[Coco] Raspberry Pi and RS-232 ports

Sun Apr 2 13:58:00 EDT 2017

Hi Mike,

Some of the tweaks I have are specifically for the RPi3.  I don't have a
RPi2 to use for testing, so you would need try it and see how it works out
for you.  I'll make sure to post something here once I get an image hosted.

Thanks!

-Ron

On Sun, Apr 2, 2017 at 12:40 PM, Mike Delyea <mdelyea at gmail.com> wrote:

> This should work on a Pi 2 B right?
>
> On Sun, Apr 2, 2017 at 1:15 PM, Ron Klein <ron at kdomain.org> wrote:
>
> > Hi Tim,
> >
> > The SD card I'm using is 32GB.  I don't have that filled, but need to
> make
> > sure get the distribution size down to something manageable.  I'll post
> > something soon and thanks for your interest!
> >
> > -Ron
> >
> >
> > On Sun, Apr 2, 2017 at 12:03 PM, Tim Fadden <t.fadden at cox.net> wrote:
> >
> > > Ron,
> > >
> > > I am looking forward to seeing this available! What size is the image
> > > now?  Most I have seen are 1.5G or less compressed, and less than 5g
> > > expanded.  The file system can be expanded after making the sd  image.
> > Hope
> > > you get it figured out.
> > >
> > > Tim
> > >
> > >  On 4/1/2017 9:30 AM, Ron Klein wrote:
> > >
> > >> Hi Andrew,
> > >>
> > >> I've been working on getting an initial Raspberry Pi 3 Coco emulator
> > >> distribution set up for those who might be interested to try for
> > >> themselves.  It's being set up the why I like it, but could certainly
> be
> > >> taken in any direction from the community as I plan to share an SD
> image
> > >> soon.
> > >>
> > >> This is what I have so far:
> > >>
> > >> Raspberry Pi 3
> > >>
> > >> Latest Raspbian distribution
> > >>
> > >> Some RPi3 performance tweaks to allocate memory for programs and
> video.
> > >>
> > >> Restrict video mode to 640 x 480 (rather than the 1920 x 1080).
> > >>
> > >> A very slight CPU over clock and force all cores to be active all the
> > >> time.
> > >>
> > >> Latest MAME (0.184) compiled with SDL2 (and video hardware
> > acceleration).
> > >> It runs from the console, no X involved.  I'm working on just
> compiling
> > a
> > >> version to support only the Coco / Dragon targets, but not a priority
> > just
> > >> yet.  For those interested, ChoccyHobNob provides precompiled, current
> > >> versions of MAME for the RPi3:
> > >>
> > >> http://choccyhobnob.com/mame-0-184-for-raspberry-pi-macos/
> > >>
> > >> ... great site and information.
> > >>
> > >> Latest XRoar for those who prefer that emulator for Coco 2 / Dragon
> > >> emulation.  It can be run from console or X, though the X version is
> > very
> > >> nice with the added benefit of menus, etc..
> > >>
> > >> Drivewire 4 configured to host/serve DSK images to the local instance
> of
> > >> MAME (or XRoar) running on the RPi3.  If you use a USB to serial
> adapter
> > >> or
> > >> one of the serial interfaces to connect to the GPIO header, you can
> host
> > >> files for a real Coco as well.
> > >>
> > >> Some scripts to start a Coco 2, Coco 3, MC-10 from MAME.  For the Coco
> > 3,
> > >> I
> > >> have it configured with 2MB of RAM.  Great for NitrOS9 and Fuzix.  Any
> > of
> > >> these could be added to the /etc/rc.local file to boot directly into.
> > >>
> > >> I've also added am EMCEE server to host files for a real MC-10.
> > >>
> > >> Samba server and client packages.  You can transfer and DSK images,
> > roms,
> > >> etc., to the RPi3 from another workstation on your network or you can
> > >> connect to other file server on your network from the RPi3.  Either
> way
> > >> works and is available.
> > >>
> > >> Added a bunch of Coco development tools the distribution including
> > >> everything needed to compile MAME and XRoar, lwtools, Toolshed, etc..
> > >>
> > >> Added William Astle's excellent lwwire application (with modifications
> > >> from
> > >> Brett) to allow Fuzix (running on a Coco 3) access to the Internet.
> > This
> > >> can include an emulator running on the RPi3 or a real Coco 3 connected
> > to
> > >> the RPi3 through the USB or GPIO serial port.
> > >>
> > >> I connect my RPi3 to a LCD monitor that happens to have both a HDMI
> and
> > >> VGA
> > >> connections.  I have not tested the RPi3's composite video output on
> the
> > >> GPIO header, but will get to that at some point.
> > >>
> > >> I use a basic USB mouse and keyboard.  I came across a great deal on a
> > >> Nintendo Wii U Pro Controller which works perfectly with the RPi3 as
> it
> > >> already has built-in Bluetooth support.  Raspbian recognized the
> device
> > >> with no issues.  I was playing Pop Star Pilot just yesterday using it.
> > >> Very nice.  Nice thing is that controller has analog and digital
> control
> > >> support.  Perfect the Coco!
> > >>
> > >> I know there's been much talk about booting into a Coco instantly at
> > >> power-up.  I have not attempted to do that, but the boot process is
> very
> > >> quick now (under 15 seconds).  I'm OK with that, but I'm sure there
> may
> > be
> > >> other things to do to improve it more.  Unless you create an emulator
> > that
> > >> doesn't require the Linux OS and talks directly to the hardware, not
> > sure
> > >> if there will ever be a way to achieve instant-on access to a Coco.
> > >>
> > >> The last part of my RPi3 testing is connecting a real Coco 3 keyboard
> to
> > >> the RPi3.  I'm using information provided by Chris Hawks who really
> > >> pioneered the early Coco emulation for the RPi.  I have the extra
> > keyboard
> > >> and Coco 3 case, so I may be able to build my own CocoPi, just like
> > Chris
> > >> did a while back.  With things like the USB to Coco joystick adapters,
> > it
> > >> might even be possible to use real Coco joysticks with the RPi while
> > it's
> > >> in a Coco case (using the factory holes on the case).  The RPi3
> > composite
> > >> video and analog audio port could be run to the factory location on
> the
> > >> case, too.  These types of things would require some sort of basic
> > >> backplane to mount the 6 pin joystick DIN connectors and the composite
> > >> video and audio connectors.
> > >>
> > >> Anyway, getting a bit closer each day.  I would like to share
> something
> > >> soon, but need to find a way to limit the size the SD card image and
> > find
> > >> a
> > >> place to host it.
> > >>
> > >> Thanks!
> > >>
> > >> -Ron
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> On Sat, Apr 1, 2017 at 2:08 AM, Andrew <keeper63 at cox.net> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> In theory it could be done; the quickest way would be to (somehow)
> get a
> > >>> CoCo emulator written in standard C/C++ and cross-compile to the ARM
> > core
> > >>> used in the Pi. At least - that's the high-level view. There's a lot
> of
> > >>> low-level stuff that -would- make this a herculean effort (video
> being
> > >>> the
> > >>> main one).
> > >>>
> > >>> It's been a while since I last looked at CoCo 3 emulators - I seem to
> > >>> recall that David Keil released the source to his CoCo 3 emulator,
> but
> > I
> > >>> can't seem to find it (I know I have a copy myself - but I can't seem
> > to
> > >>> find it on the web). But I did find the VCC source (for Windows) -
> and
> > >>> it's
> > >>> in C. So maybe that could be futzed with to get it into something
> more
> > >>> portable and standard? Probably the first step would be to get it to
> > run
> > >>> under Linux using the framebuffer. Then port that?
> > >>>
> > >>> Another possibility would be to take the whole MESS version, and
> strip
> > it
> > >>> down to the bare-bones to get it to run the CoCo 3 - then port that
> > code
> > >>> (I'm pretty sure MESS is written in C or C++). Again, you'd want to
> > >>> target
> > >>> the framebuffer, of course.
> > >>>
> > >>> Lastly - and this is something that could be tried with MESS, because
> > >>> I've
> > >>> seen some tutorial on the technique - you could try to boot a
> > >>> bare-minimum
> > >>> X window system, that immediately starts MESS. Strip the linux kernel
> > >>> down
> > >>> to the bones, kick off X, then MESS (with CoCo 3 roms). While it
> won't
> > be
> > >>> "instant on", it will probably be a lot better than "standard" linux
> > >>> bootup
> > >>> on the Pi. Something like this:
> > >>>
> > >>> https://blogs.wcode.org/2013/09/howto-boot-your-raspberry-pi
> > >>> -into-a-fullscreen-browser-kiosk/
> > >>>
> > >>> Keywords to grep are "browser kiosk fullscreen" - the takeaway is
> that
> > >>> you
> > >>> don't need a full-on desktop to run an X window aware piece of
> > software.
> > >>>
> > >>> Ooh - another interesting possibility:
> > >>>
> > >>> https://devtidbits.com/2013/04/23/run-dos-on-the-raspberry-
> > >>> pi-use-rpix86-to-turn-your-pi-into-a-1980s-super-computer/
> > >>>
> > >>> http://rpix86.patrickaalto.com/
> > >>>
> > >>> ...then run one the DOS CoCo 3 emulators on top of that, perhaps?
> > >>>
> > >>> -- Andrew L. Ayers, Glendale, Arizona
> > >>>
> > >>> Message: 3
> > >>>
> > >>>> Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2017 13:15:36 -0500
> > >>>> From: Dave Philipsen <dave at davebiz.com>
> > >>>> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> > >>>> Subject: Re: [Coco] Raspberry Pi and RS-232 ports
> > >>>> Message-ID: <7fa405aa-019f-85e8-def1-d1824713c955 at davebiz.com>
> > >>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
> > >>>>
> > >>>> I think, actually, that someone has already emulated a CoCo on a
> > >>>> Raspberry Pi.  I've seen it mentioned here and there.  But someone
> > >>>> pointed out some days ago that a Raspberry Pi takes a finite amount
> of
> > >>>> time to boot and there's nothing like a good ol' CoCo that starts up
> > >>>> pretty much immediately.  I brought up the idea that if a Rasperry
> Pi
> > >>>> was only going to emulate a CoCo and nothing else it could surely be
> > >>>> made to boot up instantly just like a CoCo.  After all, it has a CPU
> > >>>> that runs at a clock speed of several hundred megahertz!  But I was
> > >>>> speaking only theoretically.  I imagine it would be a herculean
> > software
> > >>>> effort to get in to the internals of the Pi and figure out how to
> get
> > it
> > >>>> to boot up and run as a CoCo without the aid of the Linux (or other)
> > >>>> operating system.  It's certainly possible but it doesn't seem like
> it
> > >>>> would be worth the effort just to save the 15 seconds or so required
> > to
> > >>>> boot into Linux and then run a CoCo emulator.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Dave
> > >>>>
> > >>>> --
> > >>> Coco mailing list
> > >>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
> > >>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >
> > > --
> > > Tim Fadden
> > > "Hey Schmidt, don't forget about the six P's.
> > > Proper Preparation Prevents Piss-Poor Performance!"
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Coco mailing list
> > > Coco at maltedmedia.com
> > > https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
> > >
> >
> > --
> > Coco mailing list
> > Coco at maltedmedia.com
> > https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
> >
>
> --
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