On Mon, 7 Jun 1999, Aley Keprt wrote: >In addition I'd like to ask this: Why Linux users don't make their >version first and give us their sources? It is very easy to say: "Make >you Win version Linux compatible." I bet everybody can say this, but >not too many people can really do something for Linux, what will be >usable for "our" ;) Win32 version.
The Win32 sources should include functions for DOS and Linux to avoid code forks, and development versions of a port should not add new features before the code is released. Basically, just keep all of your DOS/Win32/Linux dependant functions in seperate files, and everything should be fine. >Another task is how Win32 programmers can exactly know what is "Linux >friendly" in C++ source? It's hardly rocket science. I can't even program in C++, but even I've got a rough idea about how cross platform code is supposed to work. The actual emulation (the process, if you like) should compile from the same code for each platform. The input and output (graphics, sound, disk, keyboard, mouse) code should be placed in seperate files for each platform. If you do it properly, the new DOS/Win32 only features won't exist in Linux, but you'll still be able to compile from the same source. It's what's known as "conditional inclusion". :-) If you don't do this, you could end up with a dozen different versions of SimCoupe which have to be kept consistant with one another, but also try to stay one step ahead in terms of features. It'll be almost impossible to merge them into one cross-platform version, by then. Doom springs to mind here. I can name Boom, LxDoom, ZDoom, Doom Legacy, DOSDoom, GGIDoom, and XDoom (which are all open source) off the top of my head, and there are many more. You don't want this to happen to SimCoupe. >Also, >I think Linux users can simply use DOS version. Or not? Why not? >Either use DOS emulator (change Sim Coupe for DOS a bit, if the current >version doesn't work in DOS emulator), or simply use a boot disk with DOS. >Many Linux users I know have DOS installed on their computer too. >So what's the problem? Why do you think people use Linux in the first place? If people want to write Linux code for SimCoupe, why can't they? Just make sure that you don't break the Linux code, and I'm not complaining. >I'm sorry for this negative mail, but I'm really frustrated of all these >Linux activists..... >"If you often say "Do this...", then you should shut up and do it yourself." I'm not saying "Do this...", and I'm not asking you to add sound support for Linux - I'm not even asking you to add anything to the Linux version. I'm just asking you not to *break* anything. Okay? -- Stuart Brady
