RE: A82: ASM on 19.006 (PROBLEMS???)


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RE: A82: ASM on 19.006 (PROBLEMS???)




------Original Message------
From: "Dines Justesen" <dines@aub.dk>
To: assembly-82@lists.ticalc.org
Sent: October 2, 2000 9:41:53 PM GMT
Subject: A82: ASM on 19.006 (PROBLEMS???)



I had a quick look at the new ROM version and it seems like there might be
some problem with running ASM programs on the new ROM version.

TI seems to have changed lots of things in the new ROM version, one of which
is the strtup code, which causes several functions which are located in the
seem location in all other ROM versions to be moved.


(*) After what they have been doing with the Ti-89 ever since early roms, this isn't a surprise at all to me, I'm just curious when they will do this to all the other models as well, 83, 83p, & 86?


The code implementing the main input handler has also been changed, but it
can still be used to start asm.

The selftest has been changed, causing a change in location of some other
often used functions.

The ROM table used to make ROM_CALLS has been changed, so the current method
for implementing the ROM_CALL function will probably not work.

In current shell a lot of function are considered to be constantm but they
are not constant any more. The offset used for ROM CALLS located towards the
end of the ROM page are considered to be constant, it is not any more. They
way interrupts are used seem to have been modified which might cause minor
problems.

If all of the above is true making an asm shell which support the new ROM
versions would require:
- A new ROM_CALL function which uses the ZShell method*
- All programs would have to be recompiled
- All programs uising the ROM table directly would have to take the offset
into account, or the calls should be added to the shell
- The new ROM_CALL might be longer requiering other functions included in
the shell to be moved (and all programs using addrs in the shell might have
to be changed)

It might also be worth considering the following:
- If the new version is added support for all the old ROM version can be
added without problems.
- ROM CALLs needed to implement VAT compatible relocation should be included
- Should the shell be compatible with a TI83 shell?

All in all making a shell work on the new ROM version would require a lot of
work, so I guess the question is whether anyone wants to do it. As i haven't
even been able to finish ASH 3.1 (but I should still have the source for all
version including Ash 3.1Beta3G) it is unlikely that I am going to finish a
shell supporting the new version. If any one is interested in making a shell
I will probably be willing to send the source to them. So if someone out
there is interest lets discus the new version on the list, so we can all see
whether there is a real chanve that it is gone to be done.

Dines
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Dines Justesen             dines@aub.dk             www.aub.dk/~dines


(*) Taking a wild guess as to how long ago I think it was, probably 18 months or so, there wasn't much more that I wanted to do with the Ti-82 then add some features of the Ti-86 shells to the great shells in exsistance (Ash & CrAsh). I didn't know anything about asm then, & don't feel like I know enough now. If I had the spare time I would be more than willing to help with any Shell Upgrades needed. There is only 1 problem right now, I absolutley have to work minimum of 48 hours a week with my corporation supporting the equipment as I.T. Tech. There honestly is a high demand for Unix knowledgeable people in my field & I really like having to worry about when the pc will crash next anymore :)

-Jon Johnson
http://redrival.com/jrjinfinity