FreeBasic DOS and VESA graphics

MystikShadows · Post by **MystikShadows** » Jun 16, 2005 10:38

This is also a question about FB DOS graphics in general :-). Just want to know where things are at as far as that's concerned. is there anything done, or being done etc etc....

Where can I see the existing code for graphics in DOS and so on and so forth :-). Is there anything in the unstable 0.14b recent compilation?

DrV · Post by **DrV** » Jun 17, 2005 12:50

Well, there is no complete VESA interface completed yet in the DOS gfxlib driver, because I'm trying to get the standard VGA (320x200x8) and Mode X (320x240x8) drivers to work (and all of the shared code, like the keyboard and mouse handlers). Once that's done (it's almost ready now), I'll do a release; then I'll start on VESA support. Thanks for asking. (Never fear, the DOS gfxlib driver will be here...) :)

You could try grabbing the code that's in the CVS now, but I would be very careful because it does not lock all the data and code accessed in interrupt handlers, so if they get paged out a page fault will occur and crash/lock the system... as long as you have enough free physical memory (or a DPMI host with paging turned off), you'll be okay, but 'caveat emptor', as they say...

MystikShadows · Post by **MystikShadows** » Jun 17, 2005 13:44

Kewl. for now I'll just wait for that to be done for my VESA needs :-).....

DrV · Post by **DrV** » Jun 17, 2005 13:58

Good, I actually have someone that will use it... gives me a reason to write it. :) (BTW, I've been afk for the last couple of days preparing for college, taking placement tests, etc... so there's been no activity on the code.) But anyway, expect a release (not with VESA, though) within the next few days if all goes well. I need to test on some more (slower) hardware, too; if it works on my 486, it'll work anywhere... :P The first release with VESA will probably only work on systems that have VESA VBE 2.0+ with a linear framebuffer, though banked support will be added later.

MystikShadows · Post by **MystikShadows** » Jun 17, 2005 14:36

Yup I will use it.....graphics modes and extended text modes too (like 132x60 text characters :-)....so you got a beta tester and a fan, in me! ;-)

etko · Post by **etko** » Jun 27, 2005 23:32

Extended text modes would be cool! :)

Frobozz · Post by **Frobozz** » Jun 28, 2005 12:57

Yeah - get this done and you can start making GUIs with FreeBASIC that have access to all the memory in DOS. :)

MystikShadows · Post by **MystikShadows** » Jun 28, 2005 13:48

yup exactly :-)......I might have an idea but it wouldn't be too functional in 650x480...at least 800x600 but ultimately, 1024x768 would be perfect :-)

DOS386 · Post by **DOS386** » Jul 03, 2005 0:50

Will FBC support hi-res & hi- & true-color graf-modes ??

Modes 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024 with 8, 16 24 and 32 bits
(as long as supported by graf-card of course) ???

I found out that this is a big problem in many prog-languages,
many of them do not support more than 8 bits :-(

DOS386 · Post by **DOS386** » Jul 03, 2005 0:52

"Yeah - get this done and you can start making GUIs with FreeBASIC that have access to all the memory in DOS. :)"

YES - that is what I also intend. Nice DOS software, not incredibly long
commandlines...

yetifoot · Post by **yetifoot** » Sep 11, 2005 7:25

im also interested in using VESA in dos, have some working code in c that works with DJGPP, have been trying to port it.

one problem i get though (not VESA) is when i poll the mouse under XP it crashes out immediatly.

etko · Post by **etko** » Sep 11, 2005 13:40

I once found article where it was said that in plain RMODE/PMODE on x86 machines after startup (this means plain DOS too) all AGP cards are set to standard PCI mode which max transfer rate is 32 MB/s. However through some register hacking it is possible to check which AGP mode VGA supports and turn it on. After turning AGP on, transfer rate for VRAM writes will increase respectively. This could be interesting for hires modes, as 33 MB/s might be limiting for GUIs in very high resolutions like 1280x1024@32Bit. Obviously this register magic will work only in plain DOS as all new OSes block access to these registers. Info required to implement this might be perhaps found in linux community. What do you think? Is this worth the effort and implemetation?

DOS386 · Post by **DOS386** » Sep 11, 2005 16:23

one problem i get though (not VESA) is when i poll the mouse under XP it crashes out immediatly.

??? I would suggest to use EITHER DOS OR XP
Well, what are you going to do if the next "great" product of M$
(XP 64, Vista) has no "DOS" box at all ???

I once found article where it was said that in plain RMODE/PMODE on x86
machines after startup (this means plain DOS too) all AGP cards are set to
standard PCI mode which max transfer rate is 32 MB/s. However through
some register hacking it is possible to check which AGP mode VGA
supports and turn it on. After turning AGP on, transfer rate for VRAM
writes will increase respectively. This could be interesting for hires modes,
as 33 MB/s might be limiting for GUIs in very high resolutions like
1280x1024@32Bit.

Is this the same as so called "MTRR" ?

Obviously this register magic will work only in plain DOS as all new OSes
block access to these registers.

No problem :D

What do you think? Is this worth the effort and implemetation?

Maybe ... when the graphics works well without this and it is really needed
... as far as I know this is a problem for video playing.

yetifoot · Post by **yetifoot** » Sep 14, 2005 1:13

i see what your getting at, my programs are intended for dos, but im developing in xp, so i like to test the programs without rebooting to DOS, i use dosbox but that gives me a pitifull 3fps...

mjs · Post by **mjs** » Sep 14, 2005 2:11

Use QEMU and install a DOS (FreeDOS or DR-DOS 7.03) on this virtual machine. The execution speed of QEMU is much higher than the speed of bochs.

Regards,
Mark

FreeBasic DOS and VESA graphics

FreeBasic DOS and VESA graphics

VESA graphics

GUI

GUI & DOS