for now.
>Any questions/comments/additions?
>
>
>Note that some of you responders said that youdidnt know any asm or any
>programming. Thats ok. You can still help with alot of the Design and
>Testing stages. Besides, usually its best if there is a nonprogrammer
to
>test a program in any group, because the programmers know the
limitations
>cause heck, they programmed them, but the tester knows no limits.
Whatever
>you guys wnat to do. I, anyway, would be glad of any help we can get,
cause
>hell, with somthing this big, were going to need all the help we can
get!!!
>
>
>
>Jonathan Kaus
>kaus@cybrzn.com
>
>
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