cpm68k `product brief'
ucbvax!helge
For those who did not have the opportunity to attend the
cpm83 conference in SF a few weeks ago, here is some excerpts
from DRI's "product brief" on cpm-68k, reprinted w/o permission
(c) Digital Research 1983.
- cp/m-68k features
. cp/m and cp/m-86 compatible
. supports from 64 kb to 16 mb of RAM
. support for 1 to 16 disk drives of up to 512 mb each
. C language
. sophisticated software development tools
. standard cp/m utilities
. multiple programs can coexist in RAM
. resident system extensions
. allows full access to MC68000 hardware features
. cross development tools
- cp/m and cp/m-86 compatibility
cp/m-68k supports an enhanced version of the file system used by
cp/m vers. 2 and cp/m-86 version 1. The cp/m-68k file system
is compatible with all other cp/m and mp/m file systems.
This simplifies conversions of cp/m and cp/m-86 software
to run on cp/m-68k.
The end user will notice no significant difference between
cp/m-68k and previous versions of cp/m. Commands such as
DIR, TYPE, PIP, STAT, and ED respond in the same way on both
systems. The program interface is also unchanged - cp/m-68k
calls for systems services have the same function numbers as
cp/m and cp/m-86. Upgrading existing cp/m and cp/m-86 application
software to run under cp/m-68k is straightforward, because cp/m-68k
is so similar to its predecessors. Although assembly language
programs will require recoding, high-level language programs
will recompile with little or no modifications.
- memory support
CP/M-68K is capable of using as little as 64k or as much as 16mb
of RAM. The memory used by cp/m-68k can reside anywhere within the
address space of the machine. However, user program memory must
be contiguous.
- disk drive support
CP/M-68K can support up to 16 logical drives, each containing up
to 512Mb, for a maximum of 8 Gigabytes of on-line storage. A file
can be up to 32Mb long, with space dynamically allocated and
released. Each disk has a directory which maps each file's
physical locations on the disk. Disk definition tables in the BIOS
translate this logical information to the physical characteristics
of the disk.
- C language
The cp/m-68k package includes a C compiler and run time library
which are subset compatible with un*x V7. This provides a bridge
from un*x to cp/m-68k, C programs developed under un*x can easily
be transported to cp/m-68k.
- Sophisticated software development tools
The cp/m-68k package includes the following set of software
development tools:
. A C compiler and C run-time library compatible with un*x software
. An assembler which supports standard Motorola MC68000 assembly
language
. A linker which produces both relocatable and absolute load modules
. An object module librarian
. A utility to convert cp/m-68k load modules to Motorola S-record form
. A relocation utility to convert relocatable load modules to
absolute form
. A utility to list the symbol table contained in a load module file
. A utility which prints the memory size required by the load module
These tools can run on any cp/m-68k system with at least 128k
of memory.
- Standard cp/m utilities
PIP - ED - DDT - STAT - SUBMIT - DUMP
- Multiple programs can coexist in RAM
The cp/m-68k program load function allows an application program
to load other programs into memory. The number of programs which can
be loaded is limited only by the memory space on the machine.
This feature can be used to implement program overlays. Overlays
can be called using the standard cp/m-68k loading sequence.
relocatable overlays can be loaded anywhere in user program
memory, eliminating the need to relink all overlay segments with
every program change.
- Resident system extensions
he cp/m-68k RSX facility allows customization of the
operating system on a selective basis. RSX modules are attached
to the base of the operating system where they intercept operating
system functions and either perform the function or forward the
call to the operating system. RSX modules can remain permanently
in memory or be removed when a user program terminates.
- Full access to MC68000 hardware
cp/m-68k gives the applications program complete access to the
advanced features of the MC68000 microprocessor. Support is
provided for intercepting 68000 exceptions, using the cpu
supervisor state, and accessing i/o devices within the user
program.
cp/m-68k places no restrictions on the use of coprocessor chips
by the applications program. All support for such devices must
be supplied by the application, however.
- Cross development tools
DRI also offers a version of the cp/m-68k cross development
tools which will run on a DEC PDP11 under un*x, or on a VAX
using either VMS or un*x.
Cp/m-68k is shipped on five 8" SSSD diskettes, configured for the
Motorola EXORmacs development system.
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Some notes from the presentation of the product:
-Available Feb. -83
-Planned languages: Pascal/MT+, CBasic -CB80 (CB68K??), APL(!!)
possibly PL/I, no decision made yet
-The C compiler does not support floating point operations
-The assembler does not support macros, but the C preprocessor
may be used for this purpose.
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