I've been thinking about making a new fractint that is more portable. The existing code would be stripped of all user interface stuff so just the math routines, drawing algorithms, etc. remained. Then it would draw to a block of memory that represented the screen. Another program would link to this "fractint library" and provide the UI. So far, I think wxPython and Python would work pretty well for the UI, and SWIG could tie the C and Python together. Of course, all of these things are cross platform (Windows, Linux, OS X). I'm really not much of a programmer, but I'm going to give it a shot this summer. On 3/25/06, David Fisher <sunfish@intercom.net> wrote:
Tim, If I understand your e-mail properly, this is what I have, and have had since 1996, ie, I have DOS on an independent HD. The drive is removeable, in it's own case, and when I want fractals I insert the DOS drive; when I want windows I insert the windows drive. Neither one sees the other. My old system, a P2 333mhz was this way (and I still have it and it works fine, but slowly.). I had a new system made especially to crunch numbers in an high resolution but the architecture of the hardware combined with the fact that DOS drivers are not available for video and audio that are compatable with the hardware seems to be my problem. I have video resolutions which won't quit, and primo audio on my windows hard drive. Video resolutions exceed 75 different displays in windows, from low to high, 8 to 64 bit, etc. Audio sounds good and plays everything that I attempted so far. The DOS drive is another matter, and there seems to be no remedy. My audio is built in on the motherboard and my old Sound Blaster software doesn't work with the audio chip. I can't install an old PCIA (?) (the older larger pcb) because the slots are no longer being placed on the newer boards, and the newer cards, such as Blaster Live 24bit will not work in a DOS environment. This last straight for Creative Labs when I contacted their customer service. I have never, repeat, never used fractint with windows; always had either straight DOS, or a removeable HD with DOS on it when I was forced to have windows to surf. (I guess I could have avoided windows, there are other ways to get on the web, but the effort would have been more than I was(am)willing to make--so being lazy I was forced.) When I boot my DOS drive on my new system all the USB ports are active from the bios, but not accessable with DOS. I use dosshell ( I know, I'm the last of the dionsaurs) but I have had it since DOS 4, and it will work in windows XP (xx) but I had to change the display resolution to see it in windows. The DOSx that windows XP uses is not really DOS. Had the same problem with my DOS drive because the video hardware just won't use the resolution I had on my old system, and there are not any drivers available that I could find as a workaround. So, with my zip drives, one serial on the old and new system, plus one on the usb port on my new system I manage to transfer files and get to the ssystem that has the resolution that I need. Also of note-my small printer (8x11) works both in DOS and windows, but my printer that handles large paper will not work except in windows, and there are no drivers for DOS. (Both HP printers) What I was suggesting with my first e-mail was a kernel that is not limited by 640k rom on boot; that is not tied to EMS or XMS memory. Something, an OS, which would use whatever memory and chip facilities were available to run fractint. Make it an integral part of the fractint program, and then fractint would live forever because all the stuff needed for running would be there, and not dependent on IO's from whomever decided that this was the way it should be. An OS that would run, and use the resources available completely to the fullest extent that they were present, not just a program, as now, that hooks on to existing code. And while I've got the soapbox just let me close with this.....We all know what BS is. MS is more of the same, and I think XP means extra problems.
David M Fisher ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tim Wegner" <twegner@swbell.net> To: "Fractint and General Fractals Discussion" <fractint@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: 25 March, 2006 12:58 Subject: Re: [Fractint] Seeking a vid adapter mode
I wrote:
I'm sure the bootcd approach is possible. The flash drive idea is more bleeding edge. I know some computers can boot Linux from a thumb drive, not sure about DOS.
Geesh, I should have researched this first. A google search for "boot usb flash drive dos" turn this up:
http://www.weethet.nl/english/hardware_bootfromusbstick.php
So once you get a computer with a BIOS that can boot from a USB thumb drive, the DOS Fractint could live forever, and you could carry it around with you!!!
Tim
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-- Thanks, Jonathan Kotta Hofstadter's Law: It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter's Law.