ISO Loader 0.8.x Beta + preview of DreamShell v4.0 RC 5

[VeraBecker]

(12.08.2023 16:22)dcFANpro писал(а):  Как скачать новый загрузчик?

you mean the new dreamshell? it's here https://github.com/DC-SWAT/DreamShell/releases , just go to the "ASSETS" section and download DreamShell_v4.0.0_RC5.zip.

[dcFANpro]

Есть вопросы касаемо загрузчика:
1) Какие форматы образов поддерживаются?
2) Какие жёсткие диски подходят? LBA28 или LBA48?
3) Запуск игр с флешки тоже обновился?

[SWAT]

(13.08.2023 18:05)dcFANpro писал(а):  Есть вопросы касаемо загрузчика:
1) Какие форматы образов поддерживаются?
2) Какие жёсткие диски подходят? LBA28 или LBA48?
3) Запуск игр с флешки тоже обновился?

1) По идее здесь без изменений, но на не оптимизированных образах могут быть проблемы в некоторых играх, поэтому в идеале использовать ISO или GDI OPT чтобы получить максимальную совместимость. Особенно если образы будут не фрагментированны на файловой системе устройства.
2) LBA48 нужно для максимальной совместимости. Я бы сказал что рассматривать LBA28 как вариант не стоит.
3) Да конечно, новый загрузчик есть и для SD и для CD, помимо IDE. Но SD не очень хороша для CDDA, так как там медленный PIO жрущий ресурсы, он тормозит игру, особенно если не конвертировать треки в ADPCM. Ну и не поддерживает никакие MMU игры, в том числе WinCE и некоторые системные вызовы на ней не могут работать, опять же некоторые игры их используют.
Но тем не менее, новые фичи у SD загрузчика тоже есть (скриншот и эмуляция VMU) и поддержка CDDA тоже должна быть получше.

[VeraBecker]

Hi @Swat / @Megavolt85

Doubt, I'm reviewing the code, the Oct 4, 2021 version... I know it's already obsolete, but it may happen in the current one... I've seen a strange behavior playing "Evil Twin" when I do these steps:
1.- I enter the Iso Loader
2.- I close the Iso Loader
3.- Run the Evil Twin shortcut from the desktop.
4.- In the second cinematic the dreamcast is restarted.

But if I don't enter the IsoLoader, just run the Evil Twin shortcut, I can play without any problem.

I think you are not freeing the memory needed, when you close the IsoLoader

I also think it could be the following code.

Check function: arch_shutdown vs isoldr_arch_shutdown, and I have seen that arch_shutdown contains more code. (before comparing defragment the internal calls of the functions).


if(__kos_init_flags & INIT_MALLOCSTATS) {
malloc_stats();
}

Does it initialize the memory or clear it?

I would like to fix this problem, to get a little experience in the code from there.

PD: "This weekend I'm going to try to download, tweak to compile that version "

Thanks!

[SWAT]

@VeraBecker
After launch iso loader firmware, what in the memory doesn't matter, game uses it as they needed and all of them.
The memory allocation doesn't shared between DS and Game because DC doesn't have an OS that always works.
Only ISO loader firmware can use the same memory as game through special mode for the Heap param named as KATANA heap.
But the observation is good, perhaps the state of the hardware is different after some manipulations.

malloc_stats just print debug info to dev console. It's disabled for DS in general, because it's needed for debug only.
You look at the Core level, but all these problems should be solved in the iso loader firmware I think.
It is necessary to set the state of the hardware more correctly before launching the game binary, not the loader.

[VeraBecker]

(16.08.2023 08:26)SWAT писал(а):  @VeraBecker
After launch iso loader firmware, what in the memory doesn't matter, game uses it as they needed and all of them.
The memory allocation doesn't shared between DS and Game because DC doesn't have an OS that always works.
Only ISO loader firmware can use the same memory as game through special mode for the Heap param named as KATANA heap.
But the observation is good, perhaps the state of the hardware is different after some manipulations.

malloc_stats just print debug info to dev console. It's disabled for DS in general, because it's needed for debug only.
You look at the Core level, but all these problems should be solved in the iso loader firmware I think.
It is necessary to set the state of the hardware more correctly before launching the game binary, not the loader.

Thanks, so the behavior is strange, it happened to me that it left a pointer to an address in Windows applications, and since it didn't leave it in NULL, depending on what I did, the program sometimes crashed, that's why I thought it was some object that it starts in the IsoLoader and that it stays in memory, anyway I'm going to try to check it over the weekend.

[SWAT]

(16.08.2023 08:41)VeraBecker писал(а):  Thanks, so the behavior is strange, it happened to me that it left a pointer to an address in Windows applications, and since it didn't leave it in NULL, depending on what I did, the program sometimes crashed, that's why I thought it was some object that it starts in the IsoLoader and that it stays in memory, anyway I'm going to try to check it over the weekend.

There is a possibility that the game has some kind of bug that manifests itself if the memory is not filled with zeros.

[VeraBecker]

@Swat,

I don't understand, how did you know that Dreamcast could read a hard drive and also that you could put alternate bios on it?

Did you work on any SEGA projects?

[SWAT]

(16.08.2023 17:42)VeraBecker писал(а):  I don't understand, how did you know that Dreamcast could read a hard drive and also that you could put alternate bios on it?

ATA IDE research by OzOnE: http://www.dc-swat.ru/blog/hardware/874.html
BIOS mod research by CVGS and MAG’94: http://www.dc-swat.ru/blog/hardware/16.html
SD/SPI over serial research by jj10dm: http://www.dc-swat.ru/blog/hardware/14.html

I'm just write software for it

(16.08.2023 17:42)VeraBecker писал(а):  Did you work on any SEGA projects?

I made simple game 3DanCer, Region Changer (later I port it to DS as application) and port Fenix engine. Also I made some utility for PC like Sega Stream Extractor or Universal PVR Extractor/Patcher and some packs with software. You can look here: http://www.dc-swat.ru/page/download/
But it's all very old my works. I have been doing only DS for a very long time and helping a little with KOS.

[VeraBecker]

Ah ok!! @Swat, I understand, other people investigated the peripherals, and from there the idea of ​​developing the KoS and DS began.

Although you still had to know which drivers to use to be able to read the hard drive, sd, etc. For example, knowing how to use the instructions of the processor, ram to be able to make the presentation layer, knowing which addresses to start to run the games, how did you know? Hahaha, I know, I'm getting off topic testing
but it's interesting.

DS you did it or you started it and you keep making adjustments but KOS, who did it?, you too with other people?

[SWAT]

(18.08.2023 01:18)VeraBecker писал(а):  Although you still had to know which drivers to use to be able to read the hard drive, sd, etc. For example, knowing how to use the instructions of the processor, ram to be able to make the presentation layer, knowing which addresses to start to run the games, how did you know? Hahaha, I know, I'm getting off topic testing
but it's interesting.

A lot of research and reverse-engineering, read all existing documentation (unofficial and official) and all existing codebase. Also did a huge bunch of tests and got help from different people. I spent a lot of time on this.

(18.08.2023 01:18)VeraBecker писал(а):  DS you did it or you started it and you keep making adjustments but KOS, who did it?, you too with other people?

KOS is older project than DS and it's not my child. I'm just contributing to it.
The original author of KOS is Dan Potter (Megan Potter). But he did not participate in it for 20 years, there are already many people who had a hand in it. So this is a collective project now. But there are main contributor Lawrence Sebald (aka BlueCrab) who took over this project from native author.

[VeraBecker]

@Swat

So, cruelly speaking, if you walk out of this life, almost 100% sure that DS will too? Same with Lawrence Sebald and KOS.

[MilkeyWilkey]

(18.08.2023 19:15)VeraBecker писал(а):  @Swat

So, cruelly speaking, if you walk out of this life, almost 100% sure that DS will too? Same with Lawrence Sebald and KOS.

I think megavolt is in here for some help, and also there are forks like retrodream, but I guess this is like vim, one man's life project. no man, no dreamshell

[MannyMania]

(18.08.2023 22:36)MilkeyWilkey писал(а):  

(18.08.2023 19:15)VeraBecker писал(а):  @Swat

So, cruelly speaking, if you walk out of this life, almost 100% sure that DS will too? Same with Lawrence Sebald and KOS.

I think megavolt is in here for some help, and also there are forks like retrodream, but I guess this is like vim, one man's life project. no man, no dreamshell

Correct me if I'm wrong but Retrodream needs Dreamshell. I don't want to even think about work stopping on Dreamshell!! @Swat Thanks for all the hard work and dedication!!!!

[VeraBecker]

(20.08.2023 03:53)MannyMania писал(а):  

(18.08.2023 22:36)MilkeyWilkey писал(а):  

(18.08.2023 19:15)VeraBecker писал(а):  @Swat

So, cruelly speaking, if you walk out of this life, almost 100% sure that DS will too? Same with Lawrence Sebald and KOS.

I think megavolt is in here for some help, and also there are forks like retrodream, but I guess this is like vim, one man's life project. no man, no dreamshell

Correct me if I'm wrong but Retrodream needs Dreamshell. I don't want to even think about work stopping on Dreamshell!! @Swat Thanks for all the hard work and dedication!!!!

Exactly, I don't want to detract from it but RetroDream is just a menu with a very practical design but in the end what makes the games work is Dreamshell.

Although it is also a very good point that Megavolt has the ability to contribute a lot but all the knowledge of years is brought by Swat.

[SWAT]

(20.08.2023 04:08)VeraBecker писал(а):  

(20.08.2023 03:53)MannyMania писал(а):  

(18.08.2023 22:36)MilkeyWilkey писал(а):  

(18.08.2023 19:15)VeraBecker писал(а):  @Swat

So, cruelly speaking, if you walk out of this life, almost 100% sure that DS will too? Same with Lawrence Sebald and KOS.

I think megavolt is in here for some help, and also there are forks like retrodream, but I guess this is like vim, one man's life project. no man, no dreamshell

Correct me if I'm wrong but Retrodream needs Dreamshell. I don't want to even think about work stopping on Dreamshell!! @Swat Thanks for all the hard work and dedication!!!!

Exactly, I don't want to detract from it but RetroDream is just a menu with a very practical design but in the end what makes the games work is Dreamshell.

Although it is also a very good point that Megavolt has the ability to contribute a lot but all the knowledge of years is brought by Swat.

Not only Lawrence Sebald has access to the KOS repository, so the project will live on since it has a number of contributors. Also to DS repository has access megavolt85 and maybe I'll give it to someone else at some time. But yes, if projects lose contributors, it's always sad.

[SWAT]

@VeraBecker
I moved dev environment questions to separate thread:
http://www.dc-swat.ru/forum/thread-4035.html

[VeraBecker]

(23.08.2023 11:15)SWAT писал(а):  @VeraBecker
I moved dev environment questions to separate thread:
http://www.dc-swat.ru/forum/thread-4035.html

Perfect, more clean, thanks Swat.

[VeraBecker]

Hi @SWAT / @megavolt85,

It is a direct question for you because you are the ones who have been in development lately.

Is it good or bad or is it the same to truncate a game to prevent it from being 1GB in size?

I have seen that they decrease the size a lot when truncating it.

Thank you.

[megavolt85]

the read speed of the disk at the end is higher, so all unused space at the beginning of the disk was filled with an dummy file.
when using HDD or ODE, an dummy file takes up space without any benefit.