[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Aztec-C Website Update APPLE II DOS 3.3
The Aztec-C website at http://www.clipshop.ca/Aztec/index.htm#apple has been
updated with major additions to the http://www.clipshop.ca/Aztec/Apple33.zip
Apple II DOS 3.3 compiler bundle.
Get yourself a copy. The link above will get you one.
This is a "scaled-down" version of the Manx Aztec C65 Version 3.2b MS-DOS
cross-development environment for an Apple II running DOS 3.3 which has been
"scaled-up" recently much to my enjoyment.
It now includes source and working diskimages for BILLY'S SILLY THINGS,
RANDO, and LITTLE BEN, as well as all the SAMPLES and PROJECTS. The G3.LIB
customized graphics library is improved and augmented with the new routines
that are required to build these new projects. The code below is from Little
Ben. That should warn you what you are in for if your grey matter can handle
it... so challenge yourself:)
/*
a radian is the measure of an angle with its with vertex at the center of a
circle whose intercepted arc on the circle is equal in length to the radius
of the circle...
- allyn j. washington
*/
You will still need to download MiniPix.zip separately, since I am still
trying to keep the size of Aztec33.zip as small as possible and at the same
time provide a "turnkey" development environment for Windows XP and MS-DOS.
It is still less than 1 meg.
http://www.clipshop.ca/DiskImages/MiniPix.zip
The PDF user manuals for Rando and Little Ben are not listed and not
included also to keep sizes smaller.
http://www.clipshop.ca/Aztec/Rando33.pdf
http://www.clipshop.ca/Aztec/Rando33.pdf
But you can follow those links to see the screenshots and read about these
sample Apple33 Projects.
I have updated the tools as well and now support improved embedded and
binary music files that are smaller than ever and also support run-length
encoded and embedded encoded and non-encoded bitmap graphics at the same
level as I do on the Aztec C64 distribution. And Fraggle saw an update to
create "Silly Things" from IBM CGA BSAVED Images which can be generated with
my ClipShop utility.
http://www.clipshop.ca/index.htm
Clipshop is really cool in some if not all respects and deals with IBM-PC,
Apple II, andd C64 graphics pretty well for program that was patched togther
from 20 some-odd years of C code. It allows images from Windows Paint to be
edited for use on the Apple II among other things and will extract DOS 3.3
BSaved Images and MiniPix directly from DOS 3.3 DiskImages to be pasted into
whatever you have in mind (althoughemulator screen grabs are the best for
this sort of thing).
Overall it has been a productive few weeks of "spare time" and I hope you
will download this and replace the previous release because this is much
better, and in some respects is better than the AppleX ProDOS release of the
same compiler targetted at ProDOS.
Now every programmer has a favorite language, and because I play across so
many platforms (PC, C64, Apple II, CP/M) mine is C. I have written more
BASIC than most especially for a C programmer, and done my share of ASM
especially for intel 80XX, and enough 6502 to make me dangerous. However, I
do wish to point-out that it takes no more than a day or two to port a
fairly non-trivial program from MS-DOS to the Apple II and fully test and
document it on the 3rd day in this environment. Since I like to knock-off
things quickly and I am never sure how much time I have on the planet, I
chose Aztec-C for my Apple II work, bought it when it was fairly new, and
never looked back except to re-release the old stuff that I hadn't tossed
and to re-create it in an improved manner if I had.
That's not to say you shouldn't program in some other languages especially
BASIC when you are on these old machines, but to write structured code and
not to need to write in Academic languages like Pascal and Smalltalk I have
always moved towards C and C++ until VB.NET made BASIC workable. Of course I
use C and C++ for my linux work (and perl) but it's C if I want to do
something besides make a GUI. If you want to learn more about hard-core C
programming then Apple33 will provide you with a fine toy to play with.
For anyone that just got here or who hasn't been paying attention, Aztec33
is targetted specifically at writing Apple II DOS 3.3 programs in the C
Programming Language. It does not provide support for Apple II's running
ProDOS (that's another Atztec-C compiler that I have bundled called AppleX)
and it does not provide support for Aztec C Pcode. Other than that, none of
the run-time library functions have been removed that were in the original
distribution.
Programs are written and compiled on the IBM-PC and then moved to an Apple
II or to an emulator disk image to be run. (Emulator Diskimages of all the
sample programs are provided for you as well.)
A modified Graphics link library is also provided which has been extended to
support the use of bit-mapped graphics images and sound routines, etc.
The build environment has been configured to run under Windows XP and a
pre-configured shortcut has been provided for this purpose as well as a make
utility program and some additional programs to be used in conjunction with
make.
Several sample programs are provided, each with its own MAKEFILE and each
can be reviewed for information on how to write your own DOS 3.3 C programs.
I have set-up each of these diskimages with a HELLO program. In DOS 3.3
Aztec C programs are binary files which have a base address of 0800 and are
loaded and run using the BRUN command. You can review the HELLO program to
see how that is done.
Getting Started
Unzip the ZIP file with directories intact onto the root of your C: Drive.
The Windows XP shortcut has been pre-configured to use this directory
structure.
Open the C:\Apple33 folder in MyComputer and click-on the shortcut. A cmd
window will open, and you will be in the C:\Apple33 directory which is the
parent directory for this environment. The required environment variables to
build Aztec C DOS 3.3 programs are set for you, and you can build these
anywhere on your computer from this cmd window.
You must be somewhat familiar with DOS commands to use this build
environment.
You can test the environment by building the programs in the SAMPLES and
PROJECTS subdirectory.
Each has its own MAKEFILE which will build a DOS 3.3 program simply by
typing "make" and pressing [ENTER] while in each's project directory under
SAMPLES (or PROJECTS).
What You Will Need
You can write your own programs in notepad or your favorite programmer's
editor. This environment doesn't provide an editor. Windows notepad or
wordpad will do but better editors like Textpad are out there.
You should get a copy of the Aztec C Manual which is available online at
http://www.clipshop.ca/Aztec/cat1.htm and
http://www.clipshop.ca/Aztec/cat2.htm
This will provide you with the original text of the printed manual for the
C65 compiler and considerably more information than the SAMPLES that are
included in this environment.
You will also need an Apple II emulator like Apple II Oasis that provides a
Disk Manager unless you have a real Apple II. Ciderpress works too and has
its own strengths. Remember to always set your binary PRG's that Aztec33
produces to load at 0800. See the MAKEFILE's etc for more detail.
If you wish to create full-screen bitmapped graphics for the Apple II you
maywish to download the ClipShop program from the following link:
http://www.clipshop.ca
Other than that, all you need is the ability to write and compile programs
in the C programming language. Aztec predates ANSI and ISO C. You will need
to use Kernighan and Ritchie prototypes and syntax which is no hardship and
good experience as well. The point is that your programs will be properly
organized and run quite well. The downside is that they will take longer to
load than BASIC programs.
Provided as is!
Have Fun!
Bill Buckels
May 27, 2008
"I have always wished for my computer to be as easy to use as my telephone;
my wish has come true because I can no longer figure out how to use my
telephone!!"
- Bjarne Stroustrup, creator of C+