Review request: ppislots.com

Expert (68)

04-03-2017, 13:42

Hi,

I created a tool to show the configuration of the 8255 PPI to see which page points to which slot. Can somebody check if it works correctly as it shows a different output then doing from basic:

PRINT RIGHT$("0000000"+BIN$(INP(&HA8)),8)
11110000

Tool can be found here:
git clone https://bitbucket.org/conveniencedev/ppislots.git
Precompiled version is in the /bin directory

By Louthrax

Prophet (2436)

04-03-2017, 15:45

When you're in BASIC the BIOS is in place at 0000-3FFF and 4000-7FFF. You have RAM at these locations in DOS, so the results must be different. Weird thing here is that you have different slots while in DOS (usually the RAM slot is that same for all visible RAM in DOS, but that might depend on your configuration, for example if you have 32KB main RAM and an extra 32KB RAM expansion cartridge...).

By user888

Expert (68)

04-03-2017, 17:26

I'm running OneChipMSX it on a Altera DE1. Would that explain it?

By Louthrax

Prophet (2436)

04-03-2017, 18:12

I think the OneChipMSX models all have RAM in a single same slot (you can type "MEMORY" at the MSX-DOS prompt to check that if you're under Nextor).

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6437)

04-03-2017, 18:42

Louthrax wrote:

I think the OneChipMSX models all have RAM in a single same slot.

It's In slot 3-0.

By user888

Expert (68)

04-03-2017, 23:35

So I would expect to see a 3 for all locations, right? That means inp(0xa8); in C returns something different than inp(&ha8) in Basic...

By Louthrax

Prophet (2436)

04-03-2017, 23:43

Yep, should be 3 for all slots in your case.

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6437)

05-03-2017, 00:51

Not 3, but 3-0

Configuration of OneChipMSX is as following:

Slot 0-0: BIOS+BASIC
Slot 0-1: Kanji driver (only if upgraded to MSX2+)
Slot 0-2: MSX-MUSIC Bios
Slot 0-3: X-Basic (only if upgraded to MSX2+)

Slot 3-0: RAM
Slot 3-1: Extended bios
Slot 3-2: Special version of DOS 2.3 for Mega-SD
Slot 3-3: IPL rom

+ I/O Kanji rom 128kB

By Louthrax

Prophet (2436)

05-03-2017, 01:21

mars2000you wrote:

Not 3, but 3-0

Slowly, he's just using register A8 and displaying main slots for now, the joys of the subslots will come later

By Louthrax

Prophet (2436)

05-03-2017, 02:49

user888, I had a quick look at your code, I think it's better to use "unsigned char" when doing shift operations. Also your "inb" functions does not seem to access the Z80 ports ?

By user888

Expert (68)

05-03-2017, 11:04

Thanks for the answers.

Regarding unsigned vs signed char: default is unsigned with SDCC 3.6 and later, see http://sdcc.sourceforge.net/mediawiki/index.php/SDCC_3.6.0_R.... But of course it's good practice for portability's sake to make it more explicit.

Regarding subslots: will look into it. I'm doing this exercise to learn more from slots/subslots behaviour.

But, the real reason for I see the strange slot configuration is this:

char inb(char param) {
      return 'a';
}

... which I added in the beginning to make it compile, and forgot about it later :-) My punishment to not start test-driven. I will see if I can find a high-level inp() function, otherwise I will add one in inline assembler.