cross-development | The Amstrad CPC news portal

CPCtelera v1.4 – Amstrad CPC game engine for C developers

Apr 202016

A new version of CPCtelera, the Amstrad CPC game engine for C developers, was just released in version 1.4. CPCtelera offers a huge C library for the SDCC C cross-compiler, which makes it easier to create games and applications for the Amstrad CPC. This version features a new license (LGPL), support for the CPCRSLib, a lot of new examples and a huge load of new methods and optimisations (see the changelist below). It is available for Windows, Linux and OS-X. You can get the latest version from GitHub and discuss it in the CPCWiki forums.

Changes in v1.4:

Low-level library, scripts, building system and examples moved to LGPL license to suit more developer needs.
Added CPCRSLib installer script (cpct_installrslib): automatically installs and configures CPCRSLib to be used along with CPCtelera.
Added -c modifier to cpct_mkproject to let the user create CPCRSLib enabled projects.
Improved cpct_drawSpriteMaskedAlignedTable to work with un-aligned sprites. Only 256-bytes transparency table shall be aligned now.
Added interrupt unsafe functions for keyboard scanning
Improved img2cpc sprite generation: explicit array width*height sizes and automatic size constants generation.
Added new high-quality random number generators: Marsaglia XORShift 8/16/32 bits and Marsaglia XORShitf+ 40 bits state.
Simplified use of random number generators with standard macros cpct_rand and cpct_srand, to work like C functions rand/srand.
Added simple user example for random number generation: easy/random.
Added macro IMG2SPRITES for automatically converting tilemap TMX files into C arrays on typing “make”.
Added macro TMX2C for automatically converting image files into sprites (C-arrays), tiles and tilesets on typing “make”.
Added configuration files image_conversion.mk and tilemap_conversion.mk to easily include TMX2C and IMG2SPRITES macros for all user assets in the project.
Added new conversion options to cpct_tmx2csv: generation of C/H files, different output folder, and custom c-identifier generation.
Added new macros cpctm_createTramsparentMaskTable and cpctm_declareMaskTable to easily define and create 256-bytes aligned transparency tables, greatly simplifying the process.
Added Horizontal Sprite flipping functions: for Modes 0, 1 & 2 and normal/masked sprites, working from RAM and ROM, to suit different user needs.
Added user examples for horizontal flipping functions. C-examples: flipAnimM2, flipSprites. ASM-examples: hflipSpriteM1, flipMaskSprite.
Added macro cpctm_screenPtr to do static calculation of screen memory pointers, saving CPU and binary space when calculating constant locations.
Updated old examples to use new macros, especially cpctm_screenPtr.
Improved cpct_img2tileset output messages and success status check. Also added an option to output harware converted palette values.
Added CPCT_VMEM_START macro defining video memory start: standarizes its uses.
Updated hello world template example to use new macros, simplifying its code.
Added assembly macros for undocumented Z80 opcodes: used to clarify code.
Added ultra-optimized assembly macros for bit and pixel reversing inside bytes: they can reverse pixels inside a byte for modes 0, 1 and 2.
Added macros CPCT_ABSOLUTE_LOCATION_AREA and CPCT_RELOCATABLE_AREA to absolutely locate code and data inside binary space and memory.
Added example advanced/relocateMemory to show how to use memory relocation macros.
Added CPCT_XBITARRAY and CPCT_ENCODEXBITS macros to easily define, declare and populate bitarrays.
Added new type of bitarrays: bitarrays of 6-bits per item.
Added new example medium/bitarrayMaps1 to clarify the use of bitarrays as tilemaps and other structures.
Added sprite blending functions: can blend sprites with background using different modes like XOR, OR, AND, ADD, ADC, SUB, SBC, LDI, NOP.
Added sprite blending example medium/blendedSprites.
Added colour enumerations to simplify palette definitions and palete colour changes (CPCT_FW_Colour and CPCT_HW_Colour)
Added support for cpct_winape script to automatically load debugging symbols on launching DSKs.
Updated cpct_winape to download Winape 2.0 beta 2.
Added another ASM example with some sprite/text drawing, automatic sprite conversions and animations.
Some performance improvements on previous functions.
Updated to SDCC 3.5.5. (and fixed libboost 1.6. compilation problem).
Fixed a problem with multithreaded compilation on ARM platforms using SD Cards as main storages (mainly Raspberry Pi)
Added OBJS2CLEAN variable to makefiles to let the user clean some custom generated objects.
Improved documentation
Fixed cpct_tmx2csv failing on cygwin
Added tilemap_hwscroll example to show hardware scrolling capabilities along with an expanded tilemap.
Added latest 1.1.1. version of Retro Game Asset Studio (RGAS)
Everything packed with love to give user the best possible set of tools 🙂

WYZTracker v2.0

Amstrad CPC, Development, Music 2 Responses »

Mar 202016

Augusto Ruiz released a new version of his music tracker, which is written in .NET, so it runs under Windows and systems, which are supported by the Mono .NET runtime. It can be used to write music for Amstrad CPC, Spectrum or MSX systems, so it is a nice tool for cross-development. The assembly source code of the WYZPlayer is included and Augusto is also working on a “port” for SDCC / CPCtelera.

The new version features envelopes for drums, loops to a specific pattern and it is easier to select the drum and sfx channel in the player.

Do not hesitate, download the latest version and test it by yourself!

WYZTracker

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.

Retro Game Asset Studio (RGAS) v1.1 / v1.1.1

Amstrad CPC, Development No Responses »

Nov 132015

Lachlan Keown released a new version of his Retro Game Asset Studio (RGAS). With RGAS you can design various asset types (sprites, sound / music, levels) for different retro computers (Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum). It is a cross-development tool, which runs on the .NET runtime under Windows and with Mono it can be used under Linux, too. It is also one component which is included in the CPCtelera game development framework.

The latest version can be downloaded from the RGAS CPCWiki page.

Changes v1.1:

Upgraded to .Net Framework 4.0 from 3.5
Copying pixels from sprite stores both text(JSON) and bitmap data on clipboard
Sprite list now maintains position on refresh
Sprite list allows multi-select drag re-order
Level designer allows editing of level parameters
Level designer has gridlines option
Level designer image quality improved
Level designer allows duplicating of levels
Amstrad font samples available when creating new project
Change output format from drop-down menu on toolbar
Add tooltip to tiles on level designer for sprite name
Single portable .exe rather than a collection of .dlls

Changes v1.1.1:

Performance improvements under Linux

CPCtelera v1.3 – Amstrad CPC game engine for C developers

Amstrad CPC, Development 4 Responses »

Oct 172015

A new version of CPCtelera, the Amstrad CPC game engine for C developers, was just released in version 1.3. CPCtelera offers a huge C library for the SDCC C cross-compiler, which makes it easier to create games and applications for the Amstrad CPC. This version features SDCC patches and bugfixes, some speed optimisations, new methods and a big toolset improvement. It is available for Windows, Linux and OS-X. You can get the latest version from GitHub and discuss it in the CPCWiki.

Changes in v1.3:

API change on cpct_getXBits functions. Changed order of parameters to further optimize operations.
Optimized functions: bitarray functions, cpct_count2VSYNC, cpct_px2byteM0, cpct_enable/disablefirmware, cpct_getHWColour, cpct_setPalette, cpct_fw2hw
Added example on getting hardware values with cpct_getHWColour
Automatic inclusion of binary files in DSK: Users can now specify a path for the makefile to retrieve binary files and insert them on the DSK on compilation.
iDSK: Fixed historic data corruption problem on adding new files.
Added cpct_winape script that automatically downloads, installs and lauches winape from command line to speed up development process. It works multiplatform, transparently using wine where required.
Added cpct_setInterruptHandler and cpct_removeInterruptHandler functions to let the user easily hook any function to system interrupts.
Added example on hooking a function to system interrupts.
Added cpct_img2tileset support for generating sprites with interlaced masks.
Added new script cpct_tmx2csv to convert tmx files from tiled into CSVs ready for inclusion in user code.
Added Augusto Ruiz’s dskgen tool for generating and managing DSKs low level.
Updated SDCC with latest patches and bugfixes.
Modified SDCC building: SDCC now builds with maximum optimizations activated and all unnecessary parts are removed from compilation (it compiles faster)
Improved Makefile functions for CDT Creation.
Added examples about automatic assets inclusion/conversion and CDT generation with multiple files.
Improved compatibility and functionality of Augusto Ruiz’s img2cpc
Improved examples and explanations
Added GCC/CLang version checking on installation (checks required C++11 features are present)
Added splitted C/ASM bindings for most of CPCtelera’s functions, along with __z88dk_callee and __z88dk_fastcall calling convention use.

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