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by Alone Coder
I took a long break to complete the next step in development
NedoLang compiler. What was done:
-enum (BYTE type only).
-switch-case (BYTE type only).
-INCLUDE and INCBIN in NedoAsm.
-Z80 library (multiplication, division, shifts).
-TR-DOS I/O library. As in the built-in TR-DOS commands for
works with sequential files, files are divided into 4K pieces
with the same name, differing only in the "start" parameter.
This allows you to open multiple files simultaneously for writing.
There is still not enough work with random access files and
re-opening files for writing.
-Self-compilation. For it, the compiler source had to
significantly optimize the size of the code and labels (important when
assembly, when all linker tags must be available
no). Initially, every part of the system could be compiled in
one TRD, but after optimization for speed and adding features
(see below) the compiler requiressemi-automatic compilation on
ramdisk. Unfortunately, self-compilation takes far from a minute
- each of 3 parts (compiler, tokenizer and assembler)
compiles in about 2 minutes at 3.5 MHz. Sequence
operations is registered in the BASIC loader (later in two
BASIC loaders due to lack of memory for assembler). I think
about adding a batch file handler.
- A huge number of bugs have been fixed using self-compilation.
I'm comparing the compilation result (binary) generated
PC version, with the result of compiling the ZX version. Testing
semi-automatic.
- Released demo (NedoGift: LVD 35) for testing
the process of writing programs in the NedoLang system.
-call by pointer (without parameters).
-struct (no nested structures for now).
-EXPORT for exporting labels. C compiler exports
all labels. NedoLang allows you to specify which ones you need
export (variables, procedures, functions, arrays, but not
constants because labels are exported as pointers).
NedoAsm allows the same.
- Primitiveseparate compilation - mainly for assembly
the compiler itself (code generator separately, language separately). When
thisinformation for relocation is exported, but relocation
The assembler can't do it yet. So you canINCBIN' the module in
program at the specific address where it is compiled,
using exported tags.
- A stable 48K version of the system has been released along with source codes.
See. here:http://alonecoder.nedopc.com/zx/
-#include for modules.
-#define for constants to ensure compatibility with C when
setting the sizes of arrays (you can specify the type of constants).
-#ifdef (without nesting for now).
-+sizeof().
- Typecast no longer requires'+' before parentheses.
- Writtenan experimental tile-sprite library for
future games. Currently in the process of debugging and adding features.
A resource converter will be supplied with the system. For now
Only 48K Speccy is supported.
- Added experimental target ARM Thumb, while in
unusable form.
While I was doing this,FlashZXreleased April Fool's Day
demo version of the game Battletoads. I was amazed at what was possible
done on EvoSDK (slightly modifiedHippiman). So
I will seriously consider a new sprite engine :)
Dart Alver from Smolensk (where there was no one before
Spectrum scene) released a huge improvement to the graphic
Burial Gfx Editor. Improvement includes a new engine
scaling (with bugfixes, 8x8 option and grid drawing),
new file menu (with renaming, deleting and even
copying), pixel-by-pixel cursor movement, built-in help
and a returned plugin for working with CHR fonts. Current version
posted onhttp://alonecoder.nedopc.com/zx/
Wanderer wrote a new scripting engine for the new game, but
the project was frozen because he found a new job.
Arwald defended his diploma and returned to his game projects.
The new issue of Info Guide magazine is slowly being prepared. Appeared
several new articles. I started the translation.Karbo sent several
Muzonov.John Silver wrote a couple more patterns :)I took it to him
its own PC, and after using a vacuum cleaner it suddenly started working! But
I still can’t pick it up.Louisa seemed to have broken her finger
leg and cannot drive a car :( (P.S.: Today she recovered.)
SpeccyWiki has crossed the milestone of4000 articles! Tiboh adds
information about groups while the demo archive is being updatedZXAAA.
AmoNik wrote an unprecedented autobiography about computer
life in Leningrad. The story begins in 1988! Read it in
this number. It may be possible to collect information about these early
years from diverse sources into one book (see past
ACNews releases).
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