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retroclouds

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Posts posted by retroclouds

  1. Posted

    I'm working on rewriting JS99'er using a new set of tools. Things are moving fast in the JavaScript lane, and the way I did this four years ago is no hopelessly out of date.

     

    The new version is rewritten in the TypeScript language, which is a type-checked extension to JavaScript that is "transpiled" into plain JavaScript (or ECMA script, as it's called now).

     

    I'm using Angular as my development framework, and Angular-cli as build tool. For the UI display I have switched from Bootstrap 3 to 4.

     

    When the first version is ready, the changes to the end user are going be minimal: a new screen layout that allows a bigger TI screen will be the most obvious change. But in the future the new modular design will allow a better debugger, for instance, and it will be possible to run any registered cartridge simply by providing the right url.

     

    That is cool stuff. I wonder if you will notice a performance impact switching to Angular. Guess it comes down to what components you really use angular for?

    Haven't looked at js99.er source code to see how the screen drawing is handled. Guess you are using canvas for that. Will you keep that native or are you using some kind of library for that? A few months back I did a project prototype for work with Fabric.js but due to the amount of objects used on canvas it got slow as hell. I then went down going the native road and switched to using position div's which worked well enough for me and was superfast.

     

    Going back to js99er. If the debugger is reworked perhaps source maps/lists for assembly language could be supported?

  3. Posted

    Honestly the smaller buffer totally defeats the purpose of a using a Editor on the TI99/4A.

     

    Hell even some my GPL RXB DV 80 files fit, but the List files generated by GPL Assembler

    would not even fit in FW 80 column buffers, just 5 sectors to large to fit.

     

    TI99/4A 14K could not possible even show 1/3rd of the files, so I was forced to break them up using Normal TI VDP.

     

    80 Columns was great but with a dinky buffer was next to total infuriation.

    Are we talking about VDP buffers? I do not see how this is related to the F18A. If the text editor was to use RAM (e.g. SAMS) instead of VRAM for storing buffers, then a F18A would fit nicely for that purpose.

    • Like 3

  6. Posted

    Updated the DevRes thread:

     

    Extended Basic - Software

     

    * Added "Extended Basic Game Developers Package "Encruzado"

    * Added T80XB (80 column upgrade Extended Basic)

     

    Thank you senior_falcon for the heads-up.

     

     

    Technical Documentation

    * Added "Interface standard & Design Guide for TI 99/4A peripherals"

    * Added "File operations in assembly language"

    * Removed "Guide for ROM command module", target PDF rom_command_module_v2.pdf was missing. Sorry Owen, was not able to find it.

     

    Others

    * Removed links to YAHOO!TI-99/4a list groups 1+2 and the TMS9900 programming list group. The links were dead.

    * Checked URL links in thread. Corrections still pending, but this is the way to move forward. Reminder for myself. For checking I used https://validator.w3.org

    • Like 2

  8. Posted

    The source code would be interesting to see and maybe there is something to be learned. However, I am not sure how likely someone would be to use it. I only say that because with the debugger for MAME, it is far more powerful than I think Explorer is.

     

    Beery

    Agreed, but if you think about debugging assembly on the TI-99/4a itself, it is more than impressive what they pulled of there. Do not have a Geneve, but would be interesting to see if explorer could be reassembled to run from the cartridge space. Combine that with a good programmers editor, an assembler running from the cartridge space and you have a heck of a programmers environment. That being said I learned TMS9900 assembly language on the PC with classic99. But I can imagine using the TI as my development box for retro programming.

  13. Posted

    Hi people,

     

    today I bought a Tomy Pyuuta Tutor (japanese version) for cheap (118 USD including shipping)

    Normally they are a lot more expensive, I've been watching ebay for more than a year now.

     

    The idea is to tinker with it and I would at least like to see my Pitfall version running on it ;-)

     

    So the question is, can someone point me to the direction where I can get a homebrew cartridge board?

     

    Also does anyone know, if it would be possible to turn a japanese Tutor into the american version by swapping ROM's ?

    Ofcourse would be great if I can swap keyboard too, but I guess that won't be so easy.

     

    Also have been wondering; what is the TI machine that comes closest to the Tutor? Would that be the TI-99/4a, TI-99/5 or TI-99/8 ? :grin:

  18. Posted

     

    Whoa, I've never seen/heard that before - it was probably released just before my time :). Did you poke the ROM with immunity to be able to record the music without any sound effects?

     

    I can't remember doing any ROM changes. If you listen closely you do hear some sound-effects coming through. There's a thread here on Atariage in our forum, but I can't find it anymore. The search functionality also did not help. Think the thread was probably somewhere around 2013 or so.

  19. Posted · Edited by retroclouds

    Remember @retroclouds' Gyruss demo. Pretty bad-ass.

     

    Oh, I am tied up today with work so it will be later tonight or tomorrow when I can work out the tuning change. I have to modify my script to accept non-note tone values to change them up (been wanting to do this, anyway.) The periodic driver in tone three uses >080, >088, and >040 which do not align to a known note per the EA manual. I have to look at the closest note, approximate the distance the value exists between that and the next note, make the note adjustment, then apply the difference value. I have not yet gotten to where I can give it specific values to modify but that is in the TODO list.

     

    Here's the Gyruss demo. Just tried it in classic99 and js99er, still works :-)

     

    Mount the disk, then E/A option 5; DSK1.#GYRUSS

     

     

    gyruss.dsk

    • Like 3

  20. Posted

    Managed to get the rampack 32k running on my console.

    Basically I managed to put the card in place by gently pressing downwards.

    It's really crazy how small it is. Once in place it works flawlessly.

     

    Nice buy after all ;-)

     

    post-16219-0-18887200-1524503378_thumb.jpg

    post-16219-0-13658500-1524503483_thumb.jpg

    post-16219-0-14998500-1524503563_thumb.jpg

  21. Posted

    Absolutely, basically i bought this out of interest and for my TI-99/4a game console. Combined with the FG99, speech synth, joysticks and optional F18A you have all you need for playing games.

     

    Abd then I have my full-blown Ti-99/4a with PEB, SAMS, disk drives for tinkering

    • Like 2

  22. Posted · Edited by retroclouds

    I bought one of these on Ebay from a guy in Hungary, out of interest really. Paid 35 USD including shipping to Germany.

     

    I'm pretty impressed with the size, as it is very small.

     

    And now a word of warning, because here's the downer:

     

    I'm currently not able to test it as the connector does not fit my TI-99/4a console.... :twisted:

    Don't feel like opening my console (it's the only one I have with F18A built-in).

     

    I do am able to plug it into my Speech Synthesizer, but it's not recognized there. Would probably have to do the +5VDC pass-through:

    http://atariage.com/forums/topic/259662-speech-synthesizer-modifications-audioin-and-5vdc-pass-through/

     

    Applying force on the PCB makes it bend, as that was apparently foreseen by it's designer as both left and right edges have a vertical "line" in them to help it bend.

    Anyway I'm posting the pictures here, as I'd like the hardware guys to chime in. Do anyone of you know the design/components ?

     

    Does bring up another question, is it time for a group effort to design a console edge connector that really fits and can be used in many future hardware projects?

     

    post-16219-0-40273600-1524309484_thumb.jpg

    post-16219-0-68279400-1524309617_thumb.jpg

    post-16219-0-54337900-1524309689_thumb.jpg

    post-16219-0-35279000-1524310026_thumb.jpg

    post-16219-0-29188800-1524310122_thumb.jpg

     

     

    • Like 1

  24. Posted · Edited by retroclouds

    Klaus I watched the video and I'm really surprised by the speed of the Basic interpreter.

    Seems a lot faster than on the TI-99/4A. I just did a quick test and took the same program, but without saving to disk.

    From that alone I would say, that on the TI-99/2 it's probably 2,5x - 3x times as fast as in Extended Basic on the TI-99/4A.

  25. Posted

    Well done! It was fun participating. For me it was the first game I finished in a long time! Im very impressed with the results of what you guys cane up with. 9 new games at once, crazy! Each of the games I played is in a league of its own. Also like that source code was shared and I am hoping it will inspire some Ti-99/4a programmers to try out assembly language.

     

    Assembly language is not hard and it is no magic, you just have to think in small steps compared to a high level language like extended basic. For that you get insane speed and total control of the machine. Not a bad deal if you ask me. ;-)

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