Re: LZ: New idea for compression program!
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Re: LZ: New idea for compression program!
I think your idea of having code in the compressed program
is a good one in theory, but there are a number of things
to consider. What happens if the decompressor isn't there?
you'd have to include code to deal with that situation. What
if there isn't enough ram to run the decompressor? Again,
more code. At this point have you added too much code that
has to be duplicated in every compressed sting, reducing the
value of the compression? Maybe not but it's an important
thing do decide ahead of time.
Barry
On Sun, 8 Sep 1996, Scott J. Rein wrote:
> Please read the entire message. I need all of your comments! I ended up
> changing my mind almost entirely at the end, but you poeple might like the
> original idea better.
>
> This is being sent out to anybody who wants to help me with this program.
> Any suggestions... please feel free. Tell me what you think (it is kinda
> messy though):
>
> What we need to do though is not only get a compression algorithm, but write
> a compressor for the PC and then make up a nice shell for the calc. The
> shell will actually read the compressed file (one big one because it will be
> compressed on the PC... if we ever decide to put the compression program on
> the calculator, we could actually compress files recieved from others).
> After the programs have been listed, the user selects the program and then
> it runs. When the program is finished, the program returns to the shell and
> the file is deleted.
>
> There are two glitches here: no saved games and no high scores. This can be
> worked on in a later version though.
>
> Last, we have a choice: either the program can be run like a normal ZShell
> program, or we can give the shell out as an 85B file so that it contains
> both a pointer to ZShell AND the shell. We would have to get permission
> from whoever made ZShell (to be able to distribute ZShell with our program)
> for the latter choice. This would be my choice though.
>
> Of course, all compressed programs would have to be stored as strings which
> would not show up on ZShell.
>
> Actually, I just thought of one more choice. What if we made all of the
> strings compressed automatically run the decompressor. All of the programs
> would be compressed and put into a string as a bunch of .db's. Then we have
> a call to the decompression routine (which would be NOT be stored in each
> individual string, but as one program). A temporary string is then created
> out of the .db's which is run and then deleted when the program ends.
>
> Anyone who knows ASM well enough to pull some of this hacking off? Please
> send me some mail. I should be able to do some of it (the big stuff), but
> there will be some parts such as a call to ZShell to run the temporary
> variable and then to bring it back to the calling program so that it may be
> deleted.
>
> Thanks for listening to me babble! :)
>
> -- Scott Rein
> srein@rain.org
>
>
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