[Coco] MESS CoCo Emulation

[Frank Swygert]

Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2013 18:02:29 -0500
From: Robert Gault<robert.gault at att.net>

Frank Swygert wrote:

> I'd just like a clarification: MESS and MESSUI appear to be the same thing,
> except that MESSUI has a different (better) User Interface -- correct?
>
Pretty much. The current MESS does not have a gui interface at any level, main
program or emulation. The program is mess.exe.
Private support for the gui version of MESS can be found at
http://messui.the-chronicles.org/
This version of mess has both mess.exe and messui.exe. The first has a gui at
emulation level only. The second has a gui for both the master and emulation levels.
  From my point of view on a Windows system, the gui interface makes it much
easier to set parameters, and mount disks, cart, ROMs, etc.

> Anyone pared MESS down to just CoCo emulation? That along with just enough of
> Linux to boot and run the emulation (well, you'd need some utilities for disk
> copying and such) would be a good "CoCo" distribution... along with a customized
> GUI for utilities and launching emulation...
>
There is sample source code to compile just coleco emulation but no examples or
attempts at compiling just coco emulation. Are you volunteering Frank?

======================================

HA! I knew I was setting myself up for that! The Coleco sample might be a good start though. I just don't have the spare time right now. It's still something I'd like to eventually see. It would be a good start for a "CoCo4", and source code is available. I don't see the need for legacy hardware connectivity, but there does need to be some kind of game controller, serial port, and maybe physical floppy disc access. The later could be argued against, but there are still those who need/want to copy disks over or write something that can be used on a real CoCo. Drivewire does pretty much fill that void, as long as there is external access to a communication port. Would be nice to plug the emulated CoCo directly to a real one and have them communicate rather than use the emulator OS as a server. Maybe that can be done by having the emulator hardware run as a DW server in another window simultaneously with the emulator, with a shared file area??

I was just talking to a friend today about my badly deteriorated programming skills... if you consider a reasonable knowledge of DECB "skills". I can still follow simple code and flow chart a program, even some simple electronic circuits, but to do anything from scratch would be a monumental effort any more.

Our discussion was on how a new grenade launcher can fire a round through a window and have it explode 1 meter INSIDE the window. It has a laser which has to be a range finder. Soldier "lases" the wall beneath the window, fires through the window, and grenade explodes inside. So you have range through the laser, computer in launcher has balllistics data for the round, the round has to have an electronic timer in it. Heck, I suppose with a 555 timer chip, I think it needs a crystal, and a variable resistor the computer sets so the timer will trip a relay after x amount of time it would work. Would have to be in miniature, so a custom chip, but for a larger version the timer could be made from $5 of RS parts (assuming RS still sells 555 chips or similar!). Any MIT computer grad with an Arduino and a GPS shield can make a missile guide through a window, so why does a Hellfire missle cost $20K or more? A guidance system can probably be put together with $1000 in hardware with over the counter technology, including servos. I know why -- the defense companies charge a lot for R&D, then spread it out over per unit costs. The point is many good hobbyists could make a guided missile and launch system for under $5K (heck $2500 might be doable!) that would be just about as good.

-- 
Frank Swygert
Editor - American Motors Cars Magazine
www.amc-mag.com