cc65/doc/lynx.sgml

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<title>Atari Lynx specific information for cc65
<author>Karri Kaksonen, <htmlurl url="mailto:karri@sipo.fi" name="karri@sipo.fi">
Ullrich von Bassewitz, <htmlurl url="mailto:uz@cc65.org" name="uz@cc65.org">
<date>2004-10-14

<abstract>
An overview over the Atari Lynx runtime system as it is implemented for the
cc65 C compiler.
</abstract>

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<sect>Overview<p>

This file contains an overview of the Atari Lynx runtime system as it comes
with the cc65 C compiler. It describes the memory layout, Lynx specific header
files, available drivers, and any pitfalls specific to that platform.

Please note that Lynx specific functions are just mentioned here, they are
described in detail in the separate <htmlurl url="funcref.html" name="function
reference">. Even functions marked as "platform dependent" may be available on
more than one platform. Please see the function reference for more
information.


<sect>Binary format<p>

The standard binary output format generated by the linker for the Lynx target
is a machine language program with an executable header. It is of course
possible to change this behaviour by using a modified startup file and linker
config.

You can also produce real carts with directory structures and encrypted
headers by modifying the startup and linker config files. There is a simple
example archive called <tt/lynx-cart-demo/ in the <htmlurl
url="ftp://ftp.musoftware.de/pub/uz/cc65/contrib/" name="contrib directory">
that shows how to create a complete bootable Lynx cart.

<sect>Memory layout<p>

cc65 generated programs with the default setup run with the I/O area and the
kernal enabled, which gives a usable memory range of &dollar;400 - &dollar;BE3F.
All boot ROM entry points may be called directly without additional code.

Special locations:

<descrip>
  <tag/Text screen/
  No conio support is currently available for the Lynx.

  <tag/Keyboard/
  The Lynx "flabode" keys, Opt 1, Pause and Opt 2 are implemented using the
  conio interface. The only characters the keyboard is able to produce are
  'R' for Restart (Opt 1 + Pause), 'F' for flip (Opt 2 + Pause),
  'P' for pause, '1' for Opt 1, '2' for Opt 2, '3' for Opt 1 + Opt 2 and
  '?' for all keys down at the same time.

  <tag/Stack/
  The C runtime stack is located at &dollar;BE3F and growing downwards.

  <tag/Heap/
  The C heap is located at the end of the program and grows towards the C
  runtime stack.

</descrip><p>



<sect>Platform specific header files<p>

Programs containing Lynx specific code may use the <tt/lynx.h/ header file.


<sect1>Lynx specific functions<p>

<itemize>
<item>lynx_change_framerate
<item>lynx_eeprom_erase
<item>lynx_eeprom_read
<item>lynx_eeprom_write
</itemize>



<sect1>Hardware access<p>

The following pseudo variables declared in the <tt/lynx.h/ header file do
allow access to hardware located in the address space. Some variables are
structures, accessing the struct fields will access the chip registers.

<descrip>

  <tag><tt/MIKEY/</tag>
  The <tt/MIKEY/ structure allows access to MIKEY chip. See the <tt/_mikey.h/
  header file located in the include directory for the declaration of the
  structure.

  <tag><tt/SUZY/</tag>
  The <tt/SUZY/ structure allows access to SUZY chip. See the <tt/_suzy.h/
  header file located in the include directory for the declaration of the
  structure.

</descrip><p>



<sect>Loadable drivers<p>

<sect1>Graphics drivers<p>

A TGI driver for the standard graphics mode (160&times;102 in 16 colors) is
available, but must be statically linked, because no file I/O is available.
See the documentation for the <htmlurl url="co65.html" name="co65 utility">
for information on how to do that.

The TGI driver is implemented as a dual buffering device. To use it as a
single-buffer device set draw page and view page to the same value 0 or 1;

The TGI driver has a few Lynx-specific extensions.

Calling tgi_sprite(spr) or tgi_ioctl(0, spr) will display a standard Lynx
sprite on screen.

Calling tgi_flip() or tgi_ioctl(1, 0) will do a flip screen.

Calling tgi_setbgcolor(bgcolor) or tgi_ioctl(2, bgindex) will set the text
background color to the index defined by bgindex. If bgindex is 0 then the
background color is transparent.

To set the framerate of the display hardware call tgi_setframerate(rate) or
tgi_ioctl(3, rate). The supported framerates are 50, 60 and 75 frames per
second. Actually there is no real reason to use anything else than 75 frames
per second.

To check if the drawing engine is busy with the previous swap you can
call tgi_busy or tgi_ioctl(4, 0). It returns 0 if idle and 1 if busy

To update displays you can call tgi_updatedisplay() or tgi_ioctl(4, 1) it
will wait for the next VBL interrupt and set the draw buffer to the
view buffer. The draw buffer is also changed to (drawbuffer xor 1).

<sect1>Extended memory drivers<p>

No extended memory drivers are currently available for the Lynx.


<sect1>Joystick drivers<p>

A joystick driver for the standard buttons is available, but must be
statically linked, because no file I/O is available. See the documentation for
the <htmlurl url="co65.html" name="co65 utility"> for information on how to do
that.

The joystick will check to see if the screen is flipped or not in the install
routine and adapt itself to the currect state.

<sect1>Mouse drivers<p>

No mouse drivers are currently available for the Lynx.


<sect1>RS232 device drivers<p>

<descrip>

  The ComLynx port has Tx and Rx wired together. Every byte is sent
  to all connected Lynxes. Only one Lynx can send at a time. There is no
  protocol created for communication. You are on your own.

  If the Lynx returns framing error then it is likely that another Lynx is
  sending data at the same time.

  The Lynx can also send a break and receive a break. The Lynx break is
  recognized if the bit is down for 24 bit cycles or more.

  To send a break you just set the break bit. The length of the break depends
  on how long this bit is down.

  The driver supports the baudrates:
  <itemize>
  <item>62500
  <item>31250
  <item>9600
  <item>7200
  <item>4800
  <item>3600
  <item>2400
  <item>1800
  <item>1200
  <item>600
  <item>300
  <item>150
  <item>134.5
  <item>110
  <item>75
  </itemize>
  The parity bit supports MARK and SPACE. It also supports EVEN and ODD parity
  but the parity bit is included in the calculation. Most of us don't want it
  this way. But there is nothing we can do about it. Just don't use EVEN or ODD
  when communicating to other equipment than the Lynx. 

  There is always only one stop bit. And the data length is always 8 bits.

  We have no handshaking available. Even software handshake is impossible
  as ComLynx has only one wire for the data.

  Both transmit and receive are interrupt driven. The driver reserves a fixed
  area $200-$2ff for the transmit ring buffer and $300-$3ff for the receive
  ring buffer. This area can not be used at startup for anything as the Lynx
  ROM needs this area for decryption purposes.
</descrip><p>


<sect>Limitations<p>



<sect>Other hints<p>

At this point in time there is no support for the cart filesystem yet. I have
a <tt/lynx-cart-demo/ example project that uses an interrupt driven display,
has support for the cart filesystem and an abcmusic sound module.

At some point in time we may find a way to rewrite these to fit the way the
cc65 drivers require. But for the time being you can create less portable
applications using these Lynx specific modules in <tt/lynx-cart-demo/.


<sect>Bugs/Feedback<p>

If you have problems using the library, if you find any bugs, or if you're
doing something interesting with it, I would be glad to hear from you. Feel
free to contact me by email (<htmlurl url="mailto:uz@cc65.org"
name="uz@cc65.org">).



<sect>License<p>

This software is provided 'as-is', without any expressed or implied
warranty.  In no event will the authors be held liable for any damages
arising from the use of this software.

Permission is granted to anyone to use this software for any purpose,
including commercial applications, and to alter it and redistribute it
freely, subject to the following restrictions:

<enum>
<item>	The origin of this software must not be misrepresented; you must not
	claim that you wrote the original software. If you use this software
	in a product, an acknowledgment in the product documentation would be
	appreciated but is not required.
<item>	Altered source versions must be plainly marked as such, and must not
	be misrepresented as being the original software.
<item>	This notice may not be removed or altered from any source
	distribution.
</enum>

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