Cross-development tools? + Emu w/ debugger? (Screen 2 problem...)

Master (177)

21-07-2004, 23:09

1. I'm currently developing a mini-game-ROM for MSX1 in Assembler (using tniASM). I've already run small tests to check my emulator-setup.
Unfortunately I'm wasting too much time ripping gfx from VRAM (of course for testing purposes only ), editing them, and writing small converters in order to use them.
So I'm wondering whether there exist some cross-dev tools..?

2. One n00b-problem for the experts out there
After switching to screen 2 (using INIGRP), I can't display anything on the screen. I've already copied my char-set into the VRAM and put some chars on the screen. But even that's not working...
Anyone having a clue?
And which emulator is best suited for dev+debugging? I want to trace my code and check for problems that way.

3. BTW, after switching to a screen mode, how are the VDP-tables (PN, CT, PG, SA, SG, TC, BD) initialized? Guess there's a predefined setup, rite?

Thanks in advance!

By pitpan

Prophet (3155)

22-07-2004, 00:16

Do you also copy the color table?

Do you copy all to the three character pattern/character color tables?

To answer all of your questions, have a look at the MSX RED BOOK or any other MSX / TMS9918 book/documentation.

Regards,

Ed Robsy

By Sousuke

Master (177)

22-07-2004, 03:14

Thx Robsy, have already solved my 2. problem. All tables had been copied, but didn't update the VDP-registers correctly... :-/

Anyway, is there a good emu w/ debug-mode?
Would have found that bug faster with it

By BiFi

Enlighted (4348)

22-07-2004, 07:14

SCREEN 2 has 3 pattern tables which differ per 1/3 of the screen. Same goes for the color tables. In this mode the pattern tables begin at $0000 (top 1/3, size $0800), $0800 (middle 1/3, size $0800) and $1000 (bottom 1/3, size $0800). The name table is filled with 3 times the full character set by default (which begins at $1800, size $0300) and the color tables begin at $2000 (top 1/3, size $0800), $2800 (middle 1/3, size $0800) and $3000 (bottom 1/3, size $0800). The sprite attribute table begins at $1B00 (size $0080) and the sprite pattern table begins at $3800 (size $0800).

[sidenote]A very good example of using these differences can be found in Konami's F1-Spirit. It uses the three parts for slightly different views of the area, like advertising boards.[/sidenote]

If you change pattern data in the $0000-$07FF area, you will be able to see it on the top 1/3 of the screen only. You might need to adapt the corresponding color table as well. Only if you want to move the tables from their default location in VRAM, you don't need to update the VDP-registers.

And for the emulation question: the only MSX emulator I know which has a debugger you can trace your code with is BrMSX. On Linux it's more suggested to use openMSX. It's a pity the debugger for openMSX can't be compiled to work with Windows yet.

By Manuel

Ascended (19470)

22-07-2004, 09:43

although not very comfortable: one can still use the console in openMSX to do some debugging... (And of course: anyone can make a debugger for openMSX using the console commands and the remote control protocol...)

By Guillian

Prophet (3517)

22-07-2004, 12:25

And for the emulation question: the only MSX emulator I know which has a debugger you can trace your code with is BrMSX.
Don't forget NO$MSX

By BiFi

Enlighted (4348)

22-07-2004, 13:29

And for the emulation question: the only MSX emulator I know which has a debugger you can trace your code with is BrMSX.
Don't forget NO$MSX I said the only MSX emulator I know , but thanks for bringing it to our attention...

By Sousuke

Master (177)

26-07-2004, 04:56

Thx all for ur posts!
Too bad brMSX's debugger isn't supported by WinNT-based OS.. Well still got my 2nd PC w/ Win98

manuel: Can the openMSX-debugger for Win be expected soon?

By ricbit

Champion (438)

26-07-2004, 07:09

Too bad brMSX's debugger isn't supported by WinNT-based OS..
BrMSX 2.10 runs fine on WinXP (but without sound).
You can get it in the files section of the msx-rb mailing list (members only).

MSKISS also has an integrated debugger and works fine under XP.

By Raster

Rookie (25)

13-08-2004, 05:07

And which emulator is best suited for dev+debugging? I want to trace my code and check for problems that way.

What about MESS? I'm not sure how accurate it is, but the debugger is excellent.

By BiFi

Enlighted (4348)

13-08-2004, 08:13

Hmm... If MESS has a debugger, I haven't found it yet.