IPF and ARM

ascp · 13 October 2010, 13:48

Hello!
I was thinking about buying one of these nice chaps: https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Minimig
But then i read that it can't read IPF-files. Why? Because it has an ARM processor, and there are no builds of the IPF for ARM. Are there any plans for either: A) Releasing a build for ARM or B) Releasing the source-code for IPF?

yaqube · 13 October 2010, 14:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonathan

But then i read that it can't read IPF-files. Why? Because it has an ARM processor, and there are no builds of the IPF for ARM.

Please remember that the ARM controller is not a standard feature. It's an add-on board.

Quote:

Are there any plans for either: A) Releasing a build for ARM

Thanks to nice guys from SPS I have an access to the IPF source code. Currently I'm investigating the possibility of IPF support in the Minimig ARM firmware. Porting anything from desktop OS to embedded one is not straightforward and requires a lot of time. Let's keep fingers crossed.

alexh · 13 October 2010, 15:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaqube

Thanks to nice guys from SPS I have an access to the IPF source code.

Wow. I think that means you've entered the highest echelons of Amiga society

Good luck. If anyone can make the time and progress then it would be yourself given your track record.

IFW · 13 October 2010, 18:20

You could try getting rid off the WDC177x emulator, generic MFM formatting/support, and set the MFM encoder to use small memory - InitMFM(0x100), to save on memory footprint and ram usage.

Still not a trivial task though

lolafg · 13 October 2010, 18:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaqube

Thanks to nice guys from SPS I have an access to the IPF source code. Currently I'm investigating the possibility of IPF support in the Minimig ARM firmware. Porting anything from desktop OS to embedded one is not straightforward and requires a lot of time. Let's keep fingers crossed.

That would be awesome , i keep my fingers crossed

mr.vince · 13 October 2010, 23:02

See, we aren't _that_ evil.

fiath · 14 October 2010, 00:07

Oh yeah... we're supposed to be looking into source code licenses aren't we...

ascp · 14 October 2010, 00:20

Quote:

Thanks to nice guys from SPS I have an access to the IPF source code. Currently I'm investigating the possibility of IPF support in the Minimig ARM firmware. Porting anything from desktop OS to embedded one is not straightforward and requires a lot of time. Let's keep fingers crossed

.

Great to hear that there is someone looking into it.

whiteb · 19 October 2010, 00:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaqube

Please remember that the ARM controller is not a standard feature. It's an add-on board.

But those that do have it, love it

Quote:

Thanks to nice guys from SPS I have an access to the IPF source code. Currently I'm investigating the possibility of IPF support in the Minimig ARM firmware. Porting anything from desktop OS to embedded one is not straightforward and requires a lot of time. Let's keep fingers crossed.

I am sure that if anyone can do it, you can Yaqube..., I know its not a massive user base, but IPF support on ARM would be simply outstanding.

Lets face it, X86 must be childs play to code for compared to arm (Risc ?), which having being said, I cannot code to save my life anyway

IFW · 19 October 2010, 12:01

Well, if it is compiled code from C, then it's no different to any other platform.
If someone decides to write it in assembly... good luck.
ARM is quite a nice and clean architecture though for programming - compared to many others I know.

The challenge here is probably more along the lines of the memory and code footprint needed for some of the features supported, hence my suggestions above on what to cut.

lolafg · 26 November 2010, 10:17

@ yagube , some progress in this project ?

Thanks

yaqube · 27 November 2010, 10:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by lolafg

@ yagube , some progress in this project ?

I have had a look at the sources. I need slightly different approach due to memory constrains (cannot buffer a whole track). Also some modifications to floppy emulation module are required.

Right now I'm pretty busy with bringing the Minimig AGA and the Replay board to live so any serious work on the IPF support is expected to take place early next year.

lolafg · 27 November 2010, 12:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaqube

I have had a look at the sources. I need slightly different approach due to memory constrains (cannot buffer a whole track). Also some modifications to floppy emulation module are required.

Right now I'm pretty busy with bringing the Minimig AGA and the Replay board to live so any serious work on the IPF support is expected to take place early next year.

thank you for answering ,no huge as your last firmware is perfect

if this Minimig AGA exist one day , i think i'll buy it

Thanks for your hard work in those projects

Loedown · 25 January 2011, 12:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by IFW

Well, if it is compiled code from C, then it's no different to any other platform.
If someone decides to write it in assembly... good luck.
ARM is quite a nice and clean architecture though for programming - compared to many others I know.

The challenge here is probably more along the lines of the memory and code footprint needed for some of the features supported, hence my suggestions above on what to cut.

Microchip and seemingly ARM Holdings have made some of the most user friendly and practical interfaces for the technical market.

Most people probably don't realise how powerful these chips are where they can be used for the obligatory led flashing program ( this is the usual first off project for anyone getting into it ) right up to things like Kryoflux or my Kraftwerk led ties.

Code:

		#include P12F675.INC
;******************************************************
		org 	0000
		bcf 	status,5		
		clrf	gpio
		movlw	b'00000111'
		movwf	cmcon
		movlw	b'00000000'
		movwf	intcon
		movlw	b'00110101'
		movwf	t1con
		bsf 	status,5
		clrf	trisio
		movlw 	b'00000001'
		movwf	pie1
		movlw	b'11000111'
		movwf	option_reg
		clrf	ansel
		bcf 	status,5
;******************************************************
loop	        movlw   b'00100000'
		btfsc 	intcon,2
		xorwf	gpio
		movlw	b'00010000'
		btfsc	pir1,0
		xorwf	gpio
		bcf	pir1,0
		bcf	intcon,2
		goto 	loop		
	end

lolafg · 20 March 2011, 11:41

@ Yaqube , i know you are relly taken by the fpga replay board but did you do some progresses in IPF with minimig?

Thanks.

yaqube · 20 March 2011, 12:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by lolafg

@ Yaqube , i know you are relly taken by the fpga replay board but did you do some progresses in IPF with minimig?

I'm really sorry but so far I haven't had enough time to deal with it. It requires a substantial rewrite of the floppy handling module. Right now I'm busy with the Minimig AGA core and 060 daughter board for the Replay FPGA board. I think I should get back to the ARM firmware in two or three months.

lolafg · 20 March 2011, 13:16

Thanks for your answer and don't feel sorry , things are done when they are !!

lolafg · 11 March 2012, 08:54

Just to know if this project is still alive ?

Thanks.

yaqube · 11 March 2012, 11:49

It's still alive. First I need to finish the blitter implementation for the RTG module and then I will rewrite floppy interface and add support for extended ADF and IPF images.
Unfortunately it takes a lot of time.

lolafg · 11 March 2012, 12:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by yaqube

It's still alive. First I need to finish the blitter implementation for the RTG module and then I will rewrite floppy interface and add support for extended ADF and IPF images.
Unfortunately it takes a lot of time.

Thanks , happy to know that you're still on it !!
It's a great new for minimig's owners !!

13 October 2010, 13:48	#1
ascp Pastafarian Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Uppsala/Sweden Posts: 290	IPF and ARM Hello! I was thinking about buying one of these nice chaps: https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Minimig But then i read that it can't read IPF-files. Why? Because it has an ARM processor, and there are no builds of the IPF for ARM. Are there any plans for either: A) Releasing a build for ARM or B) Releasing the source-code for IPF?

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13 October 2010, 18:20	#4
IFW Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: ... Age: 52 Posts: 1,838	You could try getting rid off the WDC177x emulator, generic MFM formatting/support, and set the MFM encoder to use small memory - InitMFM(0x100), to save on memory footprint and ram usage. Still not a trivial task though

13 October 2010, 23:02	#6
mr.vince Cheesy crust Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Hawk's Creek Age: 48 Posts: 1,383	See, we aren't _that_ evil.

14 October 2010, 00:07	#7
fiath Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: South East / UK Age: 46 Posts: 1,930	Oh yeah... we're supposed to be looking into source code licenses aren't we...

19 October 2010, 12:01	#10
IFW Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: ... Age: 52 Posts: 1,838	Well, if it is compiled code from C, then it's no different to any other platform. If someone decides to write it in assembly... good luck. ARM is quite a nice and clean architecture though for programming - compared to many others I know. The challenge here is probably more along the lines of the memory and code footprint needed for some of the features supported, hence my suggestions above on what to cut.

26 November 2010, 10:17	#11
lolafg Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tours/France Age: 52 Posts: 1,233	@ yagube , some progress in this project ? Thanks

20 March 2011, 11:41	#15
lolafg Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tours/France Age: 52 Posts: 1,233	@ Yaqube , i know you are relly taken by the fpga replay board but did you do some progresses in IPF with minimig? Thanks.

20 March 2011, 13:16	#17
lolafg Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tours/France Age: 52 Posts: 1,233	Thanks for your answer and don't feel sorry , things are done when they are !!

11 March 2012, 08:54	#18
lolafg Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tours/France Age: 52 Posts: 1,233	Just to know if this project is still alive ? Thanks.

11 March 2012, 11:49	#19
yaqube Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poland Posts: 159	It's still alive. First I need to finish the blitter implementation for the RTG module and then I will rewrite floppy interface and add support for extended ADF and IPF images. Unfortunately it takes a lot of time.

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