Moving files to/from .DSK disk images

[Todd Houg]

I started playing around with z88dk to compile c to 8080 binaries. I was wondering what is everyone's preferred method for moving binaries into .DSK images for use with either SDS or Altair8800 simulator when doing development cycle loop (compile, merge to .DSK, mount, test, repeat).

It's my understanding the .DSK image files we use for SDS or the Altair8800 sim are raw images which do not include drive geometry metadata, is this correct? How does SDS or the sim know what drive geometry to use? When working with cpmtools, a format specifier is required. Are there correct diskdefs included in CPMtools? Do you use custom diskdefs for things like the 8MB images?

Thanks,

   Todd

[Peter Higgins]

I'm not sure which Altair simulator you are referring to. If you are using the AltairZ80 simulator, there is an easy built-in method for transferring files into and from the simulator - see the first entry in the FAQ:

https://schorn.ch/altair_10.html#q1

[Todd Houg]

Thanks Peter! I am currently playing with Patrick's Altair8800 version of the simulator, but will also eventually use your AltairZ80

 version. After reviewing Patrick's Altair8800-Claude release on github,  I see he's also using the R.COM and W.COM programs driven by Claude through Python. 

I have a lot to learn about using the simulators, and Patrick has done some great work putting together and documenting his CP/M debugging environment.

I'll need to spend some time learning to leverage these sim environments. However, much of the software I intend to write will be custom hardware specific, so will be mostly debugged on real hardware.

I can always use the SIM R/W method (scripted), to create a disk image that I load into the SDS server. 

Does anyone use cpmtools with their Altair CP/M 8" disk images?

Thanks,

   Todd