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avatar_Executioner

WinAPE enhancements

Started by Executioner, 10:09, 22 March 16

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McKlain

1- Autorun for DSK files
2- An option to keep the proper screen aspect ratio when the main window is resized or maximized and you are using DirectX stretch.

Prodatron

Quote from: Executioner on 10:09, 22 March 161. Networking - (there is currently no actual working hardware that I can emulate). I was planning on emulating the W5100 or something similar and putting it on an arbitrary port, but it doesn't appear anyone can get an actual interface working with that chip. These are other possibilities, but I may resort to creating my own custom socket implementation using a particular set of I/O ports.

W5100 emulation would be very useful IMHO, as there is still the possibility of a network hardware using this one. The MSX is a very similiar Z80 system, and now since a few month they already have two different ethernet cards both using the W5100. The same for the Spectranet Ethernet card for the ZX Spectrum. So at least it's possible to build such a hardware for our Z80 machine.
As I said before I would help and support you in both cases, no matter if you do a W5100 or a custom implementation. It would be just good if it works in a similiar way like such a possible ethernet hardware.

GRAPHICAL Z80 MULTITASKING OPERATING SYSTEM

TFM

IMHO it's a good thing to support already existing hardware. Even if their number is few out there, it's still better than supporting fantasy hardware, because their number out there is zero. But other people may think different.
One word about networking, we got alrerady:
- VN96
- CPC-Booster
- Albireo


Support them imho.  :)
TFM of FutureSoft
Also visit the CPC and Plus users favorite OS: FutureOS - The Revolution on CPC6128 and 6128Plus

Prodatron

There is a huge difference between point to point serial hardware and ethernet hardware. Especially in an emulator it makes more sense to support ethernet directly.

GRAPHICAL Z80 MULTITASKING OPERATING SYSTEM

Trebmint

Software needs hardware and hardware needs software, and since neither can exist without the other means the idea that the software/hardware middleware that is Winape could cure this chicken and egg situation seems like a sensible option. There is already software running via symbos, and with this development option more would come. I think it would be likely in this situation one of our hardware gurus would see the sense in bringing the CPC into the new century.


Yeah support all the hardware possible, but for once if a software development can lead to hardware development rather than the opposite way round its a good thing

TFM

Yeah, both would be nice. That one helps the other is common sense. The question which feature is 'most needed' is not as easy to answer.  :)
TFM of FutureSoft
Also visit the CPC and Plus users favorite OS: FutureOS - The Revolution on CPC6128 and 6128Plus

AugustoRuiz

My 2 cents:
1.- Ignore colon ( : ) in comments. Right now it assumes it's a new line. But it's inside a comment! ;) (i know, there's no end of comment sign, so it could be a new line, but...)

Fessor

Quote from: AugustoRuiz on 23:45, 24 March 16
My 2 cents:
1.- Ignore colon ( : ) in comments. Right now it assumes it's a new line. But it's inside a comment! ;) (i know, there's no end of comment sign, so it could be a new line, but...)

Use ;; for commenting lines

Gryzor

An online database would be #1 for me too...

Executioner

Quote from: AugustoRuiz on 23:45, 24 March 16
1.- Ignore colon ( : ) in comments.

I think I'll add a couple of flags which will be applied to projects by default, one of which will be to (1) disable part-line comments, others will (2) allow brackets and (3) operator precedence (which will break a lot of existing code).

Executioner

Quote from: Prodatron on 16:15, 24 March 16
The MSX is a very similiar Z80 system, and now since a few month they already have two different ethernet cards both using the W5100. The same for the Spectranet Ethernet card for the ZX Spectrum.

I assume if they can get it working on a Spectrum (or MSX) it must be fairly simple to copy that design to the CPC. Anyone up for that?

khaz

Is it possible to add HxC .hfe compatibility?

Executioner

Quote from: Docent on 12:30, 22 March 16
bdf7-be40 - 24 entries
baea-bb00 - 7 entries

Unfortunately,# BE00..#BE31 is used by ParaDOS for formats requiring a larger than standard ALV (all ROMDOS formats require this), that's why I would prefere not to use that area. There is some more room at #BAEA (actually,  #BAE9, but it doesn't make a lot of difference), and the region from #BE32 to #BE3F could be used, but that only allows for 11 entries unless some tricky code is used to squeeze more entries into that space, and using all of that space restricts what other interfaces could be added using the jumpblocks.

Executioner

Quote from: khaz on 17:08, 27 March 16
Is it possible to add HxC .hfe compatibility?

HFE is a raw FM/MFM format, so it requires decoding and encoding (for writing) FM/MFM bits in order to make it work.

khaz

Quote from: Executioner on 07:35, 29 March 16
HFE is a raw FM/MFM format, so it requires decoding and encoding (for writing) FM/MFM bits in order to make it work.
So that's a no then?

Rhino

#40
In the assembler editor:

1) Selecting a label reference + right mouse button, a "Go to Declaration" option to go to the file/line where the label is declared.
2) A way to hide some code parts. For example, this code:

   some code here...
   ret

; <DRAW_SPRITE comment="Draw a sprite...">

draw_sprite:
  ...
  ret

; </DRAW_SPRITE>

   more code here...

It is hidden as:

   some code here...
   ret

[ +] DRAW_SPRITE    Draw a sprite...

   more code here...

the [ +] button switches to [-] to show/hide the code part                     

Executioner

Quote from: khaz on 12:49, 29 March 16
So that's a no then?

That's a "probably not in the next release" :)

Singaja

Could there be an option (checkbox?) to sync the scrolling of the disassembly and raw byte editable data scroll views? Drives me crazy to do a CTRL-G on each window separately.

Executioner

Quote from: Singaja on 13:21, 30 March 16
Could there be an option (checkbox?) to sync the scrolling of the disassembly and raw byte editable data scroll views? Drives me crazy to do a CTRL-G on each window separately.

I'm not exactly sure why you'd want to do that, but I could go one better than that and have the option to follow an expression. For example: PC, HL, IX + 10, HL + #4000 etc.

Singaja

#44
Quote from: Executioner on 02:38, 31 March 16
I'm not exactly sure why you'd want to do that, but I could go one better than that and have the option to follow an expression. For example: PC, HL, IX + 10, HL + #4000 etc.
Yes, that would be really useful. I mostly use WinApe for reverse engineering games, so my workflow looks like that - I have a text editor with notes , so if I want to continue working on something I need to jump around the code to edit something and that's the moment where I need to double CTRL-G on both scroll views (the disassembly and the raw bytes) to be sure the edit I'm doing is actually what I want (so after the opcodes change I can immediately see the actual updated asm). I'd love to have  some kind of colour coded comments to describe asm "source code" so I would not need to switch between WinApe and the text editor. Just don't get me wrong - I don't want to put any pressure on you, I know it's your hobby and WinApe rocks!

roudoudou

Hi
i was using Winape 2.0b2 with many disk writes (mostly under BASIC or with AMSDOS calls under OCP Art Studio)
i lost two .DSK -> they fall down to 256 bytes (as far as i remember) with code and GFX :/
i switched back to Winape 2.0b1 and no problem since
anyway, i'm doing more backups now


Anyone had the problem?

TFM

#46
Quote from: roudoudou on 12:50, 01 April 16
Hi
i was using Winape 2.0b2 with many disk writes (mostly under BASIC or with AMSDOS calls under OCP Art Studio)
i lost two .DSK -> they fall down to 256 bytes (as far as i remember) with code and GFX :/
i switched back to Winape 2.0b1 and no problem since
anyway, i'm doing more backups now
Anyone had the problem?

That's a well know problem. The way to omit this is to Eject all DSKs before closing WinApe and the Insert DSK when you start it again. Yes, its tedious, but it's save.  :)  However you will find this problem in all versions.  :-X

I personally use Caprice most of the time, probably the 2nd oldest emulator and for sure not the most accurate. But it has AWESOME DSK handling! I just wished other emulators would do the same.[nb]Especially, ASK ME before changing then content of a DSK, so I can save a new copy of it.  :) [/nb]
TFM of FutureSoft
Also visit the CPC and Plus users favorite OS: FutureOS - The Revolution on CPC6128 and 6128Plus

roudoudou

Quote from: TFM on 19:30, 01 April 16
That's a well know problem. [...]  However you will find this problem in all versions:-X



gaaaaaaaaaasssssppp...


i haven't try caprice since a long time. I see there is a linux version (if you build it), i will give a try. Thanks
My pronouns are RASM and ACE

Singaja

Quote from: TFM on 19:30, 01 April 16
I personally use Caprice most of the time, probably the 2nd oldest emulator and for sure not the most accurate.
It was actually one of first programs I downloaded through BBS in the early 90s on a 2400 baud modem  ;D

TFM

Quote from: roudoudou on 20:13, 01 April 16

gaaaaaaaaaasssssppp...


i haven't try caprice since a long time. I see there is a linux version (if you build it), i will give a try. Thanks


Weeeeel, its only good for DSK handling and quick assembly using MAXAM (f.e.), but for serious emulation I suggest WinApe and JavaCPC - especially at the final stage of a project.  :)



Also suggarbox is quite cool! Arnold will be very interesting as soon as it is finished up.  :)
TFM of FutureSoft
Also visit the CPC and Plus users favorite OS: FutureOS - The Revolution on CPC6128 and 6128Plus

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