Building 68k C++ using gcc and an IDE!

NovaCoder · 04 March 2010, 00:02

As some of you know, I've been playing around porting games over to the good old AGA Amiga using C++.

I started off with StormC V4 using the built-in gcc compiler running on my real A1200 030. This worked ok to start with but now that the projects are increasing in complexity (and number of files) this is becoming impossible. For a start it's very slow to build, the version of gcc is very old and it runs out of memory while compiling.

Next I tried AmiDevCPP running on WinXP. This works better (great speed and better gcc compliance which helps porting) but the biggest drawback is that you cannot debug which is a real pain. Also the IDE is not Amiga specific (eg project and build options are all Windows based).

The only other gcc IDE solution that I know about is Cubic IDE which costs 70 EUR, willl that solve my problems (I'd have to run it under WinUAE obviously).

Thanx
NovaCoder

Leffmann · 04 March 2010, 00:35

Why don't you run StormC under WinUAE with JIT and hundreds of MB of ram?

Zetr0 · 04 March 2010, 00:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leffmann

Why don't you run StormC under WinUAE with JIT and hundreds of MB of ram?

This is what i do too =D

NovaCoder · 04 March 2010, 01:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leffmann

Why don't you run StormC under WinUAE with JIT and hundreds of MB of ram?

It's an option I guess but I really wanted to hear from CubicIDE users, eg is it a better way to go?

DJBase · 04 March 2010, 13:13

Well, I always use Cubic IDE DevPack with an old GoldED Version so there is no need to pay 70 Euros if you still have an editor or use the free microGoldED in the package depending on what you need. The DevPack is for me the easiest way to get an up-to-date GCC envirement on my Amiga.

NovaCoder · 04 March 2010, 23:49

Ok, thanks for the info Mr DJ

Vairn · 05 March 2010, 03:50

I got cubicIDE at one of the Xmas new years sales, works nicely on my Amiga and WinUAE.

Normally use AmidevCPP for alot of the work though, CubicIDE is for fixes while under emulation hehe.

I find it easier to code with the more modern IDE that comes with Amidev.

NovaCoder · 05 March 2010, 06:17

Yep AmiDev is a nice IDE, its just a shame about the lack of debugging.

jotd · 16 March 2010, 20:37

Noone ever tried to cross-compile from Windows to Amiga OS using a cross g++? gcc 2.7 is really old right now. On Windows/Linux we have gcc4 (that's what I use in devkitpro for NDS ports).
Anyone tested that? I'd like to port some SDL games I have written to AmigaOS but I don't have the courage to setup C++ tools on Amiga again! I had too many portability problems (templates, STL ...)

Asman · 16 March 2010, 22:46

@jotd

on Natami forum you will find some interesting infohttp://www.natami.net/knowledge.php?b=3&note=8

jotd · 17 March 2010, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asman

@jotd

on Natami forum you will find some interesting infohttp://www.natami.net/knowledge.php?b=3&note=8

Funnily you're the one who's replying!

I have written a version of Bagman for C++/SDL which might interest you

http://pagesperso-orange.fr/jotd/bagman/index.html

thanks for the link. BTW my main concern right now is not the code size/performance but to be able to compile template stuff. Well maybe with gcc 2.7 it would work without the hassle of cross compilation. I'll make it work anyway. Thanks.

Photon · 18 March 2010, 00:50

I don't want to stop you from setting up a dev environment for Amiga, even if people with less than AGA/030 will never see the fruits of your labor. But if you have a lot of trouble porting Bagman, consider http://hol.abime.net/3807 .

If you want some inspiration, then I think vector games from arcade cabs (which usually means Atari) could be a good thing make ports of.

jotd · 18 March 2010, 18:17

Yeah, I know about Bagitman. But my remake is 95% the same (guards A.I. is the same too). I'd be curious to see how the game runs on a 030, yeah.

Don't worry about inspiration, I have a lot of projects to complete (or to start). Vector games are not my cup of tea, actually.

Asman · 18 March 2010, 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by jotd

Funnily you're the one who's replying!

I'm still looking for the best c/c++ compiler ( or cross ) which can generate code for 68k. Lastly I checked CodeWarrior 4 on mac ( Basilisk II on PC ) but test code ( from natami thread ) is exactly like in CodeWarior Coldfire 7.1 SE. Maybe some day I will find CodeWarrior 6 for Mac/PC ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by jotd

I have written a version of Bagman for C++/SDL which might interest you

http://pagesperso-orange.fr/jotd/bagman/index.html

Great job. Of course I downloaded source

. Thank you. Maybe I will find time ( I have definitely to many top secret projects on amiga ) to change some things on Bagitman WHD.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jotd

thanks for the link. BTW my main concern right now is not the code size/performance but to be able to compile template stuff. Well maybe with gcc 2.7 it would work without the hassle of cross compilation. I'll make it work anyway. Thanks.

If we talking about cross compilation. There is one nice advantage: time of compilation

jotd · 19 March 2010, 09:18

Slightly off topic I think you'll have a hard time squeezing the gfx+palette of the original in Bagitman.

Cross-compilation is good when it's widespread (like on Nintendo DS) but for Amiga, I think there'll be problems in the link department.

I'll stick to gcc 2.7 if I can make it work, it'll be simpler.

On my PC Bagman uses 10% of the CPU, and that's with 2x render resize & sound. I think I can squeeze it on the Amiga.

Asman · 19 March 2010, 10:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by jotd

Slightly off topic I think you'll have a hard time squeezing the gfx+palette of the original in Bagitman.

Exactly, I spent some time and I will spent more

.
Now everything what I need its a good converter from picture to tiles set. Probably I will write special converter for Bagitman.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jotd

On my PC Bagman uses 10% of the CPU, and that's with 2x render resize & sound. I think I can squeeze it on the Amiga.

Its depend how fast CPU you have

jotd · 21 March 2010, 15:36

yep. Got a 68060, should do it. I'll open another thread for cross GCC

Asman · 22 March 2010, 09:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by jotd

I'll open another thread for cross GCC

Great. I will follow up.
I don't want make mess in this thread too. And I will make new thread about Bagitman improvements in project.Amiga Game Factory.

NovaCoder · 08 April 2010, 02:16

Ok I stumped the cash for Cubic IDE (easter offer @ 20 EUR).

It's not a bad little IDE, a bit strange at first but you get used to it. It comes with gcc 2.95 which appears to be the best option for classic users.

The first problem is trying to get it to debug my C++ program, any pointers?

NovaCoder · 08 April 2010, 02:24

Mmmm......looks like you can only use the source level debugger with StormC3

Well that's not much good to me. How are you meant to write any code if you can't debug it (I'm good, but I'm not THAT good).

I've got a feeling you have to that silly OS4 type hack (console/server) to debug gcc for OS3.x.

04 March 2010, 00:02	#1
NovaCoder Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Melbourne/Australia Posts: 4,400	Building 68k C++ using gcc and an IDE! As some of you know, I've been playing around porting games over to the good old AGA Amiga using C++. I started off with StormC V4 using the built-in gcc compiler running on my real A1200 030. This worked ok to start with but now that the projects are increasing in complexity (and number of files) this is becoming impossible. For a start it's very slow to build, the version of gcc is very old and it runs out of memory while compiling. Next I tried AmiDevCPP running on WinXP. This works better (great speed and better gcc compliance which helps porting) but the biggest drawback is that you cannot debug which is a real pain. Also the IDE is not Amiga specific (eg project and build options are all Windows based). The only other gcc IDE solution that I know about is Cubic IDE which costs 70 EUR, willl that solve my problems (I'd have to run it under WinUAE obviously). Thanx NovaCoder

08 April 2010, 02:24	#20
NovaCoder Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Melbourne/Australia Posts: 4,400	Mmmm......looks like you can only use the source level debugger with StormC3 Well that's not much good to me. How are you meant to write any code if you can't debug it (I'm good, but I'm not THAT good). I've got a feeling you have to that silly OS4 type hack (console/server) to debug gcc for OS3.x. Last edited by NovaCoder; 08 April 2010 at 02:33.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
GCC and GCCFindHit	tygre	Coders. Language	2	20 February 2012 16:45
IDE 68K Adapter Drivers	boing_1000	support.Hardware	7	14 July 2008 22:18
latest GCC compiler 68k	Tony Landais	Coders. General	27	23 November 2006 01:02
Amiga GCC Where to find it?	_ThEcRoW	request.Apps	10	02 March 2006 00:44
StormC4/GCC	JoJo	Coders. General	0	28 October 2002 09:38

04 March 2010, 00:35	#2
Leffmann Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,269	Why don't you run StormC under WinUAE with JIT and hundreds of MB of ram?

04 March 2010, 13:13	#5
DJBase Amiga is my Religion Join Date: May 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 578	Well, I always use Cubic IDE DevPack with an old GoldED Version so there is no need to pay 70 Euros if you still have an editor or use the free microGoldED in the package depending on what you need. The DevPack is for me the easiest way to get an up-to-date GCC envirement on my Amiga.

04 March 2010, 23:49	#6
NovaCoder Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Melbourne/Australia Posts: 4,400	Ok, thanks for the info Mr DJ

05 March 2010, 03:50	#7
Vairn The Grim-Button Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Melbourne Australia Age: 43 Posts: 414	I got cubicIDE at one of the Xmas new years sales, works nicely on my Amiga and WinUAE. Normally use AmidevCPP for alot of the work though, CubicIDE is for fixes while under emulation hehe. I find it easier to code with the more modern IDE that comes with Amidev.

05 March 2010, 06:17	#8
NovaCoder Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Melbourne/Australia Posts: 4,400	Yep AmiDev is a nice IDE, its just a shame about the lack of debugging.

16 March 2010, 20:37	#9
jotd This cat is no more Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: FRANCE Age: 52 Posts: 8,206	Noone ever tried to cross-compile from Windows to Amiga OS using a cross g++? gcc 2.7 is really old right now. On Windows/Linux we have gcc4 (that's what I use in devkitpro for NDS ports). Anyone tested that? I'd like to port some SDL games I have written to AmigaOS but I don't have the courage to setup C++ tools on Amiga again! I had too many portability problems (templates, STL ...)

16 March 2010, 22:46	#10
Asman 68k Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Somewhere Posts: 828	@jotd on Natami forum you will find some interesting infohttp://www.natami.net/knowledge.php?b=3&note=8

18 March 2010, 00:50	#12
Photon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eksjö / Sweden Posts: 5,604	I don't want to stop you from setting up a dev environment for Amiga, even if people with less than AGA/030 will never see the fruits of your labor. But if you have a lot of trouble porting Bagman, consider http://hol.abime.net/3807 . If you want some inspiration, then I think vector games from arcade cabs (which usually means Atari) could be a good thing make ports of.

18 March 2010, 18:17	#13
jotd This cat is no more Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: FRANCE Age: 52 Posts: 8,206	Yeah, I know about Bagitman. But my remake is 95% the same (guards A.I. is the same too). I'd be curious to see how the game runs on a 030, yeah. Don't worry about inspiration, I have a lot of projects to complete (or to start). Vector games are not my cup of tea, actually.

19 March 2010, 09:18	#15
jotd This cat is no more Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: FRANCE Age: 52 Posts: 8,206	Slightly off topic I think you'll have a hard time squeezing the gfx+palette of the original in Bagitman. Cross-compilation is good when it's widespread (like on Nintendo DS) but for Amiga, I think there'll be problems in the link department. I'll stick to gcc 2.7 if I can make it work, it'll be simpler. On my PC Bagman uses 10% of the CPU, and that's with 2x render resize & sound. I think I can squeeze it on the Amiga.

21 March 2010, 15:36	#17
jotd This cat is no more Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: FRANCE Age: 52 Posts: 8,206	yep. Got a 68060, should do it. I'll open another thread for cross GCC

08 April 2010, 02:16	#19
NovaCoder Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Melbourne/Australia Posts: 4,400	Ok I stumped the cash for Cubic IDE (easter offer @ 20 EUR). It's not a bad little IDE, a bit strange at first but you get used to it. It comes with gcc 2.95 which appears to be the best option for classic users. The first problem is trying to get it to debug my C++ program, any pointers?

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)