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logikstate
Account closed
Registered: Jan 2011
Posts: 21 |
USB Freezer/Downloader
Posting this to gauge interest.
Here is a hacked Action Replay ROM running inside an Easy Flash 3 cartridge. I've modified the cartridge CPLD core to allow freezing via USB. I can 'freeze' the machine via USB at any point, download new code, 'unfreeze' and then run.
I've modified Tom-Cat's ef3usb tools to achieve this, no point re-inventing the wheel :)
Next I hope to be able to modify the CPLD core further by adding true hardware breakpoints. The CPLD would 'freeze' when a read/write at a certain address is reached, allowing USB comms, further memory/register modification would then be possible over USB, as well as 'unfreeze' to resume.
Here's a video of me running a few random one-file demos...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00kYghjobfU |
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logikstate
Account closed
Registered: Jan 2011
Posts: 21 |
Quote: Would be heaven to develop entirely on real machines once again, but with the power of a decent IDE and a fast build/test cycle..
I think I need to go read up on how the VS debugger can be extended and modified for such things.. :)
But so cool you got this working on an EF3..
Glad you like it :)
Yes, it would be really nice to extend the integrated VS debugger... Ive downloaded the SDK and had a quick glance over the sample code but didnt notice anything that looked like a debugger extension.
It makes sense to build upon Vintage Studio, as that has already done the work on the editor and build side of things.
Probably needs a modified assembler to output line number&file per C64 memory address too. |
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Mace
Registered: May 2002
Posts: 1799 |
This actually makes me consider buying an EF3 :-) |
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11386 |
ca65 produces all the debug info needed to do this kind of stuff :) |
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logikstate
Account closed
Registered: Jan 2011
Posts: 21 |
Quote: ca65 produces all the debug info needed to do this kind of stuff :)
Cool, I shall have to check that out :) |
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Skoe
Account closed
Registered: Jan 2008
Posts: 34 |
Ah, nice idea :)
Erm. Are you the one who wrote a mail to me a few months ago which I missed to respond to?
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FATFrost
Account closed
Registered: Sep 2003
Posts: 211 |
as in Scott Pilgrim 'That's that one guy!' ;0) |
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logikstate
Account closed
Registered: Jan 2011
Posts: 21 |
Quote: Ah, nice idea :)
Erm. Are you the one who wrote a mail to me a few months ago which I missed to respond to?
Yes indeed.. that was me :)
As you didn't reply I took it upon myself to experiment... I have no background in electronics or VHDL... After a few false starts I figured out the logic needed to do the freeze as I imagined it to be possible. So this can be considered a 'proof of concept'
As far as VHDL HW breakpoints (or I guess Action Replay freezepoints) This is something that is a little beyond my knowledge at the moment... I had to remove the SS5 logic in order to make this fit, even though it was just a few changes.
Any help or advice on this would be appreciated :) |
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Skoe
Account closed
Registered: Jan 2008
Posts: 34 |
Arrgh! I actually had something to write to you. As I was quite busy (and lazy...) I deferred the response. And a while later I didn't find the mail again and couldn't remember the sender. Shame on me!
Could you resend it please? :)
Because last year I started something you could be interested in. And I'm interested in your ideas. |
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logikstate
Account closed
Registered: Jan 2011
Posts: 21 |
Quote: Arrgh! I actually had something to write to you. As I was quite busy (and lazy...) I deferred the response. And a while later I didn't find the mail again and couldn't remember the sender. Shame on me!
Could you resend it please? :)
Because last year I started something you could be interested in. And I'm interested in your ideas.
I've resent the original email and also PM'd you my personal email address, thanks!
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logikstate
Account closed
Registered: Jan 2011
Posts: 21 |
Gah! Have made some progress with HW breakpoints but there isn't enough space on the CPLD... Some rethinking is needed... |
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