Doors CS 6.1

[elfprince13]

I tried Doors CS, and I have to say it looks impressive. However, I will probably not be using it because the GUI is a tad unpractical (only 6 things on the screen at once and mouse control takes some getting used to) and it takes a whopping 32K, where MirageOS and CrunchyOS take only 16K.

Just my 2 cents, definitely not meant as a flame.

you know you don't have to use the mouse? and the extra page is nearly all libraries for programmers to use that in the long run saves space in programs designed for it....

[KermMartian]

Thanks for the feedback, leofox. I don't know that 32k really counts as "whopping" compared with 16k though.

[threefingeredguy]

Thanks for the feedback, leofox. I don't know that 32k really counts as "whopping" compared with 16k though.

Well it is double the size and takes up a quarter of the memory.

[Timendus]

When's Timendus coming to tell me how much I suck?

I'm sorry, I'm not as often around anymore as I used to be. I've got a life now, and stuff. But I'll gladly come tell you how much you suck from time to time

- Mouse: funny if you're hooked up with a PS/2 mouse, but since 99.7% of all users don't bother soldering the required connector (or looking stupid walking around with their calc on a leish for that matter) I'd say it's a very impractical way of input on a calculator.
- 16k of libraries: I love the idea and the effort, but the fact of the matter is that developers like their stuff to be portable to other shells or calculator models, which is entirely impossible if they rely on Doors CS libraries. So nobody will be using them outside your loyal fanbase. Which makes it a waste of space. And which makes having an open source library at compile-time much more logical.
- Interface being user friendly: With all the icons and text cramped up on the screen, the ugly mouse cursor and the possibility of using a wallpaper the screen is practically unreadable and unintelligable. On this kind of device "intuitive interface" actually means "Simple menu with options 1 till 5 in big font". This goes with remark one (mouse).
- Amazing stability: I sure hope you got a long way since last release if you're making claims like these
- "Link", "multiplayer", "gCn": How much of that is actually working? Is it actually possible to play multiplayer games with your routines, with two calcs or with more? Or even to transfer a file without relying on the Ti-OS routines? Have you proven that any of it works, or are you just expecting "it'll work" and already making the claim because probably nobody will check it (or be able to check it) anyway?

Would that be enough for today?

I have to be honest though: The little boy in me is slightly jealous of Doors CS, because I wanted to make something a little like this about 6 years ago. In fact, that little boy got all the way to having a desktop with a start menu, a wallpaper, a cursor, a settings panel and ideas for an embedded GUI system in greyscale before he realized that it was completely impractical for the target device and it would end up taking up way to much space (having a Ti-83 without flash memory). But still, the little boy is slightly jealous that you managed to finish it.

The rational mind in me though just can't stop wondering when you'll finally come to the same conclusion that it's impractical and bloated...

[CDI]

I concour. 32k is too much to do what 16k does so very well. CrunchyOS [ my shell of choice aside from Ion if I _have_ to use it. ] is smaller, faster, easier, and the programs are just as small [ yay compresson ].

If DCS6 had USB mouse support, it might be a little better. And I think you are really making a proof of concept that is useless to the average user who will never see gaming outside of MirageOS.

[Halifax]

I agree with Timendus at some points and I used to totally disagree with this program. But I concur to say that it actually came in handy in a time I never thought it would. I finished a whole 4 page outline in DocDE 6 in school and then printed it out in the library so I say this program is pretty useful for procrastinators who like to do their homework in school And yes your right the libraries make it so the programs are completely unportable to any other shell but that's why people make two versions. The people who want to. People make ports. I really do agree with the cramped issue though.

[KermMartian]

You can make the portability argument for anything else though, for example MirageOS. When MOS came out, it would have been equally valid to claim that all its routines would break previous Ion-derivative-shell compatibility.

And Timendus, sounds good, and thanks for the honesty. And yes indeed, debugging (re: stability) came a long way since previous versions.

CDI: it does have USB support. In fact, elfprince13 is almost done with a Shell Expansion (SE) for USB mice.

[elfprince13]

clarification: the USB support requires USB8x, however making calls to multiple apps really isn't that hard, and anyone with an 84+ shouldn't be having troubles with archive space anyway.

I'm also working on a thumbdrive browser program to integrate with the DCS desktop.

[Delnar_Ersike]

Well, since DCS6 allows you to connect more than 2 calcs at once at a decent speed, I was thinking if tr1p1ea could release a DCS version of SSB, so more than two people can play at once...

When I looked at the screenshot with the lock, archive, folder, etc. options near the start menu without the text, I actually liked that better than the current one.

Also, I think DCS's popularity will shoot up if gCn is finished (you own little laptop in school...maybe somebody will even modify his/her calc to contain a wireless adapter! ).

IMO, it's a real pain in the a** to use folders and such because DCS can only display 6 programs at once, and often times you have more than 10 programs. Also, the mouse either is accurate but slow or fast but unprecise.

Me doesn't want a lot of eyecandies: Me wants a lot of useful features!

[Timendus]

You're welcome, Kerm. Glad to hear it's more stable now.

I think you're absolutely right about MirageOS routines being equally useless. That's probably why nobody uses them. The difference is probably that with MOS the libraries were added because the author had bytes to spare, where you intentionally added another page for it.

You'll understand that I am rather interested to know the answer to my question:

"Link", "multiplayer", "gCn": How much of that is actually working? Is it actually possible to play multiplayer games with your routines, with two calcs or with more? Or even to transfer a file without relying on the Ti-OS routines? Have you proven that any of it works, or are you just expecting "it'll work"

Which brings me to another question: is DCS open source? Or it's libraries?

[elfprince13]

CN2.2 does work fine, there have been news articles on Cemetech with screenshots of various demo-y things running.


also, DCS and all its libraries have their source files publicly available, but its licensed so you can only use them for learning purposes--you can't borrow the routines.

[Timendus]

CN2.2 does work fine, there have been news articles on Cemetech with screenshots of various demo-y things running.

Cool, can you point me to any?

also, DCS and all its libraries have their source files publicly available, but its licensed so you can only use them for learning purposes--you can't borrow the routines.

I had no intention of doing so, I was just curious at the source and at Kerm's stance on open source.

[elfprince13]

Calcnet progress: http://www.cemetech.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=13

I believe the "Cemetech shall rule the world" topic has a screenshot of one calculator receiving a transmission from another.





the most recently uploaded copy of the source is here: http://www.cemetech.net/doorscs/docs/source/ although it looks like it hasn't been updated in about a month.

I don't want to dig for the huge discussion on it, but the license is here:

+---------------------------------------------------+
| Doors CS Source Code License |
| ============================ |
| |
| Last Modified June 4, 2006 |
+---------------------------------------------------+

++----------++
|| PREAMBLE ||
++----------++
This license applies to any and all possible pieces of the assembly, basic, and other language
computer code, associated documentation, ideas, and intellectual property created, designed,
and/or written by Christopher Mitchell, programming alias KERM MARTIAN. Any and all use and
reuse of this code for a purpose other than release of a compiled version by "Kerm Martian"
himself is governed by this agreement. Any attempt to use or reuse this source code or compiled
code for release under "Kerm Martian" or another name must be explicitly approved by "Kerm
Martian", except if such use or reuse has been previously approved by "Kerm Martian".

By opening, downloading, or viewing this document or the source code of DOORS CALCULATOR SHELL
("Doors CS"), THE USER ("you") implicitly agree to the terms of this license agreement (LICENSE or
AGREEMENT). If you do not accept the terms of this agreement, you are to immediately delete any
source code you have viewed, downloaded, or cached. This license does not covered the compiled
Application version of Doors CS, which is released with its own license agreement.

All legal rights accorded copyrighted or protected works not expressly covered in this document are
reserved by "Kerm Martian". Note that while Doors CS is partially open-source, the original code
remains copyright "Kerm Martian". However, as stated below, portions of the code may be reused as
long as all strictures stated in this license are followed.

++--------------++
|| AVAILABILITY ||
++--------------++
The Doors CS source code shall be openly available to the general public after May 31, 2006. This
availability cannot be applied to past Doors CS releases, although the author, "Kerm Martian", may
choose to make such source code available at his own discretion. The source code may be found on
Cemetech, http://www.cemetech.net, or http://doorscs.cemetech.net. If the code is not found there,
the author may be contacted to obtain the full source code. At any point, "Kerm Martian" may
choose to return Doors CS to closed source status, in which state the code would not be released to
any programmer, user, or other individual, corporation, or legal body whatsoever. Such a change
would be accompanied by an updated license and at least 1-week notification on
http://www.cemetech.net.

++--------------++
|| COVERAGE ||
++--------------++
This license covers the electronically-encoded, hardcopy, and any other instance of the source code
for the graphing calculator shell Doors CS, its derivatives, and its modules. This license does NOT
cover any program written to work with Doors CS by either "Kerm Martian" or any other user, group,
or organization. Certain portions of the code, including routines in whole or in part, have been
used with the permission of the original author(s). They may or may not be covered by original
licenses. A user wishing to use that code should contact those authors for permission to use their
code, or "Kerm Martian" may be able to contact the author on the user's behalf.

++--------------++
|| USAGE ||
++--------------++
Under abolutely no circumstances whatsoever may the source code of Doors CS may be recompiled in
whole or in part and released by an individual, group, or third party other than "Kerm Martian"
without express, expicit written permission from "Kerm Martian". Sections of code may be used in
other published projects only with the written permission of "Kerm Martian". The source code of
Doors CS may be freely examined and reverse-engineered only for constructive purposes. It is
explicitly illegal and contrary to this agreement to use any of the information covered directly or
indirectly by this agreement for malicious or harmful purposes.

Optimizations, corrections, and bugfixes to this code may be submitted to the author, "Kerm Martian".
Such items may be accepted or denies as additions or changes to the official source code maintained
by "Kerm Martian" for official releases at "Kerm Martian"'s discretion. As a general rule, good,
constructive suggestions will be almost definitely accepted.

++--------------++
|| UPDATES ||
++--------------++
Frequent changes are made to the Doors CS source code as development progresses. These changes are
mirrored in the released source code, but there might be a slight delay due to scheduling or "Kerm
Martian" forgetting to upload the source on any given week. New source code releases are generally
made after major changes or the addition of new features, and do not occur after minor bugfixes. If
you need an up-to-date version, contact "Kerm Martian".


License terms (c) 2006 Cemetech & Christopher Mitchell

[KermMartian]

Regarding the source being out of date: resolved that by uploading the latest source.

[Timendus]

I believe the "Cemetech shall rule the world" topic has a screenshot of one calculator receiving a transmission from another.

Ah, yes, that one with my diagnostic tool in the middle is pretty old. How's the pong clone coming along, Kerm? Any screenshots of that yet? Now that would be interesting (as in: coming close to serious competition for the CLAP).

Which raises another question: will you be giving me credit for done research and publication on the topic and used diagnostic software?

I don't want to dig for the huge discussion on it, but the license is here

Right... that would never hold up in real life, and it too is completely unnessecary in our calculator hobby world, but it does give a clear idea of Kerm's idea of releasing software. Perhaps that's why I like Maxcoderz more; people here don't act as if their lives depend on calculator software, and they just code for fun and share pretty much everything they discover/code...