XBIOS - One file demo

[Tschibo00]

Long time no see!

For some while I've been trying to recreate, what is standard on C64: Demos, which can load data while running and while playing music.

Now I've found XBIOS, which could provide a solution (and I think, others are thinking in the same direction). So what I want to do is, a one file XEX which uses XBIOS internally to load and decompress stuff at runtime.

My idea is as follows:

- XBIOS is the first segment

- My loader is the second segment

- After loading those two, XBIOS is initialized (e.g. by calling $2600 in the standard library)

- My loader then uses xBIOS_LOAD_DATA to load additional data from the same file

Now some problems arose:

- JSR to the XBIOS init failed (i.e. it's not coming back), not sure why

- I'm not sure how to access the correct file from my loader. Is there any way to retrieve the currently loaded filename, so I can access other segments of it?

The data segments would be appended at the end of the file with a proprietary catalog, which would be used by my loader to determine the position and length of data segments.

Would this be possible? And if so, how would I do this?

Thanks a lot,

Hopper/SquoQuo

[Creature XL]

I am myself new to XBIOS (as can be read in various posts), so I can not help you directly. But you can be sure that xxl will come soon

Are you aware that you need to make a boot disk (ATR)? Just prepanding xbios before your XEX is not working as I was informed.

 

What I do in my Makefile:

atr:    all
        cp tools/xbios/XBIOS.COM $(ATR_DIR)/
        cp $(XEX) $(ATR_DIR)/xautorun
        $(DIR2ATR) -B tools/xbios/xboot128.obx $(ATR)  $(ATR_DIR)

xboot128.obx are the (3) boot sectors which load the XBIOS.COM which in turn loads your program if it is named "xautorun".

[Tschibo00]

Creating an ATR is no problem, what I'm specifically trying is to avoid ATR and go for a XEX.

Theoretically I don't see that much of a problem in doing so, however XBIOS must load, return and I must have access to the correct file.

Or maybe I'm missing something completely here?

From what I understand, Heaven/TQA is already trying to accomplish something similar, right?

[Creature XL]

No it is not possible to my knowledge.

I wanted to do the same thing as you. But the master himself (xxl) told me it isn't possible.

Because XBIOS needs to know a bit about the disk geometry (sector size maybe).

And when you have an XEX you could (theoretically) put it on any formated disk or even on no disk at all (SD2SIO devices).

 

However, IFF it is indeed possible and I just understood XXL wrong then I am happy as hell

 

 

EDIT: typo

Edited June 4, 2014 by Creature XL

[Tschibo00]

Hm, that would explain, why the XBIOS init crashes midway.

So basically I'm back to modifying the Atari OS myself or using XBIOS and creating an ATR...

[Heaven/TQA]

later tonight I can post the Arsantica final xBios loader with sound/msx.

 

the 3 parts of Arsantica are basicly XEX files on an ATR with xBIOS.

Edited June 4, 2014 by Heaven/TQA

[xxl]

firstly you need to use the xB v3 (on page is old xB).

if you want to play music while I / O then I propose to accept that it can be loaded with the SIO connection - standard for atari (any external device with SIO, eg. SIO2SD etc. also with turbo)

do not need a bootable disk - it can be regular dos disk, you can load the xB with DOS, but it is more convenient if the disk will automatically start xB...

xB looks like this:

001: $2400 $241B: $001C

002: $241B $264A: $0230

003: $2000 $23FF: $0400

004: $02E0 $02E1: $0002

RUN $2473

005: $2648 $2832: $01EB

006: $03C0 $03E7: $0028

001: $2400 $241B: $001C

org $2400

.byte c'XAUTORUN ' ; autorun filename

.byte >$0800 ; xBIOS location

.byte >$0700 ; buffer adr

.word $2e2 ; INITAD

.word $2e0 ; RUNAD

.word AOSV ; I/O module

.word AOSV_RELOC ; reloc var for I/O

.byte $ff ; PORTB

.byte $40 ; NMIEN

.byte $c0 ; IRQEN

.word xSIOV ; DEFAULT xB I/O module

.byte { RTS } ; dummy RTS

so, you can define:

autorun filename,

xB location - yes, wherever you want, even RAM under ROM - xB has binary relocator

buffer address - the same - wherever

init/run location

I/O module - yes, you can use your own or AtariOS (AOSV)

portb/nmi/irqen value at starting library

xSIOV is default xB I/O module for SIO devices

so... you can define it e.g as:

.byte c'MYFILE '

.byte >$D800 ; xBIOS base $D800

.byte >$0000 ; buffer on page zero (xB do not uses page zero)

.word $0100 ; INITAD on stack

.word $FFFC ; RUNAD under reset vector

.word xSIOV ; xSIOV SIO DRIVES

.word dummy_rts

.byte $fe ; ROM OFF

.byte $00 ; NMI OFF

.byte $00 ; IRQ OFF

.word xSIOV ; dummy

dummy_rts .byte { RTS } ; dummy

and your program could be loaded with ROM off...

005: $2648 $2832: $01EB

it is "menu". if autorun file present on disk you can cut it from xB

006: $03C0 $03E7: $0028

AtariOS I/O module... yes $28 bytes . if you use default xB SIO module then you can cut it from xB

002: $241B $264A: $0230

configurator/relocator

so if you have an autorun file and proper header, your xB may look like this:

001: $2400 $241B: $001C

002: $241B $264A: $0230

003: $2000 $23FF: $0400

004: $02E0 $02E1: $0002

RUN $2473

if you will use own music player instead of the Delta Music Composer Player by Konop, do not forget writing value to AUDCTL and xAUDCTL

read this:

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/223388-game-design-thinktank-retrogaming/page-4?do=findComment&comment=3001368

and remember, BINARY_LOAD works in any point in file, so you can do xBIOS_LOAD_DATA an then back to xBIOS_LOAD_BINARY_FILE.

if you want use music during I/O. the easiest way do not change the header, perform jsr xBIOS_SET_DEFAULT_DEVICE at first ini and go :-)

---

if you want open file which been loaded by xB use xBIOS_OPEN_DEFAULT_FILE - no need filename.

test.atr

xboot128.obx

xboot256.obx

xbios.obx

Edited June 4, 2014 by xxl

[Tschibo00]

If I understand you correctly, you're proposing to create an ATR (or use the two files-method). As said, this would be no problem, but thanks for the support!

Currently I'm trying a different approach: My demo framework already copies OS to RAM, therefore it's rather easy to locate and modify the parts of the OS responsible for corrupting audio channels 1+2.

This is already working flawlessly.

However the question of compatibility remains. How many modifications are out there, which override/replace the Atari OS with something else (therefore breaking my approach) - like SpartaDos X?

Edited June 5, 2014 by Tschibo00

[+JAC!]

>However the question of compatibility remains.

There are dozens of different OS ROM versions like QMEG OS, HISIO etc., so I'd really not recomend that.

The question is what you really accept as limitation:

 

a) plain XEX that can run from any type of I/O device (SIDE/Cart, ....)
This is the most compatible format.
Here you cannot assume anything about the I/O, if any how many POKEY channels are used etc.
The only contract is the DOS loading behaviour, LOMEM and RUNADR/INIADR.

b) XEX that assumes to be running from a DISK (like) device using SIO.
This is the 2nd best option.
The best is to have a real own SIO routine. Otherwise you cannot control speed/timing etc.
But that is essential because with high speed SIO divisor you wont have time for anything but I/O.

The only contract are the SIO protocol and the device ID.

c) Boot ATR

Compatible with less devices.

Basically like b), but also gives you control over sector size, which might be required etc.

 

I actually would nowadays rather stick to loading the stuff with high speed from any device into the RAM first and play it from there than investing in limited things you can do while loading, making the loading process even longer.

 

But of course I also understand that every limit needs someone to fight it - that's what demos are about :-)

Note: For b) and c) XBIOS is probably the best from what I saw in it's code, but I haven't used it so far.

Edited June 5, 2014 by JAC!

[xxl]

how I/O music works with xB:

xBIOS                           equ $0800
xIRQEN                          equ xBIOS+$3e8
xBIOS_SET_DEFAULT_DEVICE        equ xBIOS+$2A
xBIOS_LOAD_BINARY_FILE          equ xBIOS+$30
DLP_PLAYER_ZPG_VARS             equ $e0
DLP_PLAYER_ADDRESS              equ $78d4       ; do 7c80
DLP_ADDRESS                     equ $7000
;AUDCTL_SUPPORT                 equ 1
;XBIOS_AUDCTL_SUPPORT           equ 1
DLP_INIT                        equ DLP_PLAYER_ADDRESS+$80
DLP_PLAY                        equ DLP_PLAYER_ADDRESS+$83

                icl 'atarihw.ah'

                opt h-                  ; xB can load binary file without "FFFF" ID
                org [a(start,start+(stop-start)-1)],$0c00
start
                sei
                lda #0
                sta nmien
                sta irqen
                sta dmactl
                sta xIRQEN
                lda #$fe
                sta portb                       ; continue load with ROM off
                jmp xBIOS_SET_DEFAULT_DEVICE
stop
                opt h+
                ini start

                org $7000
                ins 'dciomusic.dat'

                org $0000               ; direct load to ZP

IONMI           sta zpa
                stx zpx
                sty zpy
                jsr DLP_PLAY
                lda #0
zpa     equ *-1                
                ldx #0
zpx     equ *-1                
                ldy #0
zpy     equ *-1                
                rti

playmusic
                lda <IONMI
                sta $fffa
                lda >IONMI
                sta $fffb
                jsr DLP_INIT
                lda #$40
                sta nmien
                rts
                ini playmusic

                org $c000       ; direct load under OS
      :$1000    .byte $ff

                org $d800       ; direct load under OS                
      :$2700    .byte $ff

koniec          lda random
                sta colbak
                jmp koniec

                run koniec

test.atr

[Heaven/TQA]

Jac... go RETRO... loading from ATR is the best solution. bought 5,25

[xxl]

real Retro means .CAS format, noFS DISK and .CAR

 

;D

[+JAC!]

>Jac... go RETRO... loading from ATR is the best solutio

Just got a box full of C64 Orgininal (! they exist !) disks, so maybe I can format them :-)

Edited June 7, 2014 by JAC!

[+skr]

Punchcards!

[xxl]

full version of xBIOS v3 is out: http://xxl.atari.pl/?p=1076

[Heaven/TQA]

Thanks

[twh/f2]

Have a look on this: Bad Apple 64

http://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=63649

 

I wonder where the limits are with XBios. Except for the sound (if I'm right Pokey is limited to just 2 voices while Disk I/O) it could look quite similiar?

 

greets,

twh

[Xuel]

Have a look on this: Bad Apple 64

http://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=63649

 

I wonder where the limits are with XBios. Except for the sound (if I'm right Pokey is limited to just 2 voices while Disk I/O) it could look quite similiar?

 

greets,

twh

I would love to see a port of this to A8.

[+JAC!]

[delted]

Edited July 14, 2014 by JAC!