[Coco] The Beta Test release of MShell

Thu May 15 13:27:35 EDT 2014

Regarding the jitter this may help:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PID_controller

Luis Felipe Antoniosi
retrocanada76 at gmail.com

On Thu, May 15, 2014 at 1:19 PM, CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <
coco at maltedmedia.com> wrote:

>
> Thanks for all the encouragement Kip, it helps keep me going at it. MShell
> is steadily growing as we speak.
>
> ** Anyone intersted **, I have the latest version up for download. It's
> has a few minor bug fixes and some cosmetic changes.
>
> And BTW Nick... MShell has FULL keyboard support and will run without a
> mouse or joystick and always has. The jittey joystick question was to help
> the improve joystick operation in MShell, not eliminate, redesign, or
> emulate the joystick as I don't see anyone doing that anytime soon. You
> should try MShell as your complaints about OS9's "clunky cmd line" was part
> of the inspiration anyway :-P
>
>
> The Mshell Website:
> https://sites.google.com/site/dabarnstudio/mshell---the-ultimate-os-9-gui
>
>
> One thing of note, we (the mshell testers) are slowly finding out that
> MShell may require NitrOS9 3.3.0 to run. We're discovering problems with
> 3.2.9 systems and things not quite going right. This doesn't surprize me as
> NOS9 v3.2.8 & NOS9 v3.2.9 went through many iterations before becoming
> 3.3.0 and some of those builds were severely flawed (if not all).
>
> I would suggest ANYONE running any other version of NitrOS9 to update to
> NitrOS9 v3.3.0 as (so far) it seems to be rock solid. If you do update,
> make sure you also swap the "grfdrv", "shell" and "sysgo" files to the
> 3.3.0 versions as well. The older versions "seem" to function but can fail
> on some critical low level operations, especially in the graphics area
> (with grfdrv).
>
>
> Bill Pierce
> "Today is a good day... I woke up" - Ritchie Havens
>
>
> My Music from the Tandy/Radio Shack Color Computer 2 & 3
> https://sites.google.com/site/dabarnstudio/
> Co-Webmaster of The TRS-80 Color Computer Archive
> http://www.colorcomputerarchive.com/
> Co-Contributor, Co-Editor for CocoPedia
> http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
> E-Mail: ooogalapasooo at aol.com
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> To: 'CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts' <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> Sent: Thu, May 15, 2014 1:36 am
> Subject: Re: [Coco] The Beta Test release of MShell
>
>
> Kip Koon
> computerdoc at sc.rr.com
> http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Kip_Koon
> http://computerpcdoc.com/
>
> Hi Bill and Coco Fans everywhere!
> In my eagerness to start testing Mshell I accidentally used the 1.0.2E
> version of Mshell which tests for all currently connected drives for a disk
> instead of the 1.0.3E version which doesn't.  At first while testing MShell
> it seemed to hang, then I tested it on my primary Coco 3 which never fails
> me and I saw the /D0 drive light on, so I inserted an unformatted floppy
> disk real quick.  Mshell detected that disk and lit up the /d1 drive light
> so I inserted another unformatted floppy disk into that drive and it
> detected that disk too.  Then the /D2 drive light came on and I inserted a
> formatted NitrOS-9 disk and it detected that disk too.
> At this point Mshell displayed the press enter or click to continue
> message.
> I pressed enter as I had no mouse plugged up and continued to use Mshell
> from the keyboard only.  The first thing I did was to update Mshell itself
> so I pressed 'u' to get the 'Util' drop down menu then I pressed 'u' to
> Update Mshell.  I waited and read the messages as each file of Mshell
> downloaded and the attributes were set for each file.  I shutdown Mshell as
> instructed and restarted it once again.
> I now have Mshell 1.0.0F running on a real Coco 3 with the NitrOS-9 6809 L2
> v3.3.0 DW Coco3.dsk Distribution disk file image quite successfully in DW4!
> The next step is to copy this image to a real floppy disk and play with it.
> I would love to be able to click on a file and see it open up
> automatically.
> Would this be one of the functions coming sometime in the near future?  I
> surely hope so, but in any event I'll be happy with whatever functions
> Mshell does and will have.
> Now I can see more clearly  and much easier what all my floppies and hard
> drives both real and virtual actually have on them!  This is a really cool
> program.  Up to now I have not used my single button Color Mouse.  Now I
> have a really great reason to pull it out of storage and start playing with
> it.  :)  Clicking menus and searching directories on a Coco 3 running the
> NitrOS-9 6809 L2 v3.3.0 DW Coco3.dsk image file running Mshell with a mouse
> is fantastic!
> I heartily encourage anybody who wants to experience something new and
> different for your Coco 3 to start testing Bill Pierce's new Mshell
> program.
> Just remember this is a big testing period for the program which is far
> from
> finished yet, however just to be able to move from one directory to another
> with a few clicks is a fun way to see all those NitrOS-9/OS-9/RSDOS disks
> both real and virtual you have been wondering about.  Up to now I have had
> to enter chd commands out the ying yang over and over switching between
> directories to see what they have on them.  Now I can click and go.  This
> is
> my initial report on my very first test of Mshell and I approve this
> message.  Take care my friends.  Starfleet out!  Qaplah!  End Transmission!
>
> Kip
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com [mailto:coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com]
> On
> Behalf Of CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
> Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2014 7:35 AM
> To: coco at maltedmedia.com
> Subject: Re: [Coco] The Beta Test release of MShell
>
>
> <Laughing>
> Kip, I sent you 2 disk images. The first was before Robert Gault discovered
> the disk problem, the second was made afterwards. You must have started out
> with the wrong disk. But since you did the upgrade, that's the latest
> incarnation so you're fine now.
>
> That's 3 Coco3s the updater has worked on and one that it failed.
> This tells me that the updater is working as expected and that the problem
> Robert is having with his is either a system or computer problem. The
> updater code goes back to DW4Man and has been optimized to death so it was
> pretty rock solid to start with. I didn't think there was a problem with
> it.
>
> Now to move on.... I need to move some routines from the main module to
> fragged sub-modules, then I can start on the PC File Manager. That will
> complete the file managers and handlers which is the heart of MShell. I
> needed those fully functional before adding any more code.
>
> As for the Coco 1 & 2 version... It may be possible, but on a much smaller
> scale. The whole problem is memory. MShell uses about 300 to 400k on
> average, but will utilize up to 2-meg if available. NOS9 L1 would have to
> use temp files on the disk and be very disk intensive (as programs were on
> L1).
>
> I'll check onto the mouse thing. That would be another good feature... auto
> mouse sensing. That way, if no mouse is found, turn the mouse cursor off
> and
> drop the reads from the loop. If there's not a way to detect the mouse,
> then
> I could just add an option to turn it off in the defaults along with the
> L/R
> & HiRes interface selections. This is really the idae of these tests, to
> get
> feedback and add all these "neat" little things in now while I have program
> space. Get a good, "usable", rock solid GUI, then start coding all the
> "koool" modules like the "OS9 Boot Creator", "FTP File Browser",
> "Programming Environment", etc  A lot of which has already been started in
> other projects.
>
> And Kip, when you get a chance, check it on all your drive configurations
> and let me know how it goes.
>
>
> Bill Pierce
> "Today is a good day... I woke up" - Ritchie Havens
>
>
> My Music from the Tandy/Radio Shack Color Computer 2 & 3
> https://sites.google.com/site/dabarnstudio/
> Co-Webmaster of The TRS-80 Color Computer Archive
> http://www.colorcomputerarchive.com/
> Co-Contributor, Co-Editor for CocoPedia
> http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
> E-Mail: ooogalapasooo at aol.com
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> To: 'CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts' <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> Sent: Wed, May 14, 2014 4:05 am
> Subject: Re: [Coco] The Beta Test release of MShell
>
>
> Kip Koon
> computerdoc at sc.rr.com
> http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Kip_Koon
> http://computerpcdoc.com/
>
> Hi Bill!
> I moved over to my primary Coco 3 for testing using the same dsk and vhd
> files I had set up and with no changes Mshell booted fine once I realized
> it
> was waiting for floppy drives.  I put a diskette into each of my 3.5"
> floppy
> drives and Mshell came up beautifully.  I pressed 'u', got the drop down
> menu, pressed 'u' again and received the entire 1.0.0F update for Mshell!
> Now my installation does not check drives when I start Mshell!  It all
> looks
> Great!!!  I can hardly wait to find my joysticks and mouse that I had to
> pack away last year when all my family visited last Thanksgiving!
> Now that MShell is working, I'm going to make a copy of the dsk and vhd
> files on the PC and run it on my other Coco 3 at the same time!  Once that
> works, I'll get VCC running and test it on that, etc. ad infinitum until
> every system I have is running real and virtual.  Too bad we can't run this
> on a Coco 1 or Coco 2!  It would be great!  Anyway, the initial update test
> you asked me to do using a real Coco 3, real floppy drives and DW4 is a
> resounding success!  I imagine it will work fine on my other Coco 3 now
> that
> I have updated it to version 1.0.0F.  I can hardly wait to see what else
> you
> do with this program!  The screen is very readable on my CM-8 monitor using
> the RGB port!
> One very minor issue.  I noticed that without a mouse nor joystick plugged
> in, the pointer just kind over moves slightly horizontally over 'VIEW" on
> the menu a little bit.  I don't know if there is a way to check for the
> presence of an actual joystick or mouse plugged up to the Coco 3 or not.
> I'll leave that up to the experts to figure out.  I'm just the tester on
> this program.  I do like testing hardware and software though.
> Other than that, no bugs to report, yet!  :)  This much of Mshell works
> fine
> folks!  Now for the rest of the modules to appear in the online updates!
> You'll have those ready in short order, right!  I'm just teasing.  I know
> you have a momumental amount of coding ahead, so I will let you go.  I'm
> very happy this is working out.  This has been a long time coming.  Take
> care my friend.
> Kip
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com [mailto:coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com]
> On
> Behalf Of CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
> Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2014 2:52 AM
> To: 'CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts'
> Subject: Re: [Coco] The Beta Test release of MShell
>
> Kip Koon
> computerdoc at sc.rr.com
> http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Kip_Koon
> http://computerpcdoc.com/
>
> Hi Bill!
> Yes I do.  I just sent you a private email detailing my initial trouble
> getting Mshell working.  All I see at this point on my 512KB Coco 3 with a
> Hard Drive Specialist Color Computer Controller with three floppy drives
> running HDB-DOS 1.4 DW Coco3 is just the initial Welcome screen.  It never
> gets to the main screen.
> Kip
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com [mailto:coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com]
> On
> Behalf Of CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
> Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2014 12:23 AM
> To: coco at maltedmedia.com
> Subject: Re: [Coco] The Beta Test release of MShell
>
>
> Kip,
> Do you have internet access to your DW4 server?
> The Updater is what really needs to be tested though I know you'll run
> through everything. But I need the updater tested to verify it's working
> correctly on another Coco 3.
> It works on mine, it works on my Vcc as well, It works on Robert Gault Vcc,
> but it doesn't work on his Coco 3. The program runs, does all it should
> until he tries to use the updater.
>
> When you get the main program going, just hit  u  then  u  again. Then
> follow the prompts.
>
> Thanks
>
>
> Bill Pierce
> "Today is a good day... I woke up" - Ritchie Havens
>
>
> My Music from the Tandy/Radio Shack Color Computer 2 & 3
> https://sites.google.com/site/dabarnstudio/
> Co-Webmaster of The TRS-80 Color Computer Archive
> http://www.colorcomputerarchive.com/
> Co-Contributor, Co-Editor for CocoPedia
> http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
> E-Mail: ooogalapasooo at aol.com
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> To: 'CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts' <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> Sent: Wed, May 14, 2014 12:12 am
> Subject: Re: [Coco] The Beta Test release of MShell
>
>
> Kip Koon
> computerdoc at sc.rr.com
> http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Kip_Koon
> http://computerpcdoc.com/
>
> Hi Bill!
> -> Now, for someone with a SuperIDE, a CocoSDC, B&B HD, Disto HD, and
> -> any
> others....
> I have a SuperIDE on line, a Glenside IDE Controller online, a Burke &
> Burke
> HD in a box with a bunch of other stuff which the last time I looked for I
> could not find, and my DEC Dual Floppy drive cabinet with four 5.25" height
> floppy drives which is also still in a box somewhere.  As soon as I find
> those last two, then I'll have a more expended system.  I sure could use a
> 8
> or even 12 slot expansion interface of some type for the Coco!  I have way
> more than 4 cartridge paks in my collection.  I'm reading all the emails
> now.  I'll be testing MShell in a few.
> Kip
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com [mailto:coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com]
> On
> Behalf Of CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
> Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2014 2:59 PM
> To: coco at maltedmedia.com
> Subject: Re: [Coco] The Beta Test release of MShell
>
>
> Robert,
> Nothing needs to be done for the update beforehand. It should "just work"
> as
> long as DW4 has a connection.
> After hitting "u", "u", you see a "Yes/No" box with "Update MShell via DW4
> Internet", clicking "Yes" brings up the big update dialog and checks for
> updates, hitting "No" returns you to the main screen.
>
> As a note, I just booted up my Coco3, run MShell which was the 'bad"
> version, hit update, and updated to the new version. When you say all you
> see is "ss" & yes/no, this makes me wonder as that box is generated before
> the updater is even loaded into memory. It is a fragged sub and is only
> called while in use. The yes/no box is a product of "Ms1Grf" which is the
> graphics/text parser running in a 2nd 64k. The actual text message is
> generated in the main then sent to the parser via pipes. So if the text
> message is being garbled, then it's a problem in the main or in the piped
> parser.... I would think the main if the display resumes to normal after
> clicking "no". If the parser was crashing... all display from that point on
> would be lost and MShell would crash. If the text buffer in the main is
> getting over written, then either there's a memory leak (rogue pointer), or
> maybe too many processes running in the 512k causing the vmem to somehow
> get
> moved and overwrite string space. Bu  t it's recovering is it not? This
> prabably means a bad pointer somewhere.
> The thing that gets me, is that it runs fine in VCC and my Coco 3 ??? I can
> not duplicate what you're seeing.
> As a check... when you see the "ss" "yes/no" click "yes" and see if it
> updates. If so, something's off in the dialog routine for the yes/no box.
> If
> it crashes, then data is being overwritten. I'll then know what to look
> for.
> I'm also wondering if it might be a 512k vs 1-meg memory problem. If you
> have a lot of processes running, it may cause problems on 512k, but I
> wouldn't really think so. All "memory" errors are reported whe assigning
> the
> vmem buffers and anytime they are accessed, but the fragged update sub
> could
> be overwwriting the mapped in 8k buffer when it loads.. I don't know how
> secure OS9 is with these operations.
>
> On another note, is the status bar reporting the proper info for your
> drives
> and is the dirbar (top) showing the proper dirs? Just curious. I know you
> have several storage options so you can check more formats than I can. It's
> one of the reasons I like you checking it... I want you for your drives...
> hahaha...
>
> I just sent you a new copy, try it and see what happens in the updater
>
> Thanks for all the help.
>
>
> Now, for someone with a SuperIDE, a CocoSDC, B&B HD, Disto HD, and any
> others....
>
>
> Bill Pierce
> "Today is a good day... I woke up" - Ritchie Havens
>
>
> My Music from the Tandy/Radio Shack Color Computer 2 & 3
> https://sites.google.com/site/dabarnstudio/
> Co-Webmaster of The TRS-80 Color Computer Archive
> http://www.colorcomputerarchive.com/
> Co-Contributor, Co-Editor for CocoPedia
> http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
> E-Mail: ooogalapasooo at aol.com
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> Sent: Tue, May 13, 2014 1:42 pm
> Subject: Re: [Coco] The Beta Test release of MShell
>
>
> CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts wrote:
> >
> > Ok.
> > I think I got the drive check bug...
> > I now have a new version up with the fix. I need someone with real
> > floppies
> and possibly DW4 to give it a check. I also need the "Updater" function
> checked as Robert was having problems with it but it may have been related
> to the drive check problem.
> > And PLEASE read the included text file. Also, the website has more
> > info and
> requirements
> >
> > The MShell download
> > https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/23059963/MShell/MShell%201.0.3e.zi
> > p
> >
> >
> > The MShell website
> > https://sites.google.com/site/dabarnstudio/mshell---the-ultimate-os-9-
> > gui
> >
> >
> > Thanks to all who are participating... this is going to grow into
> > something
> much bigger :-)
> >
> >
> > Bill Pierce
> > "Today is a good day... I woke up" - Ritchie Havens
> >
>
> Much better! No problems starting MShell whether booting NitrOS-9 from a
> hard drive or a DrivePak. All disks can be accessed, OS-9 or Disk Basic, on
> Drivewire, SCSI hard drives, DrivePak drives, and floppies.
>
> No luck with Update. All I see is  "ss  hit Enter or click to continue". I
> have an Internet connection active and DW4 is happy when asked to update. I
> am assuming that I don't need to do anything with DW4 but just tell MShell
> (U U) to
>
> update.
> Does MShell automatically tell DW4 where to go on the Internet? Did I miss
> a
> prerequisite that needs to be done before telling MShell to Update?
>
> Robert
>
>
>
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