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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Tutorials => Topic started by: dambala on July 30, 2004, 09:00:37 AM

Title: The old great AMOS
Post by: dambala on July 30, 2004, 09:00:37 AM
Does anyone have technical infos about AMOS?

I mean, file formats and any other info that can help.

As I said in my presentation I'm writing a basic interpreter in Java that converts directly AMOS code in Java bytecode to make it run as fast as Java.

But I'm quite running out of specs...
Title: Re: The old great AMOS
Post by: xeron on July 30, 2004, 09:12:39 AM
Heh... "As fast as Java"? Isn't that an oxymoron? ;-)
Title: Re: The old great AMOS
Post by: szimbi on July 30, 2004, 10:06:26 AM
Could you be more specific?
What fileformat?
There is bank formats (.abk), and source format (.AMOS).
Is the command set is made already?
It would be a nice thing that Amos source converting to java, but I'm think it is a huge job with a lot of problems.

You wouldn't need to worry about file formats, before the command set not working.

Bye

Lazi

Title: Re: The old great AMOS
Post by: dambala on July 30, 2004, 11:04:42 AM
------- XERON:
> Heh... "As fast as Java"? Isn't that an oxymoron?

Eheheh... you're right if you are speaking of Java on Amiga in this exact moment...

On other systems Java runs very fast, I can't see a great difference with C/C++.
Why Java?
It is really portable, not as C/C++. To make a C/C++ program run everywhere you have to insert many "tricks" to make it compile on several systems.
Anyway would be cool to write J2ME apps using an AMOSlike basic, no?

For sure on AmigaOS will be a real VM... I'm waiting it to return to Amiga!

------ szimbi:
> Could you be more specific?
> What fileformat?

AMOS source file format, AMAL file format and MAP file format...

> There is bank formats (.abk), and source format (.AMOS).

I'm already able to load SpriteBanks and Abk pictures (Pic.Pac)...

> Is the command set is made already?

Not all :-)
But...
For a list http://dambala.altervista.org/amos/status_2004_07_30.txt

It not yet a public project, I've started it only a month ago!

> It would be a nice thing that Amos source converting to java, but I'm think it is
> a huge job with a lot of problems.

Simply converting AMOS source to Java source should be very simple...
Now my program interprets the AMOS source on the fly, but to complete "julia.AMOS" it takes 30 seconds... :-(
I'm trying to convert my program:
Instead of interpreting on the fly, it will convert (compile) the AMOS source in Java bytecode and then let the VM exec the code for me...
Without creating a .class or a .java file, in this way you'll continue to use and modify your basic source file.

> You wouldn't need to worry about file formats, before the command set not working.

Right :-), but during the hard work it's always relaxing seeing some sprites flying around the screen.

Bye
Title: Re: The old great AMOS
Post by: bloodline on July 30, 2004, 11:27:57 AM
The source code for AMOS has been released. Just look for it. :-)
Title: Re: The old great AMOS
Post by: dambala on July 30, 2004, 12:06:48 PM
I'm searching... :-)
I have yet some infos about AMOS source files but they are very cryptic   :-?

A little OT, these are two pics of my interpreter in action:

http://dambala.altervista.org/amos/basic.jpg
http://dambala.altervista.org/amos/basic2.jpg  
Title: Re: The old great AMOS
Post by: bloodline on July 30, 2004, 12:34:47 PM
Looking good, well done!
Title: Re: The old great AMOS
Post by: hellbring on September 30, 2004, 07:42:46 PM
The only thing I can say is WOW !

People like you keeps my interest on computers alive. It's amazing what some persons can do.

And only in one month... Perhaps I should quit programming and run a shop or something :)



P.D.: You have great fonts in your (Gnome?) desktop. Where did you get them ?
Title: Re: The old great AMOS
Post by: amigean on September 30, 2004, 08:43:08 PM
a word of praise from me as well Dambala - it certainly looks impressive already.

My knowledge of basic isn't exactly up to scratch but i'd say that you have already covered much of the AMOS command set.

good luck in your search - please keep us all updated!
Title: Re: The old great AMOS
Post by: JetFireDX on September 30, 2004, 08:45:26 PM
This is too cool. I have some old programs I wrote in AMOS a long time ago I would love to see running again not in an emulation. Great work!
Title: Re: The old great AMOS
Post by: Lu0ma on September 30, 2004, 10:11:44 PM

Very interesting idea,
please keep us posted as you make progress.

Here are some links, that might be helpful:
AMOS sources download (http://www.clickteam.com/English/download_section.php?PID=2&SID=5&Sname=Main+Download)
Info on AMOS file formats (http://alvyn.sourceforge.net/amos_file_formats.html)
Title: Re: The old great AMOS
Post by: Dan on October 01, 2004, 12:37:17 AM
Interesting project!
Good work on a interesting idea, I hope you succeed.
Title: Re: The old great AMOS
Post by: bloodline on October 01, 2004, 09:07:59 AM
Will you support AMAL via multithreading?
Title: Re: The old great AMOS
Post by: dambala on November 26, 2004, 12:09:57 PM
Hi everyone!

After a long busy period I'm back...

I'm happy that there is so much people still interested in AMOS :-)
I'm still working on the Java Interpreter and maybe soon I'll release the sources...

@bloodlin:
AMAL was great for multitasking, but maybe now is more simple to have many procedures as tasks than a strange "reduced" basic as AMAL.

I've not yet starting coding AMAL maybe is too early to speak about it ;)
Title: Re: The old great AMOS
Post by: bloodline on November 26, 2004, 02:50:14 PM
Quote

dambala wrote:
Hi everyone!

After a long busy period I'm back...

I'm happy that there is so much people still interested in AMOS :-)
I'm still working on the Java Interpreter and maybe soon I'll release the sources...

@bloodlin:
AMAL was great for multitasking, but maybe now is more simple to have many procedures as tasks than a strange "reduced" basic as AMAL.

I've not yet starting coding AMAL maybe is too early to speak about it ;)


AMAL showed me how brilliant multiprocessing was back in 1990! But you are right a new (multithreading style) system based on procedures would be better... but What I was asking was if and how you would support AMAL, as that would be vital for AMOS compatibility.
Title: Re: The old great AMOS
Post by: dambala on November 26, 2004, 04:34:55 PM
Quote

bloodline:
AMAL showed me how brilliant multiprocessing was back in 1990! But you are right a new (multithreading style) system based on procedures would be better... but What I was asking was if and how you would support AMAL, as that would be vital for AMOS compatibility.


In this moment I don't think AMAL is a priority, but the interpreter is extensible, so AMAL could be 'inserted' in every moment in the AMOS compatibility module (containing all non generic basic commands).
Anyway I don't think AMAL is a great implementation issue, it's only a simplified basic, very simple to parse. :-)
Title: Re: The old great AMOS
Post by: Steev on December 07, 2004, 05:19:17 PM
I'd certainly be interested in the sources. Are you writing the converter in Java, too?

As my Java can not match my C++ abilities, would you be adverse to someone else creating a C-code generator on the backend?

Thanks,

Steev
p.s. I had this very idea earlier today and thanks to the power of the internet I found someone else who thought it a good idea too :) Dontyajustlove the net?!
Title: Re: The old great AMOS
Post by: SamuraiCrow on December 07, 2004, 05:49:55 PM
@steev

Sidewinder and I (mostly Sidewinder) are working on an AMOS compatible compiler that uses a C compiler as a backend called Mattathias (http://liquido2.com).  (Note the version on the website generates 68k assembler.)

There is an AMOS interpreter for SDL-based targets being worked on in C++ called Alvyn (http://sourceforge.net/projects/alvyn/).

Both projects are open-source and short on help so drop either party a line.  I'm sure your C++ knowledge will come in handy.
Title: Re: The old great AMOS
Post by: Steev on December 09, 2004, 02:20:23 PM
Quote

SamuraiCrow wrote:

Sidewinder and I (mostly Sidewinder) are working on an AMOS compatible compiler that uses a C compiler as a backend called Mattathias (http://liquido2.com).  (Note the version on the website generates 68k assembler.)

Yep, I saw that! I'm not on my development machine at the mo so I've got no way of running it, but I've grabbed the source from CVS to have a poke around :)

Quote

There is an AMOS interpreter for SDL-based targets being worked on in C++ called Alvyn (http://sourceforge.net/projects/alvyn/).


Yep, I saw that too! I'm still undecided whether the 'correct' way is to interpret the code at run-time, or generate code that is then compiled and run.

My current fascination, FWIW, is with Parrot, and I think there's mileage there.

Quote

Both projects are open-source and short on help so drop either party a line.  I'm sure your C++ knowledge will come in handy.


I will certainly do so, as I'm looking for a new project with which to start the new year!

Steev
Title: Re: The old great AMOS
Post by: SamuraiCrow on December 20, 2004, 04:25:46 PM
Quote

Steev wrote:
Quote

SamuraiCrow wrote:

Sidewinder and I (mostly Sidewinder) are working on an AMOS compatible compiler that uses a C compiler as a backend called Mattathias (http://liquido2.com).  (Note the version on the website generates 68k assembler.)

Yep, I saw that! I'm not on my development machine at the mo so I've got no way of running it, but I've grabbed the source from CVS to have a poke around :)


The CVS source on sourceforge is an old interpreted version of Mattathias.  Ignore it and ask amiga@ssmnet.net for some recent source.