Programming for Amiga: C/C++ or AMOS?

r0ber7 · 09 March 2011, 13:21

Hi.

Once upon a time, I started programming in AMOS. It was easy enough for my 10 year old brain, and I made some fun stuff with it.

Now, as I have returned to my A1200 and e-uae, I feel like programming something new for the Amiga. But since those early Amiga days I've switched to several Linux flavours, and right now I'm far more skilled in C/C++ than I ever was in AMOS. C/C++ has my preference, not only because it'd be easier, but also because of possible compatibility with Linux.

This lead me to some questions, which I hope someone here can answer:

Is it possible to develop in C/C++ for the Amiga? If so, are there any graphical API's? Or would it be easier to dust off my AMOS knowledge?

Either way, I'd love to develop some more entertainment for the Amiga community.

Leffmann · 09 March 2011, 13:51

There's GCC 2.95 and 3.3 I think, which you can use for the Amiga, and another portable compiler called VBCC which supports C99 but not C++. I assume you will be doing cross development, but in case you're looking for a C compiler to run directly on the Amiga there's also SAS/C.

There's a port of SDL for the classic Amigas, and of course you have the Amiga OS native graphics APIs, but if you want the performance you remember from most classic games and demos then you'll have to program the hardware directly.

Steve · 09 March 2011, 13:54

wasn't Storm C a C++ compiler for the Amiga?

TCD · 09 March 2011, 13:59

NovaCoder codes in C/C++ on the Miggy and has ported ScummVM for example. You could ask him in a PM what setup he uses

r0ber7 · 09 March 2011, 14:45

Thank you all for replying so quickly. I've looked around for SDL and found some good info on that. Right now I think that's the way to go, cause it will (ideally) provide me with a way to code for both Amiga and other systems with little modification to the code. So, plans for the near future:

- set up gcc & sdl on amiga environment (e-uae or my a1200)
- set up sdl on ubuntu
- write simple program that displays a png & plays a sound

After that, I'm ready to go and create.

I suspect this forum has saved me countless hours of web searching by now.

Vairn · 10 March 2011, 01:07

Just so you know, SDL is Hella slow on a normal amiga. Even on my PPC back in the day it was slugish.
But since you want Cross platform, hmm.

BippyM · 10 March 2011, 02:26

moved to coders heaven

NovaCoder · 10 March 2011, 03:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by r0ber7

Thank you all for replying so quickly. I've looked around for SDL and found some good info on that. Right now I think that's the way to go, cause it will (ideally) provide me with a way to code for both Amiga and other systems with little modification to the code. So, plans for the near future:

- set up gcc & sdl on amiga environment (e-uae or my a1200)

If you've got a Windose box, setting up GCC & SDL will take you about 5 mins with AmiDevCpp

A real 1200 is too slow to compile large GCC (or SDL) projects.

I'm currently using AmiDevcpp for fast code proofing and then doing release builds under WinUAE with CubicIDE

r0ber7 · 10 March 2011, 09:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by bippym

moved to coders heaven

Tnx, didn't know it existed. Sometimes I lose myself in the Forest of Subforums.

Based on NovaCoder's and Vairn's comments, I've changed my mind. I'm dropping cross-platform stuff and going back to AMOS, what the hell. I can always run my stuff in e-uae anyway.

It'll be a lot easier to rediscover the AMOS syntax, and more fun too.

TCD · 10 March 2011, 10:06

You should visit AMOS Factory then

r0ber7 · 10 March 2011, 10:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCyberDruid

You should visit AMOS Factory then

Perfect!

Thorham · 10 March 2011, 19:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by r0ber7

going back to AMOS

When you're used to the power of c/c++, this will probably not be a fun experience

Vairn · 11 March 2011, 01:28

You could try blitzbasic, It doesn't feel so bad after c/c++

r0ber7 · 11 March 2011, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thorham

When you're used to the power of c/c++, this will probably not be a fun experience

Point taken, but I'm not looking for much depth on this anyway. Just feel like making a game of some sort. Considering the application, I'd say ease > power.

Quote:

You could try blitzbasic, It doesn't feel so bad after c/c++

Hmm, does it have similar syntax?

Photon · 11 March 2011, 20:59

C. Or assembler, if you can manage it.

r0ber7 · 17 March 2011, 19:57

I've settled on Blitz Basic 2 now. I've found a copy, and the manual through this forum.

While the manual is useful, I'm wondering if there happens to be a game development tutorial out there somewhere. Ideal topics would include: collision detection, animation, playing .mods, registering keyboard/ mouse input.

I know this is all in the manual, but a tutorial would save me some time.

BippyM · 17 March 2011, 20:44

With BB2 find some of the blitz mailing list posts (aminet has some) and also find all the decent libraries etc as the standard ones have been improved.

I have quite a comprehensice blitz install with LOTS of libs.. I can up it if you want to take a peek!

r0ber7 · 17 March 2011, 20:57

I would really like that!

So far I've been going along with the examples from the manual, I like the fact that I can influence the timing of the program a whole lot better than in AMOS. I want to sync music to graphics.

I'll go check aminet now.

Photon · 17 March 2011, 22:17

I prefer coding in ANDY!

BippyM · 17 March 2011, 23:28

Uploading a 20mb compressed archive to the zone.

There is quite a bit of stuff included, and if it crashes there is a directory with other versions of Blitz2 and TED. Simply replace the existing ones.

There is a few of the blitzlist bits along with a breakdown of ALL the commands included within the DOCS dir.. I have loads more stuff too if you want any let me know.

If anything doesn't load it is probably a powerpacked file (I have unpacked most of it)

09 March 2011, 13:21	#1
r0ber7 it's all in your head Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 174	Programming for Amiga: C/C++ or AMOS? Hi. Once upon a time, I started programming in AMOS. It was easy enough for my 10 year old brain, and I made some fun stuff with it. Now, as I have returned to my A1200 and e-uae, I feel like programming something new for the Amiga. But since those early Amiga days I've switched to several Linux flavours, and right now I'm far more skilled in C/C++ than I ever was in AMOS. C/C++ has my preference, not only because it'd be easier, but also because of possible compatibility with Linux. This lead me to some questions, which I hope someone here can answer: Is it possible to develop in C/C++ for the Amiga? If so, are there any graphical API's? Or would it be easier to dust off my AMOS knowledge? Either way, I'd love to develop some more entertainment for the Amiga community. Last edited by r0ber7; 09 March 2011 at 13:47.

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09 March 2011, 13:51	#2
Leffmann Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,265	There's GCC 2.95 and 3.3 I think, which you can use for the Amiga, and another portable compiler called VBCC which supports C99 but not C++. I assume you will be doing cross development, but in case you're looking for a C compiler to run directly on the Amiga there's also SAS/C. There's a port of SDL for the classic Amigas, and of course you have the Amiga OS native graphics APIs, but if you want the performance you remember from most classic games and demos then you'll have to program the hardware directly.

09 March 2011, 13:54	#3
Steve I Identify as an Ewok Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: North Lincolnshire Age: 42 Posts: 2,320	wasn't Storm C a C++ compiler for the Amiga?

09 March 2011, 13:59	#4
TCD Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 43 Posts: 24,024	NovaCoder codes in C/C++ on the Miggy and has ported ScummVM for example. You could ask him in a PM what setup he uses

09 March 2011, 14:45	#5
r0ber7 it's all in your head Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 174	Thank you all for replying so quickly. I've looked around for SDL and found some good info on that. Right now I think that's the way to go, cause it will (ideally) provide me with a way to code for both Amiga and other systems with little modification to the code. So, plans for the near future: - set up gcc & sdl on amiga environment (e-uae or my a1200) - set up sdl on ubuntu - write simple program that displays a png & plays a sound After that, I'm ready to go and create. I suspect this forum has saved me countless hours of web searching by now.

10 March 2011, 01:07	#6
Vairn The Grim-Button Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Melbourne Australia Age: 39 Posts: 408	Just so you know, SDL is Hella slow on a normal amiga. Even on my PPC back in the day it was slugish. But since you want Cross platform, hmm.

10 March 2011, 02:26	#7
BippyM Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Derby, UK Age: 45 Posts: 9,184	moved to coders heaven

10 March 2011, 10:06	#10
TCD Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 43 Posts: 24,024	You should visit AMOS Factory then

11 March 2011, 01:28	#13
Vairn The Grim-Button Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Melbourne Australia Age: 39 Posts: 408	You could try blitzbasic, It doesn't feel so bad after c/c++

11 March 2011, 20:59	#15
Photon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eksjö / Sweden Posts: 4,938	C. Or assembler, if you can manage it.

17 March 2011, 19:57	#16
r0ber7 it's all in your head Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 174	I've settled on Blitz Basic 2 now. I've found a copy, and the manual through this forum. While the manual is useful, I'm wondering if there happens to be a game development tutorial out there somewhere. Ideal topics would include: collision detection, animation, playing .mods, registering keyboard/ mouse input. I know this is all in the manual, but a tutorial would save me some time.

17 March 2011, 20:44	#17
BippyM Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Derby, UK Age: 45 Posts: 9,184	With BB2 find some of the blitz mailing list posts (aminet has some) and also find all the decent libraries etc as the standard ones have been improved. I have quite a comprehensice blitz install with LOTS of libs.. I can up it if you want to take a peek!

17 March 2011, 20:57	#18
r0ber7 it's all in your head Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 174	I would really like that! So far I've been going along with the examples from the manual, I like the fact that I can influence the timing of the program a whole lot better than in AMOS. I want to sync music to graphics. I'll go check aminet now.

17 March 2011, 22:17	#19
Photon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eksjö / Sweden Posts: 4,938	I prefer coding in ANDY!

17 March 2011, 23:28	#20
BippyM Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Derby, UK Age: 45 Posts: 9,184	Uploading a 20mb compressed archive to the zone. There is quite a bit of stuff included, and if it crashes there is a directory with other versions of Blitz2 and TED. Simply replace the existing ones. There is a few of the blitzlist bits along with a breakdown of ALL the commands included within the DOCS dir.. I have loads more stuff too if you want any let me know. If anything doesn't load it is probably a powerpacked file (I have unpacked most of it)

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