C-BIOS 0.25

A new version of C-BIOS, the free system ROM for emulators, has been released only moments ago. New in this version, apart from the usual bug fixes:

C-BIOS now offers localized versions in the flavours English, Japanese and Portuguese
Bug fixes for compatibility with Mirai and Family Billiards
This version only compiles with Pasmo 0.5.3, due to lack of standards in assembler directives.

Relevant link: C-BIOS

Comments (19)

By pitpan

Prophet (3152)

02-02-2011, 09:01

Congratulations to all the developers! This is one of the most useful MSX developments so far. And I promise that this time I will read the licence agreement Already set and working in openmsx/Linux.

Too bad that no one is joining the team to come with French and Spanish C-BIOS versions. I've checked the source and it would be relatively easy to come with new localised versions.

But my excellent all-time super-hit G-MONKEY does work yet. I guess there is still some problem with MAPXY implementation, or the game core sequence: MAPXY, READC, RIGHTC, DOWNC, READC.

I'll try to provide more feedback regarding this issue and/or find a bugfix. Too bad only Pasmo is supported! But it is true that the lack of standard directives and/or syntax makes it quite difficult.

By mth

Champion (507)

02-02-2011, 10:36

By the way, C-BIOS is not just for emulators anymore. On the Nijmegen fair, OeiOeiVogeltje showed an NMS8245 running on C-BIOS. It wasn't the first time someone attempted this, but previously C-BIOS would send data to the VDP too quickly, causing graphics glitches on real hardware. The 8245 demonstrated that we have successfully fixed that issue.

By WORP3

Paladin (861)

02-02-2011, 11:44

I've tried the C-Bios running inside an MSX at the fair in Nijmegen and i must say it's a great achievement to say at least !
Even MSX-DOS and my MIDI-PAC utilities did run on that new bios ! wonderful job

It's an other great step in creating an whole new kind of MSX machine !

By Manuel

Ascended (18876)

02-02-2011, 18:54

Thanks for the complements on behalf of all authors! pitpan: your bug fix ideas or patches are most welcome, of course. As long as they are not based on the actual code of an original BIOS.

The Pasmo thing is unfortunate, but luckily, anyone can easily get a working Pasmo and go ahead with C-BIOS.

About French/Spanish versions: they are not of too much use right now, because the keyboard isn't very much used in ROM games. The localization is mostly targeted to interrupt frequencies, color setups and character sets (in that order for now). Of course this can (and probably will) be extended if necessary and interesting. But as I said, right now it's not too interesting yet. When a disk ROM (MSX-DOS!) or even a BASIC is starting to get developed, it will be much more interesting.

By Vampier

Prophet (2397)

02-02-2011, 19:40

pitpan: if you are interested join the c-bios team (we're almost all in #openMSX on irc.freenode.net)

We currently still have to have: disk implementation and some sort of basic implementation.

By iamweasel2

Paladin (707)

03-02-2011, 17:33

Good to know that there's a new version of C-BIOS.

Can you tell us what is still missing in C-BIOS so that it will be complete?

What about Basic, is there any plans to someday start its development?

Last, why not use Adriano's FastDisk Rom while there's no c-diskrom available?

By Manuel

Ascended (18876)

03-02-2011, 18:19

Can you tell us what is still missing in C-BIOS so that it will be complete?
What about Basic, is there any plans to someday start its development?

Basic and disk ROM is what is mostly missing. Basic only has tiny bits of starting points implemented.

Last, why not use Adriano's FastDisk Rom while there's no c-diskrom available?

Because we don't know whether that code is completely written from scratch (in order to give it the BSD license of C-BIOS).

By snout

Ascended (15187)

03-02-2011, 21:35

say, euhm.. the actual use of it aside... is it possible to make a turboR run C-BIOS in DRAM mode? ^_^

By mth

Champion (507)

04-02-2011, 17:43

The system vars kept by C-BIOS are intended to be compatible with the original BIOS. We don't use all system vars yet, but when switching from the original BIOS to C-BIOS that should not be an issue; for switching back it might be. C-BIOS does not have turbo R support yet, so if you'd run it in DRAM mode you'd not have the ability to switch back, meaning you're left with an MSX2+ effectively until you reset the machine.

One possible problem is how to do the actual switch. You'd have to make sure no addresses from within the BIOS are on the stack after the switch, since C-BIOS only has public routines and a select few private routines that are used by various games on the same addresses as the original BIOS; most routines are in entirely different places. You could solve this by letting C-BIOS boot as soon as it's installed, starting a game ROM image you have put into RAM or booting MSX-DOS.

It sounds like an interesting experiment. If someone tries, please publish your results.

By iamweasel2

Paladin (707)

05-02-2011, 04:34

Because we don't know whether that code is completely written from scratch (in order to give it the BSD license of C-BIOS).

Well, in the readme he says that he wrote it from scratch, but since he seems to be vanished from earth, we can't be sure...

By Manuel

Ascended (18876)

05-02-2011, 10:41

If he vanished, it is a big problem, because then he can't indeed confirm he wrote it from scratch, but even worse, he can't even agree to a license of the code...

By boukichi

Resident (33)

07-02-2011, 04:40

Congratulations on the release!!

I have an idea to use python to make a converter from BASIC to ROM, is anyone interesting?

sorry for kidding,but I just want to say them that thank you

By Manuel

Ascended (18876)

09-02-2011, 21:54

Thank you BouKiChi!

By WORP3

Paladin (861)

01-02-2012, 08:37

I think that C-Bios will get very interesting once i've got the Orbit OS running
Is there still some development going on on ?

By foody

Champion (446)

23-05-2014, 08:50

I still do not know what c-bios is all about. I mean what are the advantages of having c-bios? By the way, I like it like this with no disk rom and basic...and makes MSX truly A CONSOLE machine, hahaah! It would be nice to have basic in a separate rom or a make a custom catridge with build in support for disk and basic in a cartridge...giving the entire feeling of a console system

By Manuel

Ascended (18876)

23-05-2014, 11:31

The advantage of C-BIOS is that it has a license which permits you to distribute the ROMs freely. So you can (for instance) ship the C-BIOS ROMs with an emulator without violating copyrights (or asking for permission to the original copyright holder of the ROMs you want to ship to get an MSX running).

By foody

Champion (446)

25-05-2014, 07:57

Could you make this version of BIOS not have build in basic but have either a MSX OS GUI interface or make it like pure console where it only accepts ROMs? It would be cool to final confirm that MSX is really a console and not a computer.

By Manuel

Ascended (18876)

25-05-2014, 08:50

It already only accepts ROMs. More wasn't implemented. Try it in your favourite emulator.

(And what is a MSX OS GUI interface?)

By foody

Champion (446)

25-05-2014, 08:56

Yeah! Like keep it this way but a very attractive animated splash screen when no cartridge is inserted, to indicate insert cartridge after shutting down console first. Then make a very sexy looking console MSX hehe with this BIOS on mind I don't know I am just babbling here. Just throwing thoughts. As for GUI like msx 3 os for example

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