[ql-users] Re SMSQ & Gwass

[John Sadler]

> Yes of course there are (and for the Atari, too). > I'm not saying that all versions for all machines should be entirely equal. > What I do want, is that all machine should be able to recompile all versions, so that you > can use any one of the machines to compile all versions. Why insist in compiling QXL, Q40 & Q60 versions with their extra facilities on a Gold Card  with QMac? If it is so you can supply these versions I am sure all anybody with these machines will be pleased to supplied compiled masters for you. > > 2.    The suggestion was to alter SMSQE source was so that it could be > > compiled with either QMAC or GWASS. Hence there is not restriction who could > > compile SMSQE, but without GWASS and 68020 and above processor you may not > > be able to compile versions using all the facilities the more powerful QLs. > > Sorry, I don't quite understand what you are saying. > For example, I have a Gold Card. Could I use that to compile, say, the Q60 code, or the > Atari TT code? > Seem 2 above > > 3.    There are facilities available with the Super Gold Card, Q40 & Q60 > > which some people which to use with the QL. > Are you saying that the use of Qmac stops people using these facilities on a QL? > Yes unless you write special routines for extra instructions which is  the currrent unhandy solution. > > 4.    If you stop development all you will do is cause a break away movement > > with the associated problems,. > Why am I stopping development? > What development is there? > As mentioned in 5 memory management to stop the QL crashing is the major facilitry lacking on the QL. There is a group of QL owners who wish to use GWASS for compiling the QL operating system. > > 5.    I agree however the backwards computability is important and so where > > hardware restricts certain advances such as GD32 colours, floating point, > > etc, where ever possible advances in the operating systems, pointer > > environment and programs should run as well possible on old machines. This > > is what George Gwilt does with NetPeek. > yes, certainly. > Even the new WMAN runs on an unmodified GoldCard - you have as many of the > facilitites the software allows, but you cannot have more than 4 colours because the > hardware doesn't allow it. > >     The best examples are the floating point and memory management unit. > > Programs would use the floating point if available, but still work, but a > > lot slower without. They and the operating system could use the GD32 colours > > if available, but default to the standard QL colours if not. The operating > > system would use the MMU if available with the associated advantages, but if > > it is not available, then one does not have these advantages. > > That's the way things work for the moment, isn't it? > > Wolfgang > I do not get the impression that the new versions of Marcel Kilgus  programs will run on older machines. Perhaps Marcel can ensure the record is straight on this matter.