On Sat, 24 Feb 2007 16:08:51 -0000, Phil Kett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
<<cut>> > I know I keep harping on about it but take another look at the spectrum, > the best emulators for that Fuse (for linux) and Spin (for windows) are > both free. Someone can download one of those, then go to the world of > spectrum website and download all the applications they need to start > developing for it. The same can't be said for the QL. I suspect that's > one of the reasons why there are so few people developing software for > the QL. Yes but then you have to look closely at World of Spectrum. It is in effect a software archive - many of the programs have never been made public domain, but the people running the website are willing to take the risk that they will not sued. There are also a lot of the Spectrum software authors who are around and have given their permission. The QL has had authors disappearing quickly since the early days, meaning that the majority of development tools are not public domain and without any sources to allow further development. Some tools have been developed later, with the support of the original authors, but had to be reverse engineered without source code. It is a lot of work and it is up to the authors whether or not they wish to release items as public domain or not. Let's face it, Toolkit 2 was always one of the main requirements for good quality programs on the QL, yet how many years was that before it was able to released into the public domain. Where are all the public domain hoardes of people using free tools to develop that further? I am just at a loss as to what free development tools seem to be missing. Yes, I purchased EasyPointer and Qptr (you do not need both), many years ago and have used them. But now there is TurboPTR (which can be freely downloaded). Prowess - this is free (and complete with free sources if someone wants to speed it up). Assemblers - there is the free GWASS and GWASL, C68, even cross compilers on the various sites Editors - there are several public domain editors, or just BASIC will do. Toolkit 2 and Turbo Toolkit are free SuperBASIC compilers - the free Turbo is excellent, and can now compile pointer programs. Systems to run these on - there are public domain emulators. So apart from not being able to compile SMSQ/e without a system running 68020+ instructions, what exactly is stopping all these people writing other software? Maybe I am missing a vital tool out here. >> Maybe some of the other emulators will be adapted to support smsq/e and >> high resolution / colours, but somehow I doubt the free ones will. >> > This is precisely what I'd like to achieve with QDOS Classic on the > amiga - it seems though that it's never going to happen, and not for > want of trying. > >> I just wish I could find a way of bringing QWord to the PC games market >> as >> people are willing to pay for good games, but they would not want to >> purchase a full QPC2 just to be able to run it. >> >> > > What was Qword written in? Basic? You could try porting it to something > like Dark Basic for the PC.... Though it has to be said that although > people in the PC world are willing to pay for good games, there are so > many good games out there (especially for Linux) that are free that to > pay for something it needs to be exceptionally good! QWord was written in BASIC with a mixture of machine code, TurboPTR and Qtyp. The issue with porting it is to do with the graphics (which would have to be redesigned), time in learning a new BASIC (I presume you are pushing Dark Basic because it is public domain and can be compiled ? I would not want to distribute the sources), and the problem of a dictionary tool which could be used with it. There are some free dictionary programs out there for the PC, and I daresay if I looked hard enough I could find one into which I could import the 500,000 word dictionary and control from BASIC, but the majority are integrated spell checkers not dictionaries. -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services URL:http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk URL:http://www.rwapservices.co.uk _______________________________________________ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
