Re: A89: Linux Port for 89/92
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Re: A89: Linux Port for 89/92
Kyle,
when I first thought of doing this project in January, I did some research.
It tends to be in most cases that when something like this is done, like on the
Psion or the PalmPilot, the existing OS is removed. If that was the case with our
calculator, we would dump off the TI-OS from the falsh rom and put our own on.
When we wanted our calc back we would just reinstall the flash of the TI-OS.
Another thing, which would apply wether we dumped the TI-OS or not, is that we
would probably be able to work in a real file format once the kernal was running,
especially with external storage. We shouldn't have to worry about strings and
such nonsense.
As to how the kernal would be created, it is written in C, I think, and we would
compile it using one of the new C compilers for m68k, which have been around for
ever. At worst, it would get xferred to the calc and just run as an asm program,
but I think we all want more then that.
THe thing I keep in mind is too look at this unit as a computer with a 68k chip
in it, and not just the calculator. I don't know if that's possible. Your
right, I don't know if they have done anything radical to the architecture, but I
doubt it.
I don't know what type of external storage we would have, but if we got anywhere,
I would write up a driver for my expander. (my, meaning I posses, not my as in
invented). Other external boxes could have drivers wirtten up easy, especially
if we are writing for our own APIs and not the TI crap.
-Patrick
psweeney@geocities.com
KKokiri89@aol.com wrote:
> The only problem with that is we definatly would have to modify the kernel.
> It almost seems to me that the 68K processor doesn't function the same as the
> calculators...it seems like either it doens't due to the TI-OS modifying the
> commands or just that there isn't a complete understanding of the TI 89 ASM.
> Also...we would have to create a PC/WIN/MAC/Linux program that would send
> it...I'm almost sure that TI Graph-Link would NOT send the kernel because of
> some checksum error or something....I dont understand how the processor
> works. If we DID get the Kernel on there...what would the applications be
> written in? ASM? Or, if we could create an external storage box (like the
> expander) we could make a macro program that would convert Ext2 file formats
> to something the TI could read.
> Perhaps that would be a whole other issue in itself. Maybe the Ex2 file
> format wont work on the TI.
> There should definately be some looking into this....if it ever works it
> would be a phenomenon! And if the whole load of TI-89 programmers worked on
> it, it would be a very involved project. Also...with everyones little tips
> here and there it would improve rapidly. Much like the way Linux was
> developed.
>
> And yes...each distrobution of Linux has the same Kernel (could be newer
> versions though) and uses Unix shells. Most common shell used is the Bash
> shell.
> It just seems like we would have to do a complete re-write because its not
> built the same as a computer with a 68k processor. I really dont know....but
> the best way to find out would be to try it!
>
> Kyle
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