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Morpheus
Registered: Feb 2004
Posts: 152 |
PDS (Programmers Development System) software
Hello guys!
Does anyone have a working copy of the ancient PDS (Programmers Development System) software to share? |
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sailor
Registered: Jan 2002
Posts: 90 |
Hello,
I have the PDS software for both PC and C64.. Unfortunately without its hardware its useless (custom ISA card communicating with the c64). IIRC The package includes xasm for Z80, Amstrad CPC..
The PC-software itself requires an old DOS version and an old processorfamily. (PC XT?). I think i got the software running but it went out searching for the ISA card so it was not of much help.
These are just vague memories, i might be wrong, i might have missed something.. I also have seen different variations of PDS sources(with and without the junk in the beginning), perhaps there are different hardware requirements too.
anyhow.. To get a program running, I'd recommend you to convert it (as already said). Some (personal) best practice notes on the way:
* Remove the "junk bytes" in the beginning.
* You need to merge the 6-7 files somehow (copy/include).
* You need translate the sources(syntaxes etc).
* DASM has worked best so far, some other xasms have failed to build big sources.
I also found a (more or less) PDS-compatible compiler for modern PC;s. It managed to compile some smaller sources, but it failed on the larger ones.
If someone could make a CSDB entry for "PDS software" or something alike, i'd gladly upload the software.
It might sound easier than it is though, but it all depends on what you got in your hands.
Tyger Tyger for example did not run at all, we had to guess what was missing and where, and what the output of the PDS sources was meant to be.
The Bubbler, on the other hand, was complete but hard to translate due to the complexity of the sources. Luckily Matt Young (the original programmer) was involved. He knew both PDS(syntaxes) and 6502-asm.
I think some other stuff in PDS-format has surfaced from the Onslaught factory lately, there might be some useful information as well.
Regards
Jani
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11114 |
Quote:I have the PDS software for both PC and C64..
yes, same here. i have als loose contact to someone (who might want to speak up here or not) who has a working pds setup. (i could forward the one or other question if needed)
Quote:Unfortunately without its hardware its useless (custom ISA card communicating with the c64).
the card actually isnt all that "custom" - it is a simple EPP printer port :) DATEL sold the same card much later as "commslink" for use with their psx action replay. the software itself should even work when patched to use the i/o adresses for a regular pc printer port.
unfortunately, the software doesnt even start up when it does not detect the pds card, so its not very useful to have at all unless you have the hardware.
Quote:IIRC The package includes xasm for Z80, Amstrad CPC..
i havent seen those, mail into my direction please =)
Quote:The PC-software itself requires an old DOS version and an old processorfamily. (PC XT?).
although most actual setups were XTs back then, i doubt it is required
Quote:I think i got the software running but it went out searching for the ISA card so it was not of much help.
yeah like i said... same here :)
one thing that comes to mind would be hacking "dosbox" - it should be relativly easy infact, find out where the software expects the pds card registers, and then map a regular epp port there. even transfers to the c64 could work then :) |
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sailor
Registered: Jan 2002
Posts: 90 |
Quoting Groepaz
the card actually isnt all that "custom" - it is a simple EPP printer port :) DATEL sold the same card much later as "commslink" for use with their psx action replay. the software itself should even work when patched to use the i/o adresses for a regular pc printer port.
Aha. That i didn't know (never seen the real setup), would be cool to get it running though :).. Well, it shouldn't be _that_ hard to reverse it, really.
Quoting Groepaz
one thing that comes to mind would be hacking "dosbox" - it should be relativly easy infact, find out where the software expects the pds card registers, and then map a regular epp port there. even transfers to the c64 could work then :)
Interesting idea :)
@Groepaz: You got mail with all the PDS stuff i have, perhaps you can find it a 24/7 home so its available to everyone ?
Regards
Jani
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Ninja
Registered: Jan 2002
Posts: 404 |
Huh, am I missing something? So many experienced people here and all not being able to get an old DOS program beyond some register checks? (I hope it is a lack of time/interest ;))
EDIT: Wine should also print every port access it can't handle IIRC. |
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11114 |
hehe indeed, it should be easy.... if i recally correctly i actually managed to get it past the check once when running it in a debugger.
@sailor: your pack looks great, much more complete than what i had |
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tlr
Registered: Sep 2003
Posts: 1714 |
Now you got me curious, can someone upload this tool somewhere for inspection? |
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sailor
Registered: Jan 2002
Posts: 90 |
Is this the very same card we are talking about:
http://www.tradera.com/PSX-COMM-LINK-CARD-for-Golden-finger-Gam..
(looks indeed like a standard printer port)
@Ninja: Hah, good point :D.. On that subject, i think the reason it has not been studied before is the lack of software/hardware and/or need for it actually being reversed. It is perhaps not even known to exist to all people.
/Jani
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Moloch
Registered: Jan 2002
Posts: 2894 |
The person Morpheus and myself are referring to has the ISA card, etc. He even went so far as to get an older machine setup and ready to use. He simply needs the software, which is exactly the reason this thread was started. Why is the software being held for ransom? Please post for download somewhere.
Crimson Twilight Dev Updates [C64 CRPG] |
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Moloch
Registered: Jan 2002
Posts: 2894 |
From his post on C64Dev.com forums:
Quote:
My interest in this forum stems from the fact that I used to write C64 games professionally 20-25 years ago and I would love to get back into it as a hobby. To that end I have been trying to put my old development system back together again. I used a PDS system (Programmers Development System) which, as you may know, links a PC to a C64/128 via a proprietary 8-bit ISA card and an interface cable connecting the card to the C64's User Port.
All I had left of this system was the ISA card, the interface cable, the PDS manuals and a bunch of disks containing the PDS software. All my other C64 kit I had sold off years before. First I had to get a PC old enough to use the PDS hardware (i.e. with an ISA slot and an CGA/EGA display) fortunately I managed to acquire an old Amstrad PC1640 with an 8086 CPU, 640k RAM, 20MB hard drive, 5.25" floppy drive and a monochrome EGA display. Despite being absolutely filthy it was in excellent working condition which was amazing.
On the Commodore hardware side I have just bought a C128D (which is what I used to use back in the day) and an extra 1570 drive. I have a Commodore 1701 monitor which I use with my Atari 800 but I'm looking for one of the later Commodore monitors which will take advantage of the C128's RGB output. After also acquiring copies of my favorite books - the "Commodore 64 Programmers Reference Guide" and "Programming the Commodore 64" (by Rae West) I am pretty much set to go, apart from one thing...
Unfortunately, after 20 years of storage my PDS disks have turned into plates of oxide pate' and are totally unreadable. So I will end my first post with a plea for help, if you have or know anyone who has copies of the PDS software (consisting of the 6502 assembler/editor that runs on the PC and the PDS downloader which is loaded into the C64/128 and handles the I/O with the PDS), I would be very grateful if they could send me copies (I will of course pay for any expenses incurred).
Crimson Twilight Dev Updates [C64 CRPG] |
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sailor
Registered: Jan 2002
Posts: 90 |
I uploaded the "PDS-stuff" here http://www.sendspace.com/file/5wm1rt
@Moloch; Is it possible for the person having the PDS system to document the cable, scan the manuals and copy his version of the PDS software and put it somewhere online?
(I think the cable would be most interesting, i assume it can be reversed but seems easier to just check the wires)
Regards
Jani
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