arnold wip

[arnoldemu]

This is a public release of Arnold "WIP". It replaces the earlier versions of Arnold.

This release is considered an alpha release. There are some bugs. I felt it was now time to release it for others to try.

Thank you to everyone who helped over Christmas and New Year testing an earlier version.

Since then I concentrated on
1) adding my tests to the source archive
2) improving the accuracy of the Plus emulation.

I am actively updating Arnold and I plan to release new versions regularly (next one will have fixed CRTC emulation).

Key features of this release:
- Builds on Linux, Mac and Windows
- works on windows xp->windows 10
- consistent UI (all versions have the same features and UI)
- comes with a test suite to show how accurate it is
- has a few devices emulated (Bryce's MegaRom, Bryce's LowerRom, Amram 2, Multiplay)
- it is highly configurable.
- it has a a powerful debugger (View->Debugger..)

Known issues:
- the windows installer requires you to be admin or to give it permission to install
- on windows you may need to turn off virus checking when you install (but enable it again after). If you don't do this then on some systems it will seem to hang for a while.
- sound breaks up and distorts (similar to earlier Arnold versions ).
- monitor emulation is simple (effects changing hsync and vsync mid screen will not be emulated correctly)
- snapshot loading/saving is a bit broken.

Arnold is a little different to other emulators in it's configuration.

For example:
- drive A is set to 40 track single sided, with ready signal, just like a CPC6128 (can be configured if you need to)
- drive B is set to 80 track double sided, with ready signal (can be configured)
- to use expansion ROMs you will need to enable a device that supports them (e.g. Bryce's MegaROM) and insert them into one of it's rom slots (just as you would on a real machine) (Settings->Devices->Expansion Devices...)
(Choose Megarom and right click and select "Enable". Now right click and choose "Expansion Roms...". Choose a slot and right click and "Load" or pick any of the builtin roms).

You can change the drive settings (Disk Drive A->Drive Settings..) or you can use the ABBA drive switch to swap the drives.

I try to emulate each device accurately.  Devices have buttons, switches, system roms (roms which are on the pcb) and expansion roms (rom slots). Some devices require a system rom to be loaded to work (Brunword mk2 and Brunword mk4).

I have used devices so that it's possible to configure Arnold to your own CPC specification and so that it is possible to upgrade/downgrade as needed for ease of testing your game/program.

I have implemented more devices than are shown but these have been disabled for this release. I will enable more in the next release after I have done more testing.

For linux, download the source and build it. You will need cmake, gcc,g++,libsdl1.2 and wxwidgets 3.0.

For windows:
Unofficial Amstrad WWW Resource

The source (contains tests in test directory):
Unofficial Amstrad WWW Resource

[40Crisis]

Hello,

nice to see that the new version is released.

I tried the windows version.

I have a keyboard routine taken from cpctech samples.

But when I tried to execute it under Arnold I see the screen flickering moving quickly up 8 pixels up and go back to orginal position.

Here's a simple sample to see if you will experienced the same behaviour.

[ukmarkh]

Jesus! About time, I was beginning to cry with the older version. Thanks! 

[arnoldemu]

I have a keyboard routine taken from cpctech samples.

But when I tried to execute it under Arnold I see the screen flickering moving quickly up 8 pixels up and go back to orginal position.

Here's a simple sample to see if you will experienced the same behaviour.

Hi 40Crisis,

Thank you for the bug report. I will fix it.

[arnoldemu]

Jesus! About time, I was beginning to cry with the older version. Thanks! 

I hope with this new version you will cry less.

Next release is planned in two weeks time with more fixes

[J.T.Kirk]

Will this update be only for windoze systems? Or you gonna contact Bannister for the MacOSX port as well?


For your information, Ventzislav Tzvetkov is responsible for the AmigaOS 4 port.

[arnoldemu]

Will this update be only for windoze systems? Or you gonna contact Bannister for the MacOSX port as well?


For your information, Ventzislav Tzvetkov is responsible for the AmigaOS 4 port.

The update is for windows, linux and mac.

I distribute the update as a setup exe for windows. Linux users should download the source and build it. I use cmake for the build system.

I have a DMG for Mac. Mac users can also download the source and build from that. The Mac port is not yet working as well as the others - keyboard is not working as well, speed is not synced at 100%, sounds is untested.

I am happy if Ventzislav Tzvetkov would take the new sources and port them to AmigaOS.

[mr_lou]

As usual I can never compile anything.

I gathered that I have to run makeit.sh

But I just get an access denied in line 4: ./makexrc.sh

Trying with sudo ./makeit.sh and sudo bash makeit.sh but still the same.

C/C++ stuff hates me.

[arnoldemu]

Try:

./make_arnz80_release.sh

when it's done go back up a few folders to find the exe directory.

[mr_lou]

Try:

./make_arnz80_release.sh

Same thing:
./clean.sh: line 18: ./clean.sh: Access denied

I've tried chmod +x on all sh files and the main src folder too.

I'm sure nothing is wrong with your code or setup. But something is always preventing me from compiling anything C/C++.
(Which is why it's taken me this long before even attempting compiling Arnold).