BASIC libraries galore

Dec 242011

Steve Drain has released a number of BASIC libraries, and a new version of the Basalt module.

The Strings BASIC library provides routines for handling long strings, referenced by normal string variables. All the standard string keywords are emulated and work with any combination of normal string variables and expressions and long strings. Written to explore a new idea for providing long string support in Basalt, which is yet to be fully written, Steve is releasing the library because it may be of interest. Continue reading »

You have my number; call me

Nov 262011

Call is a newly released (beta) module by Steve Drain, designed to send WIMP messages to an application – and therefore allowing the application to carry out specific functions – after a set period, or at regular intervals.

The RISC OS timing system and call-back mechanism is normally used by way of two SWIs (software interrupts): OS_CallAfter and OS_CallEvery, which are used to set up an interval and point to an address in memory; if OS_CallAfter was used, then after the interval has passed, the code at the specified address is called, and if OS_CallEvery was used, then the code is called regularly, at the specified interval. Continue reading »

Charmed, I'm sure

Jun 252011

Peter Nowasad of Qubit Consultancy Ltd has announced the availability of version 2.1 of Charm, described as a free, simple to learn yet powerful high level language with a compiler that generates efficient code with a small memory footprint. Aimed in particular at the RiscPC or an emulator such as RPCEmu, the software comes with a desktop shell that supports easy editing, compiling, assembling and linking of multiple files, and allows a number of configuration options for the utilities to be set through menus.

The Charm source code itself is supplied under the GNU General Public Licence v3, and Peter would like to hear from anyone who interested in collaborating with him on developing the language further, as well as from those who have used Charm to develop anything, and who would like to have their software hosted alongside the language itself.

Demonstration programs written in the language can also be found on the Charm website, along with a support forum.

Cash prize offered for USB audio functionality

Jun 012011

Hot on the heels of the announcement from RISC OS Open Ltd about their bounty scheme, Jim Lesurf has announced a ‘cash prize’ of £300 for someone (or a group):

To develop the USB stack/interface, user API, etc, to allow [modern high quality USB devices like the Halide Bridge, Arcam rDAC, etc] to be ‘plug and play’ with ‘native’ ARM hardware running RISC OS. Thus enabling RISC OS users to make use of modern USB devices for high quality audio playing (and recording).

Jim goes on to detail on the requirements that need to be satisfied in order to be able to claim the prize – full details can be found on his website.

Quick fix for IyonixPC year increase bug

Jan 012010

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

RISC OS 5.16 is now available from RISC OS Open Ltd. This an official release and, as well as a number of other updates and improvements to RISC OS 5.xx, if programmed into the Iyonix ROM will solve the clock problem described below. This means the program presented below to act as a temporary solution to the problem is now no longer necessary. If you are using it, please remember to remove it from your boot sequence prior to rebooting your updated computer.

However, please note that if you softload RISC OS 5.16, the clock will continue to need fixing – so if you choose to do that, the temporary fix will continue to be of use to you. I would recommend programming the new version of RISC OS into your ROM, though, and thus negating the need for such temporary work-arounds. Continue reading »