Push’n’Pop scene related website gone

 Amstrad CPC, Demo  5 Responses »
Dec 302015
 

Push’n’Pop, a demoscene related website for the Amstrad CPC, is down since christmas. It seems that they had a server crash and were unable to bring back the website, so it will be closed forever. That are very sad news, because they hosted a lot of intersting discussions in the forums, scene related interviews, news, the Push’n’Pop awards, meeting announcements and meeting reports. So thank you for your work over the last years.

pushnpop-down

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  1. Breakpoint 2010 meeting report
  2. 10th annual scene.org awards: 3 prices for Batman Group
  3. CPC Scene is now Push’n’Pop / CPC Radio is back
  4. FOReVER XIII meeting report
  5. Push’n’Pop demo / production charts 2014 results

Z88dk v1.99A – Cross-platform development environment

 Amstrad CPC, Development  1 Response »
Dec 242015
 

A new version of the Z88dk development environment for Z80 based computer (e.g. Amstrad CPC, Cambridge Z88, MSX, Sinclair ZX 81, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, etc.) was just released. The release is a transition release on the way to v2.0 which aims on using the SDCC compiler instead of the Small-C compiler, which was used before. This leads to much faster and smaller output binaries. You can choose between using the Small-C compiler with the old and the new C library or use the SDCC compiler with the new C library. The new C library also introduces full C standard compliance to Z88dk.
The newest version can be downloaded from the Z88dk homepage.

(Brief) Changelog:

  • [z80asm] Sections have been introduced for generating memory maps and compiling to bankswitched memory.
  • [z80asm] Modern logical operators have been adopted.
  • [z80asm] New scoping keywords PUBLIC, EXTERN and GLOBAL introduced.
  • [z80asm] Relocate files are generated for output binaries for patching assembled code to a new address at load time.
  • [sccz80] Numerous bugfixes.
  • [sdcc] SDCC is now fully supported as alternate C compiler for the new C library.
  • [sdcc] SDCC’s generated code is improved by a large set of aggressive peephole rules (use -SO3 to enable).
  • [sdcc] SDCC’s calls to its primitive functions are modified to use callee linkage.
  • [new c lib] New C library written in assembly language from scratch aiming for a subset of C11 compliance.  Contains more than 700 functions currently.
  • [new c lib] Stdio made object-oriented so that drivers can inherit library code to implement features with a minimal amount of additional code.
  • [new c lib] Stdio base classes currently include serial character i/o and terminal i/o implementing windows and proportional fonts.  Disk i/o is missing in this release.
  • [new c lib] Unique stdio implementation allows removal of high level buffers without affecting performance.
  • [new c lib] Many functions from GNU and POSIX are present beyond the C11 standard.
  • [new c lib] Many unique libraries including some C++ STL containers, data compression, obstacks, game libraries, sound, fzx proportional fonts, etc.  The new C lib contains libraries not present in the classic C lib and vice versa.  Over time the two libraries will homogenize.
  • [new c lib] CRTs are supplied for three initial targets:  embedded (generic z80), cpm, zx (zx spectrum).  Specialized crts allow immediate compilation without customization by the user.
  • [new c lib] The library and crts are highly configurable at library build time and at compile time.  Options allow easy generation of binaries for ROM or RAM targets.
  • [tools] New tool ticks is a command line z80 emulator able to exactly measure execution time of a code block.
  • [tools] New tool dzx7 is a decompressor counterpart to zx7.
  • [tools] New tool zx7 is an optimal lz77/lzss data compressor with companion decompression subroutines in the z80 library.
  • [appmake] +rom added to manipulate raw binaries; options include code injection, extraction and conversion to intel hex format.

 

Related posts:

  1. SDCC 2.9.0 RC1
  2. CPCRSlib 10/24/2012 for SDCC
  3. Z88dk v1.7
  4. SDCC 2.9.0 released
  5. Z88dk v1.9

CrocoDS – Source code for Nintendo DS CPC emulator

 Amstrad CPC, Emulator  2 Responses »
Dec 212015
 

Kyuran just released the source code of his Nintendo DS Amstrad CPC emulator CrocoDS on GitHub.  It is heavily based on WinCPC by Ludovic Deplanque. In the repository you can find the source code for version 2.0 of CrocoDS, which was released in 2007. He also released a version of the CrocoDS emulator for iOS.

CrocoDS-Amstrad-CPC-emulator-for-iPhone-and-iPad.png

Related posts:

  1. CrocoDS v2.1– Amstrad CPC emulator for iPad / iPhone / iPod
  2. CPC emulator for Android
  3. AYAY Kaeppttn tracker / player source code released
  4. Pituka for Nintendo Wii
  5. Phactory + Phortem source code released

WinApe v2.0b1

 Amstrad CPC, Emulator  1 Response »
Nov 282015
 

After 4 years Richard Wilson released a new version of his great CPC  and Plus emulator WinApe. There are a lot of changes and enhancements for the emulation, but have a look at the huge changelist below. You can download it from the WinApe homepage and at the end of this post.

Here is the complete changelist for the new version:

Emulation

  • Improved palette change emulation.
  • Z80 MEMPTR emulation.
  • Correct Z80 Flags emulation.
  • Fixed Z80 DAA instruction.
  • Re-mapped AY output volumes (again!).
  • Changed volume percentage of B channel to 75%.
  • Doubled the period for noise register.
  • Digiblaster and AmDrum emulation.
  • Allow read of AY register 15.
  • Fixed small residual volume on tape input when read bit was zero.
  • Fixed full residual volume on tape input when motor is turned off (and last bit read was high), previously caused disable of AY channel A.
  • Allowed for up to 32 Upper ROMs.
  • Allowed disc images to use up to 162 tracks (81 cylinders).
  • Fixed a keyboard bug with certain keyboard drivers returning key 0 as pressed (which was used for the (None) value). This caused multiple keys to be always pressed at the same time in the emulation.
  • Forced at least one tape read per frame to ensure tape progresses while playing even if the PPI is not read.
    Reduced Tape Stall period when Tape Motor is turned off.
  • Changed CDT/TZX T-State conversion to 3470000 rather than 3500000 to allow some (badly created?) CDTs to work.
    Fixed CDT/TZX Direct Recording block support.
  • Fixed CDT/TZX bit state transition (stays high for 1ms if that was the last state).
  • Changed CDT/TZX Standard block timing to match specification.
  • Fixed error on load of empty tape image.
  • Emulation of Dobbertin SmartWatch (Read Only), not currently available with SNR recording.

Configuration

  • Split Display configuration for Windowed and Full Screen separate values for various options.
  • Added Digiblaster option to Printer port configuration.
  • Added the ability to select (None) for any unmapped key.
  • Added FIRE 3 to keyboard/joystick configuration.
  • Forced ROM remapping after configuration changes so the ROMs are changed immediately.

Tape Monitor

  • Added hints for details on various blocks.
  • Improved display of tape motor status.

Debugger

  • New Memory Read/Write and Input/Output Breakpoints.
  • Disassembler display now shows in colours similar to assembler.
  • Added Pass Count to all Breakpoints to allow the number of passes before breaking to be defined.
  • Added the ability to Load and Save breakpoints from the Breakpoints window.
  • Fixed Follow PC and Break Instructions checkboxes.
  • Improved position checking for windows, allowing for multiple displays.
  • Improved row and column highlight and removal especially in full screen mode.
  • Breakpoint Window Condition editor resized with window.
  • Breakpoint Condition form now validates the condition when Ok is clicked.
  • GoTo no longer requires full 4 digit hex number to be entered. (eg. 38 can be entered rather than 0038).
  • Added Timers and associated window. These are controlled using breakpoint condition functions timer_start and timer_stop.
  • Added a number of variables to breakpoint conditions (eg. MODE, palette_select).
  • Ensured all breakpoints evaluate even on single-step and/or if another breakpoint triggered first.
  • Improved breakpoint condition function parameter count checks.
  • Add a hint to the Soft-Scroll register showing X and Y scrolls and blanking value.
  • Added the ability to load NOI symbol files using the Assembler Symbols window.

Assembler

  • Editor support for Undo and Redo.
  • Display and move to correct column when TAB characters are used.
  • Display a * in the tab to indicate when a file has been modified but not saved.
  • Added a Save All menu item in the File menu.
  • Added SLL undocumented Z80 instruction.
  • Fixed OTDR instruction to output ED BB.
  • Fixed INCBIN access violation with empty include path when file not found.
  • Added an extra parameter (offset_high) to INCBIN to allow 32 bit offsets within the file.
  • Added an optional word parameter for RST instructions (eg. RST #18,label).
  • Added MEMORY function to read emulator memory during assembly.
  • Added CHECKSUM function and directive to produce a checksum or CRC for a region of memory or assembler output.
  • Added SAVE directive to save emulator memory to a file or direct to disc image.
  • Option to conditionally push PC to stack on run.
  • Option to automatically hide the output window on successful assemble.

Snapshots

  • Added VerticalHold (Offset #99) and MemEnable (Offset #9A). (See CPCWiki Version 3 SNA document for details).

AVI Writing

  • Forced writing of AVI frames on every frame refresh.
  • Forced emulator to full size if full size AVI is required.

User Interface

  • Stopped F8 key from entering debug mode while currently stepping over an instruction.
  • Patched VCL to fix ALT key causing controls to disappear.
  • Improved ALT, ESC and F10 key handling (You can now press CTRL-SHIFT-ESC without launching Windows Task Manager).
  • Added Normal Speed (100%) (SHIFT-F3) and High Speed (1000%) (SHIFT-F4) options.
  • Fixed a lot of form and font scaling issues.
  • Fixed Rename menu in disc editor.
  • Fixed Overwrite prompts and default extensions on file dialogs.

Other

  • Support for HTML Help in newer versions of Windows.
  • Added /SHUTDOWN and /SHUTDOWN:FORCE command line parameters to shut down Windows when emulator is closed.
  • Added /SN:filename command line parameter to load a snapshot or recorded session.
  • Fixed a bug with SNR time calculation.
  • Force Vertical Hold to zero for session recording.
  • Added PCW and VORTEX formats.
  • Fixed a bug retrieving and writing blocks to/from CP/M format discs (ROMDOS formats with incorrect DPB extent mask entries D80/D40 etc).
  • Improved detection of double-stepped disc images.
  • Allow IMG files to be used as IDE drives.
  • Support for LBA-48 read and write commands (#24, #34) supporting up to 2TB (32-bit sector address).
  • Improved IDE status handling and handling of IDNF errors.
  • IDE CHS translation.
  • Some support for Get Drive Parameters command (#EC).
WinAPE20B1
WinAPE20B1
WinAPE20B1.zip
4.2 MiB
263 Downloads
Details

Related posts:

  1. WinApe v2.0a18
  2. ACE v1.6 – emulator for MorphOS
  3. WinApe v2.0a14
  4. WinApe v2.0a15
  5. WinApe v2.0a16

RAM test for the Amstrad CPC

 Amstrad CPC, Hardware, System, Utility  No Responses »
Nov 172015
 

Does your Amstrad CPC work correctly or do you have stability issues? Not sure? Well, then you can at least check the RAM of your CPC with Geralds new RAM tester. To run this program on classic CPCs (464, 664, 6128), you will need a LowerROM board or an X-MEM memory expansion in boot mode. Use the .bin file in this configuration.
If you want to run it on an Amstrad Plus or an Amstrad GX4000, you will need a C4CPC cartridge and use the .bin or .cpr file with it.

If the RAM is ok, you will see the following image (green bars at the side of the screen):

RamOk

If something is wrong, you will see a red bar at the side of the screen:

Ram4LsbBad

You can download the binaries at the end of this news and discuss it in the CPCWiki forums.

If you need to check your systems memory without having an expansion board, you can also use Nilquaders memory check utility.

Related posts:

  1. ROMAN v1.0–ROM manager
  2. Wifi hardware expansion for the Amstrad CPC
  3. SymbOS 2.1 for Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW and MSX
  4. HxC Floppy Emulator Manager v3.1 by Norecess
  5. Amstrad CPC on the MIST-FPGA board
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