Heading:qjk40(635) Mesa 6.0 Pre Alpha Test Change Summaryy756qjk40\b38B Page Numbers: Yes X: 527 Y: 10.5"qjk40 Inter-Office Memorandumz18592l4445y762\f5b To AlphaMesa Users Date May 19, 1980z18592l4445d2998e21(0,65535)(1,4445)(5,11684)(6,14146)\f7 2f0t2 1t0 15t6 1f7t0 4f0t7 1t0 From John Wick Location Palo Altoz18592l4445d2998y716e25\f7 4f0t2 1t0 9t6 1f7t0 8f0t7 1t0 Subject Mesa 6.0 Pre Alpha Test Change Summary Organization SDD/SS/Mesaz18592l4445d2998e25\f7 7f0t2 1t0b38t6B1f7t0 12f0t7 1t0 XEROX z18592l508y644e14(2116)\f2 5f0 Filed on: [Igor]PreAlpha60.bravo (and .press) DRAFTe30(0,16263)(1,65535)(5,65535)(6,65535)\f7 56f0 1f9b5f0B e10(2116) This memo outlines changes made in Mesa since the last release (Mesa 5.0, April 9, 1979); it summarizes important operational differences which you must know in order to use Mesa 6.0. A more complete change summary and the usual update memos are forthcoming.x2e12jk40(1799) Referencese18jk80\b In addition to this memo, preliminary versions of the Mesa 6.0 System Update, XMesa Update, and RunMesa Update are available on [Igor]Doc> as System60.press.x2e12jk40\128f8 21f0 4f8 14f0 Generale18jk80\b On large programs, performance of the Mesa 6.0 Compiler and Debugger on 64K Altos is considerably worse than in Mesa 5.0; an extended memory machine with a minimum of 128K is recommended.x2e12jk40\122i64I Alto Operating System version 17 and Executive version 10 or later are required to run Mesa 6.0. It is recommended that you obtain OS version 18 and Executive version 11 as soon as they are available.x2e12jk40 The new file creation date standard is now supported. The compiler inserts the creation date of the source file into the .bcd (as does the Binder), and the Debugger checks that the source and object file versions match. The IncludeChecker also makes use of these dates. Therefore, you must use an editor that supports the file date standard (e.g., Bravo 7.5).x2e12jk40\122f8 4f0 147i70I Languagee18jk80\b With two exceptions, Mesa 5.0 source files are compatible with Mesa 6.0. In file names in the DIRECTORY statement, names inside angle brackets are no longer ignored; they are treated as subdirectories of the Alto file system (use of this feature is not recommended). The order of the MACHINE DEPENDENT and MONITORED attributes in record declarations has been reversed; MACHINE DEPENDENT MONITORED RECORD is correct.x2e12jk40\95f7 9f0 182f7 17f0 5f7 9f0 54f7 34f0 Compilere18jk80\b The order of evaluation in expressions and constructors has been changed, particularly in cases involving imbedded procedure calls; it is no longer left to right. In particular, expressions of the form word _ get[s]*256+get[s] are suspect, and probably incorrect. For elements smaller than eight bits, the internal representation of packed arrays has changed.x2e12jk40\203f6 24f0 The Compiler no longer supports interactive command input; it reads commands only from the command line, and does not use the keyboard or display (feedback is via the cursor). The command language has been extended and switch processing has changed. The /c switch has been deleted; global switches must now be specified with a null file name, e.g. Compile /p Defs Impl. Switches are restricted to a single letter. Do not use complete switch names such as /pause (each letter will be interpreted as a separate switch). Until the full syntax of the command language is documented, it is best to group all global switches at the beginning of the command line following a single slash.x2e12jk40\256f8 2f0 92f8 20f0 48i41f8I6f0 The log is now written on Compiler.log, not Mesa.typescript; separate .errlog files are still produced. The error log (if any) is deleted if the compilation is successful; conversely, if the compilation fails, the .bcd (if any) is deleted.x2e12jk40\26f8 12f0 6f8 15f0 11f8 7f0 138f8 4f0 The implementation of floating point has changed considerably; the IEEE standard format is now used, and the compiler generates calls directly to user microcode (this will produce undefined results if the proper microcode is not present). Calls to software floating point as in Mesa 5.0 can be generated with the /-f switch. Do not use type REAL without first consulting with a floating point wizard.x2e12jk40\314f8 3f0 10i16f7I4f0i55I Because of bug fixes, previously acceptible programs may no longer compile.x2e12jk40 Bindere18jk80\b Like the Compiler, the Binder takes commands only from the command line and does not use the keyboard or display; it writes its log file on Binder.log.x2e12jk40\140f8 10f0 Compressed symbols files cannot yet be produced by the Binder.x2e12jk40 Systeme18jk80\b Mesa 6.0 is compatible with XMesa 5.0 microcode version 39 (but some new features are not available with this microcode, e.g. extended memory BITBLT).x2e12jk40\142f7 6f0 Features previously implemented by BasicMesa and XMesa are now a standard part of Mesa.image; MakeImage is no longer a part of the standard system, and must be loaded or bound with the client configuration.x2e12jk40\82f8 10f0 2f6b9f0B The standard system now supports only command line input; MesaExec can be loaded to provide interactive input. The command line switch /b can be used to convert the standard system to a basic one. The /k switch will disable the allocation of space for the Debugger's bitmap on extended memory machines.x2e12jk40\58f6b8f0B70f8 2f0 65f8 2f0 The default maximum numbers of processes (75) and modules (384) have been increased.x2e12jk40 Interface changes are described in the System Update memo.x2e12jk40 Debuggere18jk80\b The Debugger now requires a strike font named SysFont.strike or MesaFont.strike; a version of Gacha10 is available on MesaFont.strike. A program which produces strike fonts from most .al fonts is available (AlToStrike.bcd); see also [Maxc].x2e12jk40\46f8 14f0 4f8 15f0 39f8 26f0 51f8 3f0 21f8 14f0 12f8 17f0 The selection scheme and the assignment of function keys and mouse buttons has changed. Clicking RED once selects a character, clicking twice selects a word, three times a line, etc.; the selection can be extended to the left or right with BLUE. The menu button is now YELLOW (formerly BLUE). FL4 is no longer the stuff key; use FR4 (Spare2) or Keyset2.x2e12jk40\98f7 3f0 140f7 4f0 26f7 6f0 11f7 4f0 4f7 3f0 33f7 3f0 2f7 6f0 5f7 7f0 Scrollbars no longer occupy a dedicated part of the window, but instead come up on top of the left edge. To obtain a scroll bar, move left just past the edge of the window, then move right slightly, back into the window.x2e12jk40 New source window menu commands have been added, and they have been factored into several menus. The Debugger's wisk window has been replaced by a more general Split window menu command. There are now also Normalize Insertion and Normalize Selection commands.x2e12jk40\161f8 5f0 42f8 19f0 5f8 19f0 The interpreter can now be used when in Display Stack subcommand mode. Several commands now invoke the interpreter automatically (e.g., Octal Read: @p, n: SIZE[r]). The interpreter does procedure calls (the Interpret Call command has been deleted).x2e12jk40\40f8 13f0 84f8 26f0 46f8 14f0 The constructs LONG, POINTER TO, LOOPHOLE, MIN, MAX, ABS, and open and half open intervals have been added to the interpreter's grammar. Type expressions following % must be enclosed in parentheses. The interpreter syntax Expression? has replaced the Interpret Expression command.x2e12jk40\15f7 4f0 2f7 10f0 2f7 8f0 2f7 3f0 2f7 3f0 2f7 3f0 109f6b1f0B58f6b11f0B18f8 20f0 Break/Tracepoints can no longer be set by typing the source line, and the Break Module and Break Procedure commands and corresponding Trace and Clear commands have been deleted; the menu commands must be used. Clear All Entries/Xits clears both break and tracepoints. Tracepoints now automatically invoke the normal Display Stack command processor (with subcommand p(arameters)); the q(uit) subcommand (not b(reak)) exits to the Debugger's command level, it no longer continues execution of the client. Conditional breakpoints are not yet implemented.x2e12jk40\74f8 12f0 5f8 15f0 28f8 5f0 5f8 5f0 62f8 22f0 85f8 13f0 36f8 13f0 6f8 6f0 17f8 7f0 If the source window is loaded with the s(ource) subcommand the Display Stack, the window will remember the appropriate context for setting breakpoints.x2e12jk40\40f8 8f0 16f8 13f0 The Debugger no longer ignores case, and the case commands have been deleted; identifiers must be typed with their correct capitalization.x2e12jk40\78i60I x2e12jk40 Distribution: AlphaMesa Users Mesa Group SDSupportl3528d2998x2e12k40(2116)