:: yaroze blog ::

:: 26.9.02 ::

Busy busy the last few days at work and preparing to go full time work, full time architecture student! Stress!
But on the Yaroze front, I'm just plodding away, converting the help to the new, sexy style.
On the front of PC Format magazine this month is a FREE Paint Shop Pro 5 - which the TIM import/export plugins work with (they don't work with the latest v7 I bought (cheap)). So got that and registered it to get the password. Nice!
:: Steve Parnell 9:40 AM [+] ::
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Spent the weekend playing with hlp and chm files, compiling the Library Reference (libref) again from the source html pages, and using the new syle cascading style sheet for nicer appearance. Then went on to trying to use the same source for both that, and the hlp file - why do I want an hlp file too? Well, because you can use hlp files for extended help in Visual C++, which means if you click on a Yaroze library word and hit F1 in VC++, you'll get to the relevant help page. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any way of getting it to work with compiled help. I need to extend the help file with other useful Yaroze related items too, like "Packets", so on hitting F1, you get some info on them.
This led me complete my usertype.dat file, combing through the header files and listing EVERY possible keyword that Yaroze could use. In fact, I think I overdid it a little with assembler registers in there and everything. Anyway, this means that all the Yaroze related words (definitions, functions, structures etc) now appear in a different colour in VC++, which is kind of useful to pro and beginner alike. I should really write up the 4 help hints for VC++ users:
1. how to use gcc through it;
2. how to start psxcomm from it;
3. how to set up your own keywords;
4. how to combine the help file.
:: Steve Parnell 5:52 AM [+] ::
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Still ploughing through the newsgroups (both 2D ones done now!) and setting up the new web page...
:: Steve Parnell 6:52 AM [+] ::
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Ok, so I uploaded web site v3 and it looks ok. Have to fill it with luvly luvly content now! I also sorted out archiving with blogger, although I can't get it to automatically create the list of past archives for some reason?
Started reformatting the library reference to look the same, too, but that's going to be a long job, as I don't know any Perl script or anything and so it's all gunna be by hand :( Got as far as all the contents pages and about a dozen C function pages!
:: Steve Parnell 9:19 AM [+] ::
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Will be uploading first cut of the new style web site today. Better get something up to work and change than to make it perfect before uploading - cos then it would never get uploaded!
:: Steve Parnell 10:34 AM [+] ::
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Started the re-design of my home page.
:: Steve Parnell 9:26 AM [+] ::
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Completed maths for hardware section with simpler examples, and continued through old C tutorials, covering #define, arrays and strings and starting random numbers (need to cover timing for seed number).
Scanned the printed User Guide doc to get up to date and identify where to start on the YUG's graphics section.
Also, compiled the saved interesting newsgroup posts into subject groups for easier integration into the YUG.
Really need to get web page updated so I can start using and posting to it again.
:: Steve Parnell 12:05 PM [+] ::
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Wrote a maths for hardware section, explaining hex, binary, bit shifts and logic, boolean logic, two's complement for negative numbers, little and big endian conventions and so on. I've also now been through all the NGs I marked and exported out to text files the interesting posts. Haven't done any graphics or sound NGs though, but freetalk is done, which is the biggest by far!
:: Steve Parnell 5:27 PM [+] ::
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Completed the sections in the C Programming Tutorial on loops, if-else, etc. Nearing the end of stuff I can do without programming any graphics! Ooo - I'm scared!
:: Steve Parnell 10:06 AM [+] ::
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In my insomnia (woke at 3am after getting to bed around midnight!), I rewrote the first chapter and a half of the C Programming tutorial, "C is for Yaroze". Originally written as "C is for Architecture" for a lecture course delivered to postgraduate Diploma architecture students at the University of East London, aimed at teaching C using AutoCAD as the programming platform, I'm adapting it for the Yaroze. Topics covered so far include just the basic basics - .c and .h files, libraries, #include, the pre-processor, types and typedef, functions and variables, main and printf. It's going alright!
I really do need to get the web page going again though so I can publish bit by bit.
At work, we are investigating how best to produce docs, help, web content, tutorials etc and will use some sort of XML editor for content creation, with some fancy wizardry for producing the various content from a single source. I'd like to use this for this Yaroze User Guide project too, so everything gets published to the web as and when.
:: Steve Parnell 10:02 AM [+] ::
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Exposed! Went onto the home pages section of netyaroze-europe.com only to find Javier has updated his page with the Max 4 exporter I built for him, and he's named me as the builder (~arkitekt :) )!
Damnation. I may have to actually post something and pop my head up above the parapet again now.
I was working on a new web page style the past couple of days anyway. Keep it simple - much in line with these blogger pages. Need to find a simple free tool to compose them with now, though. The old fave Frontpage Express that got installed with Win98? Or just notepad & html?

Started re-crafting my C tutorial and converting it from learning C with AutoCAD for architects, to learning C with Yaroze for gamers. "C is for Yaroze"! Will have to start exporting the interesting newgroup items to a text file now, and then start going through the 2D and 3D graphics NGs and do the same thing, searching for interesting info.
Thought I might call my new site Holy Yaroze - it's got a ring to it. Then George's 10 tutorials could be the 10 steps to heaven :)
:: Steve Parnell 11:14 AM [+] ::
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Almost finished the peripherals chapter.
Done writing up the controllers section, based on da Bain's sections 1 and 5 of his tutorial chapter 1.
Wrote up some info on memory cards, although haven't tested any code. Referred most of it to Scott Evans technical note 8 - no point in re-inventing the wheel when there already exists a perfectly round one!
Left the CD-ROM section for later. Da Bain has 2 sections in chapter 3 on it, and I thought I'd better get stuck into some graphics and more interesting stuff. Stop beating up the bush (or some phrase like that :0 ) !
:: Steve Parnell 8:36 PM [+] ::
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Sunday 01.09.02 thru Saturday 07.09.02:

Peripherals section documented.
:: Steve Parnell 8:29 PM [+] ::
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Sunday 25.08.02 thru Saturday 31.08.02:

Carrying on from my successful eBay purchase of a 17" Sony monitor fro my PS2 Linux, I kinda decided to start collecting old computers and video games. I started my computing career on a Sinclair ZX80 when I was about 10 years old and sold it for £10 a few years later. They go for hundreds now! How I'd love to get one again, as well as the old Atari 2600 with wood grain effect and so on. Might go down to the retro gaming exhibition in London sometime, or perhaps catch it in Edinburgh later. Bought an old 64-bit Atari Jaguar anyway to start the collection - the failed console that nobody bought!

As far as Yaroze goes, I wrote up the "Development Environments" and "Making Programs" sections this week. Getting dangerously close to actually having to understand some code. I covered the usual siocons and gnu environments, but also Yaroze Master, ARS and NiceARS, did some initial testing of the gdb debugger and I think gave quite a comprehensive account of the whole scene's tools.

I've finished going through the newsgroups - at least those that are related to setting the thing up and getting started. I've marked interesting threads for later compilation into something, but that's where it stays for now. Next week... peripherals!
:: Steve Parnell 3:30 PM [+] ::
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Sunday 18.08.02 thru Saturday 24.08.02:

Tried my PS2 with HDD and network adaptor installed on a variety of monitors here at work. I work for a computer graphics software company (NavisWorks Ltd, an offshot of LightWork Design), so there are plenty of old monitors kicking about under tables. Not one worked! Dragged it back home, realising I was trying to boot off CD2 instead of CD1! Dragged it back again at the weekend, but still no real monitors worked, other than the lush Sony CPD-L181 18" LCD that I use every day. At least I could install Linux and chec it was all working, but still no luck for a home monitor. Thought the CTX VL700 17" looked promising at under £100, but the manufacturer claimed it wouldn't work with SOG. Hit on the bright idea of looking at eBay and entered the cavernous world of online auctions! Fantastic! Managed to find a Sony Multiscan 17sf II which of course was tested working from the monitor database. Secured it for £40 (+£25 postage!). It arrived, and worked. Kewl! Also bought a new PCI network card from Maplin for Rosie's PC and installed that, as well as an HP CD re-writer, my old Wacom tablet and my iPAQ on her machine. Managed to link up her WinME and my Win98 machines through the hub but didn't have the courage to try the PS2 too! Then I had to re-arrange my study yet again to accommodate more hardware. Oh well, it's all set up and working now, so 2 distractions to keep my from having a life.

xnview (from www.xnview.com) is a freeware graphics viewer that I discovered reads TIM files! Doesn't save as though, but does come with a free SDK for writing plugins to read files, so might venture into this some time. Perfect for Yaroze, just like gmax on the 3D side.

Top-level outlined the YUG as:
Introduction
Setting Up (Getting started, Development environments)
Making Programs
Peripherals (Controller, Joystick, Memory cards)
2D Graphics
3D Graphics
Maths
Game Play
Sound
Programming (C, C++, Assembly)
Troubleshooting, FAQ & NGs
Literature

Wrote the Introduction and Getting started sections, as I was going through the old set up routine again, but polished them off here. Will aim to use George Bains' comprehensive sample code for the outline of learning Yaroze programming, alongside any other tutorials I can find - particularly Ira Rainey's sprite tutorial and Peter Passmore's 3D doc. However, I'll write my own explanations around these - particularly George's, as he concentrates on code rather than explanations.
:: Steve Parnell 9:23 AM [+] ::
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Sunday 11.08.02 thru Saturday 17.08.02:

Played around with my old Word (97!) and learnt how to set up master & sub documents properly, and also all about templates. Sorted one out to use for this GNYMP doc project. How about YUG (Yaroze User Guide) as a name instead? Sounds a bit better methinks.
Anyway, back to the point...

Really spent this week going through all the SCEE and SCEA sites, marking any interesting news items to go back to later and going through all the personal web sites and ftp sites, downloading. Slowly creating an area on my PC at work where I'm downloading all this stuff too, so I can create one momma CD of Yaroze resources. Cut the first version for reassembling at home. The aim is to reassemble it into a useful learning and developing resource.
My first docs are about setting up the Yaroze - both hardware and software, and the "Getting Started" stages. Siocons, gnu, debugger, Action Replay, home brew enviornments etc.

At the same time as re-re-learning the Yaroze, I'm interested in playing with PS2 Linux. I had already bought the Linux bit from Interactive Ideas, but still didn't have a PS2. I had ordered a PS2 from Amazon, but it didn't work with memory cards, so I returned it and it got replaced and turned up again this week, as did a copy of Paint Shop Pro 7 from Amazon - only about £35!! Thought it would be useful for images and remembered that there were some plugins to read/write TIM files for PSP. Unfortunately, though, neither of my monitors sync-on-green, which means I have to "invest" in a monitor that does, so that I can install and run PS2 Linux. More on this later...
:: Steve Parnell 6:26 PM [+] ::
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