Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

vm02: calling all IIcs - Take 3

1 view
Skip to first unread message

David Schmenk

unread,
Sep 3, 2008, 4:18:56 PM9/3/08
to
Whew. I really hope this works. Thanks again to all who tested and
submitted feedback on this project. While spending so much time working
out the IIc VBL issues, I was negligent with the II/II+. I went to
re-test the classes that use the 80 column card and found a mess. My
videx doesn't do well being interrupted. So, I finally worked out a
solution by disabling interrupts during initialization and setting MSLOT
myself before calling the output routine (with interrupts enabled). I'm
not terribly pleased with the character output code which uses the CSW
function pointer, so I may write a real output routine for the videx and
IIe/IIc. I understand that the un-enhanced IIes disable interrupts
during screen access which disrupts high speed serial I/O. Can't have that.

Here is the latest image:

http://schmenk.is-a-geek.com/tarfiles/VM02ALPHA4.DSK.zip

Dave...

David Schmenk

unread,
Sep 3, 2008, 4:40:53 PM9/3/08
to

Darn it - while testing this, my IIc stopped getting interrupts. Of
course I forgot to add the back door Ctrl-C check. This image has the
Ctrl-C test to break into the monitor - even if interrupts get lost.

http://schmenk.is-a-geek.com/tarfiles/VM02ALPHA4A.DSK.zip

Sorry,

Dave...

David Schmenk

unread,
Sep 3, 2008, 10:45:05 PM9/3/08
to

I seem to be replying to myself a lot on this version. I have actually
captured a failure on my IIc (and remembered to assemble in the Ctrl-C
break code). Unfortunately it look like something is deeply confused
about the thread state. The good news is mouse interrupts are probably
working better than I thought. Time to review my critical sections.

Dave...

Bill Garber

unread,
Sep 3, 2008, 11:20:53 PM9/3/08
to

"David Schmenk" <dsch...@YUCH.gmail.com> wrote in message
news:TYHvk.36511$co7....@nlpi066.nbdc.sbc.com...

I may respond more if I knew what the heck I was looking at.
Do you have docs for this thing? Can I get a CATALOG from
within the program? What does this thing actually do? Right
now I am also fighting with myself over which "C" compiler
to use, and do I want to compile on the PC or the Apple II.
One thing I don't want to do is start a software project
before I am sure which system I want to use. Do I want to
program in "C", or "ASM", or a combination?

Remember Dave, this is a very new topic for us. Most of the
folks in CSA2 seem to enjoy rehashing things that have been
discussed a million times already. :-) Just kidding, guys.

Bill Garber from GS-Electronics
http://www.garberstreet.com

Tom Greene

unread,
Sep 3, 2008, 11:40:04 PM9/3/08
to

Well, whatever changes you made seemed to do the trick for the problem
I was seeing. I was able to run this version for a few minutes on each
of my IIc's with no visible problems. Nice work sir!

Tom

David Schmenk

unread,
Sep 3, 2008, 11:47:06 PM9/3/08
to

I can't believe you guys aren't reading my mind. I mean, it's all right
here in my editor :-)

Documentation is sorely lacking (non-existent to be more accurate). I
didn't expect timer interrupts to cause so much breakage. I just wish I
could get it to work and put together a nice package like Bill has for
Aztec C.

What I am doing at the moment is trying to create a disk image that will
run a test program. The variety of Apple IIs covers more than my stash
of hardware so I need help. I know everyone is waiting around for me to
put out a new disk image to try ;-) Once this test program works across
the Apple II line, I will move to building a more complete beta release
with more documentation. I think I will put it up on SourceForge once
the bugs stabilize and the massive re-writes subside.

Thanks for putting up with me and my manic releases,

Dave...

David Schmenk

unread,
Sep 3, 2008, 11:49:35 PM9/3/08
to

Thanks Tom-

Interestingly enough, I captured the first failure on my IIc - just like
yours. I've been able to poke around and I think there must be a
critical section that is getting confused. I very much appreciate your
help,

Dave...

Bill Garber

unread,
Sep 3, 2008, 11:51:19 PM9/3/08
to

"David Schmenk" <dsch...@YUCH.gmail.com> wrote in message news:%SIvk.20522$mh5....@nlpi067.nbdc.sbc.com...

Hey, no problem Dave. Genius takes time, but some of
us don't have much of that left, so hurry up. :-)

0 new messages