Hi! Good news: I'm back on development of TRIANGULAR μOS for Commodore 128
I had finally finished my tour de TRIANGULAR μOS for older Commodore computers. Today I finished TRIANGULAR μOS 1.29 for Commodore Plus/4 (from inspiration of Robert). By this series 1.2x (as 1.0x and 1.1x) is completed.
For fanatics of my system I recommend redownload all versions released this summer/autumn because I've made some very small patches and documents updates to all of them recently (this not include 1.29 for Plus/4 - because it is new and 1.35 for C128):
TRIANGULAR μOS 1.09 for Commodore PET:
triangular-uos.blogspot.com/2023/08/os-1.htmlTRIANGULAR μOS 1.11 for Commodore VIC-20 5KB (unexpanded):
triangular-uos.blogspot.com/2023/09/triangular-os-111-for-commodore-vic-20_12.htmlTRIANGULAR μOS 1.16, 1.17, 1.18 and 1.19 for Commodore VIC-20 8KB, 13KB, 21KB and 29KB (3KB, 8KB, 16KB and 24KB RAM:
triangular-uos.blogspot.com/p/triangular-os-for-commodore-vic-20.htmlTRIANGULAR μOS 1.27 for Commodore 64:
triangular-uos.blogspot.com/2023/09/triangular-os-127-for-commodore-64.htmlTRIANGULAR μOS 1.28 for Commodore CBM-II:
triangular-uos.blogspot.com/2023/10/triangular-os-128-for-commodore-cbm-ii.htmlTRIANGULAR μOS 1.29 for Commodore Plus/4:
triangular-uos.blogspot.com/2023/11/triangular-os-129-for-commodore-plus4.htmlI enjoyed CBM-II, this is most exotic, challenging and sluggish 8-bit Commodore machine. Imagine C128 in 1Mhz mode without all that BASIC 7.0. And BASIC 4.0 is really PET-like. There is scarce information about it, but thanks to David Viner website I've been able to create it. Robert only P/500/VIC-II version, since I do not plan to release 80 column version yet (it will be when I will switch to C65 and MEGA65).
Plus/4 is also great. BASIC 3.5 should be standard with VIC-20 (color, sound, joy commands at least), while 7.0 standard with C64. BASIC color palette (C= / CTRL + 1-8) was slightly disappointing (4 greens and no gray!). But I love these 121 colors, can't wait for start of C65 development. I also like concept of automatic CPU boost form .88 to 1.77 MHz when TED draws border. And disk drives both of them much faster than 1540/1541 of VIC-20/C64, but still 1581 is by far top notch.
It take me some time since either it was good weather and I didn't had motivation to stay indoors in my spare time or I was busy (especially recently). Nonetheless, development of μOS for machines older than C128 is definitively closed.
So I'm going back into Commodore 128 version.
Through course of developing those revisited (and new) versions I've corrected some issues that apply to Commodore 128 version. Version 1.35 for C128 is still the same June PaCommEx 2023 version and is not/won't be updated.
Next version of TRIANGULAR μOS for Commodore 128 will be 1.36, which itself will be patch of 1.35 as planned.
Current state of TRIANGULAR μOS 1.36 for Commodore 128 development:
- Revisited series goal: just one change .doc to .txt > DONE
- Revisited series goal: add folder with disk files for easier SDIEC operations > TODO before release
- Minor bugfixes (including those spotted when preparing revisited releases: 1.09 to 1.29) > DONE
- Bug preventing moving windows up and left > TODO
- Bug destroying setting window when moved > TODO
- I will try to add music to STAR WARS game engine > TODO
- Updated documentation
I will try to release it quickly (by the end of this month). I have more time, weather is not good and Christmas nostalgia kicks in so I should find some time for development of TRIANGULAR μOS this winter.
I also plan to add voice video. I planed to do for videos of previous versions (they even had simulated disk sounds), but time consuming adding narration to videos that present same operations over and over was not optimal for me. But 1.36 will have proper voice walkaround video this time. And if I will like it I will squize some narrated video about μOS history or about smallest GUI OS ever (1.09 and 1.11).
Then 1.36 should be even more stable version on which 1.40 for Commodore 128 will be based. For 1.40 I will present new theme called Brazil, and 1.40 and whole series 1.4x will be named after that theme Brazil. I already had 3 pages of Word document containing ideas of improvements (bigger and smaller) that I will implement in 1.4x series. And although I planned fewer releases there should be at least 5 or more. For example 1.40 was scheduled for new theme, parting on modules, BASICALLY API expansion, and addition of Mouse setting. But according to new plan version 1.40 will bring theme and demodulation with possibility of new game in place of boring TREASURE CHAMBER (I'm thinking about F1 race game GP BRAZIL), 1.41 will have BASICALLY API expanded and 1.42 will introduce Mouse settings. Further versions will introduce custom fonts etc.
Later will be series 1.5x for C65 and 1.6x for MEGA65. With version 2.00 I will start converting 100% BASIC code to ML.
