Author Topic: Q&A with Bruce Tanner (IS-BASIC writer) (Read 332354 times)

BruceTanner · « **Reply #180 on:** 2013.February.27. 23:44:28 »

Quote from: Zozosoft

It is about how many time one compile of BASIC/EXDOS/etc?

It wasn't too bad, because there were lots of separate source files so we only needed to assemble the few we'd changed, and then link them all together, which was relatively fast. Typically a few minutes. But if we decided to rebuild the entire system it was time for a long cup of coffee!

Zozosoft · « **Reply #181 on:** 2013.February.28. 00:01:53 »

For comparision: with the best Enterprise assembler (HEASS) on the real 4Mhz Enterprise full compile of EXDOS 1.3 is only 43 seconds!

BruceTanner · « **Reply #182 on:** 2013.February.28. 09:03:43 »

Quote from: Zozosoft

For comparision: with the best Enterprise assembler (HEASS) on the real 4Mhz Enterprise full compile of EXDOS 1.3 is only 43 seconds!

Wow! That is impressive!

Zozosoft · « **Reply #183 on:** 2013.March.02. 21:49:22 »

I added lot of new articles, mostly from the Popular Computing Weekly.
Perhaps recall some more memories.

BruceTanner · « **Reply #184 on:** 2013.March.02. 22:15:01 »

Quote from: Zozosoft

I added lot of new articles, mostly from the Popular Computing Weekly.
Perhaps recall some more memories.

Thank you! It is interesting reading other parts of those magazines too - delays seem to have been quite common in those days!

I was amused by a quote from Kevin O'Connell (in Popular Computer Weekly 11th August 1984) about the new forthcoming Elan:

"No information will be released until we are 100% ready."

Zozosoft · « **Reply #185 on:** 2013.March.02. 22:35:12 »

Quote from: BruceTanner

1984

1983!

Zozosoft · « **Reply #186 on:** 2013.March.03. 01:43:17 »

I found few more.
First news about the collapse. Now we know the near exact date, it's at end of June 1986.
This is more interesting! Talking about the next prototype model, 320K not a surprise, but what is on the photo??? It is looks very ugly after the original models!

BruceTanner · « **Reply #187 on:** 2013.March.03. 09:06:56 »

Quote from: Zozosoft

I found few more.
First news about the collapse. Now we know the near exact date, it's at end of June 1986.
This is more interesting! Talking about the next prototype model, 320K not a surprise, but what is on the photo??? It is looks very ugly after the original models!

I never heard of that! I don't think that would have helped their situation!

Zozosoft · « **Reply #188 on:** 2013.March.03. 20:24:29 »

Another article which does not talk too much about the EP but still very interesting!
1.
2.
Probably the Hungary-Enterprise relationship started at this point!

We know some games developed in Hungary to the Enterprise before the Enterprise machines sold there.

Zozosoft · « **Reply #189 on:** 2013.March.08. 23:12:01 »

Quote from: BruceTanner

I was not able to test that 30 years ago - that much memory was just a distant dream!

When the softwares (EXOS,BASIC,EXDOS,etc) developed you are used only 64K prototype machines? Memory expansion not tested until the first EP128?

It is a Bug in the EXDOS, maximum RAMDISK 127 can be used (2032K)

I fixed this, now all memory can be used.
The problem: under 2048K 1 sectors/cluster can be used, but after needed 2 sectors/cluster (because the FAT size).
It is need some checking, more bytes in the code. I think this is the reason why you limited the max size to 127 segments. "Never will have anyone more than 2M memory EP"

I putted this checking to the code, it is needed plus 10 bytes... it is some hard days while I can optimise the original code for made 10 bytes shorter

BruceTanner · « **Reply #190 on:** 2013.March.08. 23:28:56 »

Quote from: Zozosoft

When the softwares (EXOS,BASIC,EXDOS,etc) developed you are used only 64K prototype machines? Memory expansion not tested until the first EP128?

It is a Bug in the EXDOS, maximum RAMDISK 127 can be used (2032K)
I fixed this, now all memory can be used.
The problem: under 2048K 1 sectors/cluster can be used, but after needed 2 sectors/cluster (because the FAT size).
It is need some checking, more bytes in the code. I think this is the reason why you limited the max size to 127 segments. "Never will have anyone more than 2M memory EP"
I putted this checking to the code, it is needed plus 10 bytes... it is some hard days while I can optimise the original code for made 10 bytes shorter

Well spotted & fixed zozo! Despite all the expansion possibilities, back in those days 2M RAM was totally unthinkable. That is why the RAM test is impossibly slow with a large amount of RAM - it was just inconceivable that anyone would add that amount of RAM. As for a computer fast enough to run a C-written Z80 emulator at 400% speed...

BruceTanner · « **Reply #191 on:** 2013.March.08. 23:34:00 »

Quote from: Zozosoft

When the softwares (EXOS,BASIC,EXDOS,etc) developed you are used only 64K prototype machines? Memory expansion not tested until the first EP128?

I'm sure we tested with more than 64k, but I doubt we ever had more than 256k and possibly 128k was the most we ever had - don't remember having more.

Zozosoft · « **Reply #192 on:** 2013.March.09. 00:02:09 »

Quote from: BruceTanner

That is why the RAM test is impossibly slow with a large amount of RAM - it was just inconceivable that anyone would add that amount of RAM.

But if all programs are EXOS compatible (allocating memory from EXOS, using Warm Start address, Exit option, etc) then you see the RAM test once a day when power on the computer!
Unfortunatelly many programs written on wrong way

It is a big mistake from the Enterprise company: not released something manual about the right EXOS programing! The original Entersoft programs also programed wrong

I not understood previously why happened this. It is a standalone, brilliant operating system, but not used properly

But now after your memories I know: the Intelligent Software and the Enterprise Computers are two different companies. And the Enterprise Computers did not realized which fantastic system got from the IS!

BruceTanner · « **Reply #193 on:** 2013.March.09. 00:20:06 »

Quote from: Zozosoft

But if all programs are EXOS compatible (allocating memory from EXOS, using Warm Start address, Exit option, etc) then you see the RAM test once a day when power on the computer!
Unfortunatelly many programs written on wrong way
It is a big mistake from the Enterprise company: not released something manual about the right EXOS programing! The original Entersoft programs also programed wrong

I not understood previously why happened this. It is a standalone, brilliant operating system, but not used properly
But now after your memories I know: the Intelligent Software and the Enterprise Computers are two different companies. And the Enterprise Computers did not realized which fantastic system got from the IS!

Yes I think everything you say is true. With the benefit of hindsight it would have been good if IS had put together an example framework program with soure code. But all those things you mention are hidden and technical, and all the attention was on BASIC.

Zozosoft · « **Reply #194 on:** 2013.March.09. 01:09:48 »

Quote from: BruceTanner

and all the attention was on BASIC.

The easy usage of the machine capabilities from machine code program not requested by the Enterprise company? This is own idea of the IS? (or from Martin who is wrote the EXOS?)

Author Topic: Q&A with Bruce Tanner (IS-BASIC writer) (Read 332354 times)

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