The GPL Thread

[+dhe]

I use xga99 to always create the same cartridge. I was able to add that as a user cart in classic99.ini.

I'm not sure where the information is stored, but by selecting this cart once, it stay persistent through restarts.

 

So a pretty easy/quick development environment, using IntelJ with syntax highlighting, I run a .bat file to reassemble and restart Classic99, followed by two keystrokes to execute new GPL code.

[Tursi]

1 hour ago, dhe said:

I use xga99 to always create the same cartridge. I was able to add that as a user cart in classic99.ini.

I'm not sure where the information is stored, but by selecting this cart once, it stay persistent through restarts.

 

So a pretty easy/quick development environment, using IntelJ with syntax highlighting, I run a .bat file to reassemble and restart Classic99, followed by two keystrokes to execute new GPL code.

For what it's worth, Classic99 will reload the ROMs every time you use File->Reset (any of the resets). So you don't need to exit and restart Classic99 to reload your cart. Just a small optimization.

You can also use Classic99Paste to reset and press those two keystrokes for you automatically from your batch file.  

 

classic99paste.exe -reset 22

 

Looks like it's not included in the Classic99 archive, but you can grab it here. Just tested that it still works on Win11.

 

https://harmlesslion.com/software/classic99paste/

 

[+dhe]

The example program included with xga99, is really good.

It doesn't include comments, which is making me dig to document it.

 

I've looked in the RAG GPL manual, and I'm having trouble making sense of this section.

 

* INDIRECT MOVE

        DST 128+33,@>8390              * 161 (>A1) to C>8390 Normal Subroutine Stack?
        MOVE 10,G@T1,V*>8390

[+Lee Stewart]

3 hours ago, dhe said:

The example program included with xga99, is really good.

It doesn't include comments, which is making me dig to document it.

I've looked in the RAG GPL manual, and I'm having trouble making sense of this section.

* INDIRECT MOVE

        DST 128+33,@>8390              * 161 (>A1) to C>8390 Normal Subroutine Stack?
        MOVE 10,G@T1,V*>8390

 

1. Double store 128 + 33 = 161 = >00A1 in >8390 (in scratchpad RAM).
2. Copy 10 bytes from GROM address T1 to the VRAM address referenced in >8390, which, from (1) would be >00A1 (probably on the display screen).

...lee

[+dhe]

Working my way through GPL Documentation.

 

The Ryte Data stuff is more like a reference card.

 

The RAG Assembler is even better, but so far the best is Thierry's site:

https://www.unige.ch/medecine/nouspikel/ti99/gpl.htm

 

There is this note:

For details on how to use most of the GROM routines, refer to the GPL manual written by the 9T9 users group of Toronto. Their address is (was?):

109-2356 Gerrard St. East,
Toronto M4E-2E2,
Canada.

I have this manual and could put it online, but I'm not sure they'd be happy about it...

 

Does anyone know if this has been preserved anywhere?

[Gary from OPA]

2 hours ago, dhe said:

Working my way through GPL Documentation.

 

The Ryte Data stuff is more like a reference card.

 

The RAG Assembler is even better, but so far the best is Thierry's site:

https://www.unige.ch/medecine/nouspikel/ti99/gpl.htm

 

There is this note:

For details on how to use most of the GROM routines, refer to the GPL manual written by the 9T9 users group of Toronto. Their address is (was?):

109-2356 Gerrard St. East,
Toronto M4E-2E2,
Canada.

I have this manual and could put it online, but I'm not sure they'd be happy about it...

 

Does anyone know if this has been preserved anywhere?

That's fine if you can archive it and put it online. I have full permission to release anything from the 9t9 User's Group as one of the last members of the board along with Cecil. Most of that manual is taken from the original ti99 one. I haven't checked my binders fully yet to see if I have one.

[+dhe]

To clarify, that was Thierry's note. I do not have the 9t9 gpl manual.

[+Lee Stewart]

1 hour ago, dhe said:

To clarify, that was Thierry's note. I do not have the 9t9 gpl manual.

 

Here is Thierry’s stuff gathered by Mark Wills ( @Willsy ) into a PDF document:  GPL Manual.pdf  I am not sure how I got it, whether directly from Mark, from his planet-99.net (can’t check due to non-working login!), or somewhere else.

 

...lee

[+dhe]

@Gary from OPA - While I continue to read source code documentation (Intern) and to document (to my own understanding) - XGA99's example program...

 

How could someone go about adding additional graphics modes like the 9958 - offers, or just better support for text ii mode, in the GPL interpreter?

[Gary from OPA]

16 hours ago, dhe said:

@Gary from OPA - While I continue to read source code documentation (Intern) and to document (to my own understanding) - XGA99's example program...

 

How could someone go about adding additional graphics modes like the 9958 - offers, or just better support for text ii mode, in the GPL interpreter?

The FMT opcode needs to be improved. There is some works around for 40col text mode. But to improve it more requires changing the console ROM.

 

I been looking at using the unused opcodes that go to the 1b00 debugger dsr and designing new GPL commands for high-res graphics v9938 and f18a, and of course then pairing it with a new assembler as well.

 

This would require also a simple hardware device to add the 1b00 dsr to the console, I been thinking about designing a GPL sidecar that could offer that along with many other great features for new types of cartridges.

 

MY 2025 PROJECT list is growing. With luck I thinking 12 months of Xmas, releasing one new product for each month of 2025.

Edited yesterday at 10:21 AM by Gary from OPA
bad spelling