BLOAD a BASIC program?

Ascended (10821)

28-02-2022, 14:06

gdx wrote:

Everyone don't all have the same programming experience as you. You seem to regard us as extremists of the standard when this is not the case for me, the problem is different. From experience, I know that it is better to use documented routines so that our program works on as many machines as possible. Even if the routine you propose has been tested on most configurations, I prefer to favor routines recognized as standard.

I think this is an excellent rationale to not show the following in getting-started examples on the msx.org wiki :

gdx wrote:

I sometimes use the C register to know the slot of a ROM when necessary because I know that it is 100% reliable.

Van gdx

Enlighted (6436)

01-03-2022, 02:44

Are you satisfied now?
https://www.msx.org/wiki/Develop_a_program_in_cartridge_ROM#...

Van Grauw

Ascended (10821)

01-03-2022, 20:33

gdx wrote:

Are you satisfied now?
https://www.msx.org/wiki/Develop_a_program_in_cartridge_ROM#INIT

Yes that’s much better, it gives the complete information and leaves the choice to the reader!

Van NYYRIKKI

Enlighted (6092)

01-03-2022, 22:41

gdx wrote:

Few people read the byte at address 0006h to read the VDP status register (usually they only read address 0007h for all accesses). I know very well that it has no influence whatever the configuration but I prefer to do it when it does not harm the execution of the program.

Funny, but I actually even know one weird case where this approach actually helps although it is not really related to MSX standard... If you load MSX1 game ROM on SVI-328 this approach makes it not necessary to patch the routine and therefore there is one place less where the automatic patching routine can make an error. (this machine has different input and output ports, but it is also not MSX)

Quote:

About floppy disk drives, they are MSX standard as long as they meet the standard. Optional part or not is same. All floppy drives are not full standard.

Ok, but my point is that if you consider ANY floppy drive as standard then these are not optional routines as I can't name a single floppy drive interface that would not use these mentioned routines.

gdx wrote:

https://www.msx.org/wiki/Develop_a_program_in_cartridge_ROM#INIT

Actually very nice Wiki-page with lots of helpful information. Well done!
I do understand that standard information is important to put on the wiki, but yes, I think these kind of shortcuts fit there more than nicely too... I think there is place for "MSX standard police" only if there is information that is proven to cause trouble or lead people to wrong direction. Usually ranting about different solutions is pointless, but adding few simple warnings or examples about best practices here and there should be pretty much same effort... People have lots of different motivations to write code and even maximum compatibility is just one view to this hobby.