programming | The Amstrad CPC news portal

SDCC 3.1.0

Dec 082011

A new version of the SDCC C compiler is available. You can use SDCC to develop for the Amstrad CPC, e.g. with using the SDCC Code::Blocks template or the article in the CPCWiki. In the new version, there are a lot of optimisations for the Z80 backend, so be sure to update if you already use the old version. You can download it from http://sdcc.sourceforge.net.

Changes:

include/pic, non-free/include/pic, lib/pic, non-free/lib/pic renamed to */pic14
implemented –fomit-frame-pointer for mcs51
support for use of sdcc in z88dk (–reserve-regs-iy and –no-optsdcc-in-asm options; smallc calling convention)
new register allocator in the z80 and gbz80 ports (optimal when using –opt-code-size and a sufficiently high value for –max-allocs-per-node for the z80 port)
C99 designated initializers
added strxfrm() and strcoll() functions; strerror() is the only string handling function still missing
added support for pic18f2xk22/pic18f4xk22 family (requires gputils > 0.14.0 and –enable-new-pics configure flag)
added support for enhanced core pic14 devices (requires gputils > 0.14.0 and –enable-new-pics configure flag)
setjmp() / longjmp() for the z80 port
_Bool / bool for the hc08, pic16 and pic14 ports
sdcpp synchronized with GNU cpp 4.6.1
z180 port
very basic (no integer constants, multiplication, division, shifts or use as return value) support for data types long long, unsigned long long, int_fast64_t, int_least64_t, int64_t, uint_fast64_t, uint_least64_t, uint64_t in the z80, z180, r2k and gbz80 ports
r2k port for the Rabbit 2000 and Rabbit 3000
Numerous feature requests and bug fixes are included as well.

30 years megademo – call for demomakers

Amstrad CPC, Demo, Development 2 Responses »

Sep 152011

It is a bit too early to celebrate the 30th birthday of the CPC, but it isn’t too early to start a call for demomakers. The CPC demogroups Benediction and Vanity want to create a megademo which will be released in 2014 and they want YOU to participate. There is still plenty of time left, so don’t be lazy and register on Push’n’Pop for the competition!

Here is the original message from the Push’n’Pop website:

“To celebrate the 30th anniversary of our beloved CPC, Benediction and Vanity are proud to invite you to participate in the 30 years CPC megademo project! The aim is to build a new classic CPC megademo, with screens from any demogroup, and release it in 2014.

The megademo comity will be in charge of managing the project, coding the menu, linking and releasing the megademo with the utmost respect to the deadlines set. We will provide technical specifications or limitations as soon as possible (i.e., reserved memory, …) and support to ease the integration of the various demo-parts.

Rules

The megademo must be developed in a friendly, funny scene atmosphere, by sceners that really want to promote the CPC.
Your demos might not have to use state of the art demo effects, but crap-parts won’t be accepted (i.e. bad screen frequency, no novelty at all, boring, …).
Demos written in Locomotive BASIC won’t be accepted.
This is an Amstrad CPC megademo. Amstrad Plus-only demos won’t be accepted.
Only one demo per group.
Your demo must run perfectly on CRTC types 0 and 1, and also support type 2 as best as possible. Exception to this rule could be made for demos showing mindblowing CRTC-specific pr0n effects, but we would prefer not having such demos.
The recommended format is the uber-classic-one-screen demo-part, but this is not mandatory.
Demos that do not respect the rules and/or specifications won’t be accepted.
Public previews are forbidden, except on the initiative of the comity during CPC meetings only (in order to improve quality of the megademo).

Deadlines

SATURDAY MARCH 31, 2012: Registration end.
SUNDAY JUNE 30, 2013: Final version of your part sent to the comity.”

CCZ80 v3.0.2

Amstrad CPC, Development No Responses »

Jan 132011

Emilio Guerrero released a new version of his CCZ80 compiler which understands C style code and is aimed for Z80 CPUs.

Here are the new features / bugfixes of the new version:

Use Microsoft .NET 4 Client Profile to reduce the requirements for the computer.
Add some optimizations for generated code.
ccz80 IDE and sprUtilCPC sprites editor for Amstrad CPC is also compiled to Microsoft .NET 4 Client Profile.
Syntax files for editors adapted to ccz80 version 3.
Fixed and improved the application and documentation for ImgEditSprUtilCPC to design sprites to use with sprUtilCPC.
Included setup utility to download and install the compiler, documentation, tools, etc.
New IDE version 2.
ccz80 IDE minor improvements and documentation.

You can download it from the CCZ80 homepage.

SDCC v3.0.0

Amstrad CPC, Development 1 Response »

Dec 192010

The SDCC C cross-compiler is now available in version 3.0.0. It is also possible to produce binaries for the Amstrad CPC with it (see this [[SDCC and CPC|CPC Wiki article]]). Here are the features of the final 3.0.0 version:

sdcpp synchronized with GNU cpp 4.5.0
changed z80 and gb targets object file extension to .rel
special sdcc keywords which are not preceded by a double underscore are deprecated in sdcc version 3.0.0 and higher. See section ANSI-Compliance in sdccman
xa51 and avr targets are disabled by default in sdcc version 3.0.0 and higher
introduced new memory model huge for mcs51 to use bankswitching for all functions
removed generation of GameBoy binary image file format, rrgb map file format and no$gmb sym file format from sdld linker. Utility makebin generates GameBoy binary image file format, utility as2gbmap utility converts sdas map file to rrgb map and no$gmb sym file formas.
implemented __builtin_offsetof
asxxxx / aslink renamed to sdas / sdld and synchronized with ASXXXX V2.0
majority of sdcc run time library released under GPL+LE license
introduced –use-non-free command line option
non free (non GPL compatible) header and library files moved to non-free directory
deprecated –no-pack-iram command line option

As always you can download it from the SDCC homepage.

CPCRSlib 11/28/2010

Amstrad CPC, Development No Responses »

Dec 182010

A little bit late, but anyway: Artaburu released a new version of his utility library for the Z88dk C compiler. E.g. Mariano the dragon or the recently released Nanako Descend To Hell was written with this library and so it contains a lot of graphics functions, key functions, map functions, etc. You can download it from the official homepage of the CPCRslib.

Here are the changes since my last posting:

11/28/2010

cpcrslib with horizontal scrolling capabilities is uploaded. From now, there will be 2 official libraries: one for scrolling and one for static screen. Although the scrolling one can be used to for static screens, because it has been improved for scrolling, when static using it is a slower than the "standard" one. Horizontal scroll example included.

11/15/2010

Bug in cpc_WyzPlayer corrected. When saving the player interrupt jump, the code was being corrupted due to a bad definition of the address where the original jump was being saved.

11/11/2010

cpc_PrintGphStr0,cpc_PrintGphStr0M1: Optimized code: Smaller and faster, thanks to Kevin Thacker for coding it on Blue Angel 69. cpc_PrintGphStr2X,cpc_PrintGphStrXY2X,cpc_PrintGphStrM12X,cpc_PrintGphStrXY2X: New routines for printing graphical text at double height. Sample 5 modified.

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