From: jhwhit01@ulkyvx.louisville.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ti
Subject: Re: NCTIS report
Date: 21 Jan 93 13:15:40 GMT
Organization: University of Louisville

In article <1jk20aINNcgq@mailgzrz.TU-Berlin.DE>, willi@zrzsp5.chem.tu-berlin.de (Winfried Winkler) writes:
> In article <1993Jan19.035319.1@ulkyvx.louisville.edu> jhwhit01@ulkyvx.louisville.edu writes:
>>Here is the most recent NCTIS report that I have seen.
>> 
>>Hardware standards decided-
>> 
>>     LEVEL A             TI 99/4A CONSOLE, TV OR MONITOR, CASSETTE DECK AND
>>                         CABLE
>> 
>>     LEVEL B             LEVEL A PLUS: 32K MEMORY EXPANSION, EA/5 LOADER
>>                         (XB, EA, SUPERCART, TI WRITER, MULTIPLAN, ETC...)
>> 
>>     LEVEL C             LEVEL B PLUS: RS232, DOUBLE SIDED SINGLE DENSITY DISK
>>                         DRIVE AND CONTROLLER (ALL CONTROLLERS DO DSSD)
>> 
>>     LEVEL D             LEVEL C PLUS: 128K OR GREATER CPU RAM BANKABLE IN AT
>>                         LEAST 8K SEGMENTS.
>> 
>>     LEVEL E             LEVEL D PLUS: 9938/58 VDP WITH 128K VDP RAM
>>                         (ANY 8 COLUMN CARD) OR A GENEVE
>> 
>>After carefull consideration from input provided from users from across he
>>nation, these 5 levels were decided on.
> 
> Where does a DS/DD DiskController fit in ?
> (CorComp, Atronic, Myarc, BWG,...)
  
The hardware standards were based on the software programmer and end-user
perspective.  At any of the 5 levels, there will be more users with single
density disk capabilities than with double density capabilities.  You can have
a Level A system even if you have DS/SD capabilities if you don't have 32K.
At Level A, you are pretty much limited to cartridge or BASIC software.  When
moving to Level B, much of the newer assembly language software can be used if
saved to cassette, but the main software base there is XB software loaded from
cassette.  Asgard contends that there are still many cassette-only users out
there.
 
The rest of the levels follow from the standpoint of using more powerful
software.
  
> 
> With all these rumors about a new GPL-Assembler to be released soon,
> with more and more users programming in that fantastic language, especially
> designed for our TI -- shouldn't be a GRAM-device on that list, too ?
> ... as it could be used for "storage only" memory expansion, too.
 
There has been some contention during the NCTIS meetings on the absence of
GRAM devices from the levels.  Again, the levels were decided based upon what
the larger markets in the TI community would be for software developers.  Also
recall that most of the committee are from the U.S.  Information for using and
programming GPL was kept very secret in TI's home country.  Europe and Canada
got the information needed to use the power of GPL not long after TI pulled
out of the home computer market.  This information has gradually come back to
the U.S.  One might think that TI was free with the information outside the
U.S. because development could be done abroad where salaries are lower and the
products would not have quick competitors to market because development tools
were controlled so tightly.
 
> 
> What about all these users WITH 9938VDP but WITHOUT banked 128K CPU RAM ???
  
Developing for V9938 systems with only 32K memory is not targeting a large
share of the market.  There is very little specific V9938 software, and that
software which uses it can often be used with just a Level C system without
a V9938.  I would encourage programmers who write for Level C to include
optional support for the V9938.  
 
> Note: at least here in europe using any of the 80 column cards is VERY common,
>       but using more than 32K is NOT.
> Reason: All those "more than 32K" memory expansions (AMS, CorComp, ...) are
>         not compatible with an internal 16-bit 32K memory, making the entire
>         32k address range not available for cards in the PEB.
>         The schemes for an internal 16-bit RAM are public knowledge for a long
>         time now and for speed reasons many users have installed that kind of
>         memory -- as there were not enough good programs around needing/using
>         those "big" memory cards available ... 
  
The Horizon/RAMBO is compatible with the 16-bit 32K consoles.  When the 4A
Memex becomes available, it will also be compatible with 16-bit 32K consoles.
 
>      By the way: What Programs do you know that would need that memory ?
>      A good FULL C-compiler is the only one I know -- so far
>      Would like to have one :->
 
These standards are meant to help developers target their software to specific
users.  There are few programs that make use of the bankable memory of Level D.
However, because RAMBO was available at the time, and several of the committee
members are or were developing software to use it, this level makes some
sense.  That Asgard has released the AMS shows their intention to write more
powerful programs.
 
> 
> 
> Just my 0.02 $ ,  NO PUN intended !!
>                   I think we really need those definitions for interfaces and
>                   soft- / hardware, to ensure compatibility of things to come.
>                   at least it makes a programmer's life easier !!
  
NCTIS wants to do just that.  Most software authors will continue to develop
for the Level C system.  To stay "Level C-compliant," the use of hardware not
required at Level C would best be left as optional.  I.e., if you write a
disk manager program that only supports double density format, you are leaving
out the TI controller users.  If you write a disk manager that works with
single density disks, it makes sense to give the option to support double
density disks if at all possible.  This may seem like a ridiculous example,
since there are already several disk managers available and most support both
single and double density.  However, it illustrates the point.  If every piece
of new hardware requires a new level, and various combinations of hardware are
different levels, there would be way more than 5 levels.  Level 5 was added
to appease the Geneve population.  If you are writing for the Geneve, it is
best to make your software compatible with V9938/58-equipped 99/4A's.
  
> 
> Winfried Winkler