Added docs for the Commodore 610

[cc65] / doc / cbm610.sgml

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<title>Commodore 610 specific information for cc65
<author>Ullrich von Bassewitz, <htmlurl url="mailto:uz@cc65.org" name="uz@cc65.org">
<date>2003-12-16

<abstract>
An overview over the Commodore 610 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 CBM 610 runtime system as it comes with
the cc65 C compiler. It describes the memory layout, CBM 610 specific header
files, available drivers, and any pitfalls specific to that platform.

Please note that CBM 610 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.

In addition to the Commodore 610 (named B40 in the U.S.), several other
machines are supported by this cc65 target, since they have identical
hardware: The Commodore 620 and 630 (more memory, additional coprocessor
card), and the Commodore 710, 720 and 730 (same hardware in another case with
a builtin monitor).



<sect>Binary format<p>

The standard binary output format generated by the linker for the CBM610
target is a machine language program with a short BASIC stub. This means that
a program can be loaded as BASIC program and started with RUN. It is of course
possible to change this behaviour by using a modified startup file and linker
config.


<sect>Memory layout<p>

cc65 generated programs for the Commodore 610 run in bank 1, the memory bank
reserved for BASIC programs. Since there are no ROMs in this memory bank, the
program has almost full 64K for its own. A disadvantage is that kernal
subroutines cannot be called (at least not in a fast and effective manner), so
the runtime has replace kernal functionality.

The default memory configuration for the CBM 610 allocates all memory between
&dollar;0002 and &dollar;FFF0 in bank 1 for the compiled program. Some space
in low memory is lost, because a separate hardware stack is set up in page 1,
and the kernal replacement functions need some more memory locations. A few
more bytes are lost in high memory, because the runtime sets up a CBM
compatible jump table at &dollar;FF81. The main startup code is located at
&dollar;0400, so about 63K of the complete bank are actually usable for
applications.

<bf>Note:</bf> The zero page from &dollar;02 to &dollar;5F is free to use for
applications!

Special locations:

<descrip>
  <tag/Stack/
  The C runtime stack is located at &dollar;FF81 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 CBM 610 specific code may use the <tt/cbm610.h/ or
<tt/cbm.h/ header files. Using the later may be an option when writing code
for more than one CBM platform, since it includes <tt/cbm610.h/ and declares
several functions common to all CBM platforms.

Please note that because of <ref id="limitations" name="current limitations">
of the runtime library for the platform, several standard C and CBM functions
are not available.


<sect1>CBM 610 specific functions<p>

The functions listed below are special for the CBM 610. See the <htmlurl
url="funcref.html" name="function reference"> for declaration and usage.

<itemize>
<item>peekbsys
<item>peewsys
<item>pokebsys
<item>pokewsys
</itemize>


<sect1>CBM specific functions<p>

Some functions are available for all (or at least most) of the Commodore
machines. See the <htmlurl url="funcref.html" name="function reference"> for
declaration and usage.


<sect1>Hardware access<p>

The following pseudo variables declared in the <tt/cbm610.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.

<bf>Note:</bf> All I/O chips are located in the system bank (bank 15) and can
therefore not be accessed like on other platforms. Please use one of the
<tt/peekbsys/, <tt/peewsys/, <tt/pokebsys/ and <tt/pokewsys/ functions to
access the I/O chips. Direct reads and writes to the structures named below
will <em>not</em> work!

<descrip>

  <tag><tt/CRTC/</tag>
  The <tt/CRTC/ structure allows access to the CRTC (the video controller).
  See the <tt/_6545.h/ header file located in the include directory for the
  declaration of the structure.

  <tag><tt/SID/</tag> The <tt/SID/ structure allows access to the SID (the
  sound interface device). See the <tt/_sid.h/ header file located in the
  include directory for the declaration of the structure.

  <tag><tt/ACIA/</tag>
  Access to the ACIA (the RS232 chip) is available via the <tt/ACIA/ variable.
  See the <tt/_6551.h/ header file located in the include directory for the
  declaration of the structure.

  <tag><tt/CIA/</tag>
  Access to the CIA chip is available via the <tt/CIA/ variable. See the
  <tt/_6526.h/ header file located in the include directory for the
  declaration of the structure.

  <tag><tt/TPI1, TPI2/</tag>
  The two 6525 triport chips may be accessed by using this variable. See the
  <tt/_6525.h/ header file located in the include directory for the
  declaration of the structure.

</descrip><p>



<sect>Loadable drivers<p>

<bf>Note:</bf> Since the CBM 610 doesn't have working disk I/O (see <ref
id="limitations" name="section &quot;Limitations&quot;">), the available
drivers cannot be loaded at runtime (so the term "loadable drivers" is
somewhat misleading). Instead, the drivers have to be converted using the
<htmlurl url="co65.html" name="co65 utility"> and statically linked. While
this may seem overhead, it has two advantages:

<enum>
<item>The interface is identical to the one used for other platforms
      and to the one for the CBM 610 once it has disk I/O.
<item>Once disk I/O is available, existing code can be changed to load drivers
      at runtime with almost no effort.
</enum>


<sect1>Graphics drivers<p>

No graphics drivers are currently available for the Commodore 610 (and since
the machine has no graphics capabilities, chances for a graphics driver aren't
really good:-).


<sect1>Extended memory drivers<p>

<descrip>
  <tag><tt/cbm610-ram.emd/</tag>
  A driver for the RAM in bank 2. Supports up to 255 pages with 256 bytes
  each. Untested!
</descrip><p>


<sect1>Joystick drivers<p>

The Commodore 610 is a business machine and doesn't have joystick ports. There
are no drivers for the non existing ports available.



<sect1>Mouse drivers<p>

Currently no drivers available (in fact, the API for loadable mouse drivers
does not exist).


<sect1>RS232 device drivers<p>

Currently no RS232 drivers exist for the Commodore 610.



<sect>Limitations<label id="limitations"><p>


<sect1>Disk I/O<p>

The existing library for the CBM 610 doesn't implement C file I/O. Please note
that this includes <tt/printf/! You may use the conio functions for screen I/O.

To be more concrete, this limitation means that you cannot use any of the
following functions (and a few others):

<itemize>
<item>fclose
<item>fgets
<item>fopen
<item>fread
<item>fprintf
<item>fputc
<item>fscanf
<item>fwrite
<item>gets
<item>printf
<item>...
</itemize>


<sect1>Kernal and hardware access<p>

Since the program runs in bank 1, and the kernal and all I/O chips are located
in bank 15, calling ROM routines or accessing hardware needs special code.



<sect>Other hints<p>

<sect1>Passing arguments to the program<p>

Command line argument passing is currently not supported for the Commodore
610.



<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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