RR.EXE beta Page

updated 31.08.2002

This Page contains some info mostly valueable for developers and maybe some interisted betatesters. Please notice that all files on this page are considered beeing heavily "beta" - For the official releases go to ar.c64.org.

This Page is also contained in the release packages for everyone to have a look at what the fuzz is all about ;=)

history todo list

release packages:

beta-releases will be available as dos-, win32-, or i86-linux executeables depending on my current workflow. once the code is more stabilized it should be no problem to compile all these versions in one go. Ports to several other operating-systems (such as amiga-os, and mac-os, maybe risc-os) are planned, but sheduled to a (much) later date - don't bother complaining yet :o)

Also please notice that all public releases of rr.exe have support for targets other than the C64 disabled for now.

current development version:
  • 0.5beta - (core files) 31.08.2002
  • 0.5beta - (i86 linux binaries) 31.08.2002
  • 0.5beta - (win32 binaries) 31.08.2002
  • 0.5beta - (msdos binaries) 31.08.2002

    unpack the core files and binaries into the same directory (preserving subdirectories in the zip), then read rrhelp.txt for further instructions.

    older versions: (please always check if problems didnt occur in previous versions)
  • 0.4beta - (win32) 11.12.2001 (win32) 18.12.2001
  • (win32) 0.3beta

    please notice that all files linked here are included in the release packages, so there is no need to download them seperatly.

    Info related to the Retro Replay Cartridge
    • Inside_Replay.txt
      technical specification of the Retro-Replay Hardware, written by Jens Schoenfeld.
    Info related to NULLMODEM / RS232 Cables

    Info related to the SilverSurfer serial interface:

    Info related to the RR Host Software:
    • rrhelp.txt
      rr.exe manual, this is what you read if you press F1 in the debugger.
    • rr.ini
      example rr.exe configuration-file, some hints about setting up the program are hidden in here.
    precompiled binaries of all c64-programs can be found on the supplied disc-image target.d64.

    test-programs:
    • "testterminal" rrterminal.s
      simpliest terminal loop... use that for connection-testing.
    • "termdump" rrdump.s
      even simpler, prints recieved data as hexcode.
    The first thing you should do whenever you installed a new version of rr.exe (or for any other reason why you aren't sure that the connection works) is testing the link using dump terminal mode.

  • load "testterminal" on the c64 and run it.
  • type rr term on the host-commandline.

    now whatever you type on the c64 should show up in the host console, and vice versa. possible reasons for failure maybe:

  • wrong port-setup in rr.ini.
  • on a serial connection you aren't using a full null-modem cable. please notice that cheap 3-wire connections will NOT work.


    Using the debug-stub
    • "debugstub$ce00"
      development version of the debug stub, jump to $ce00 for quick test or transfer or periodically call $ce03 from whithin your own code. - this will be fully integrated into the rr-rom in the future.
    • rrtest.bat rrtest
      batchfile/shellscript for testing general functionality.
    The debug-stub is a little program that runs on the target, waiting for commands recieved from the host. In other words, for any of the remote- functionality to work, the debug-stub must be running.

  • load "debugstub$ce00" on the c64 and start it at $ce00, the c64 is now ready to recieve commands from rr.exe.
  • to test your setup (and demonstrate functionality) type rrtest on the host-commandline. The test first checks if transfer works without errors, then uses the provided example batchfiles for showing a koala-picture and playing a sid-tune, and finally starts the debugger.

  • use "debugstub$ce00" and rr.exe in a simelar way for any of the other provided functions.


    Using the generic debug library

    The generic debug library (written in Ansi-C) consists of a generic debug-stub aswell as a good bunch of functions for using the generic console-fileserver. Any standard-compliant compiler should be able to translate this code, for the c64 i am using cc65.

    To use this library, the host should be running rr.exe in console-mode with the fileserver switched to "generic" mode.
    • "debuglibtest" debugtest.c
      generic debug-library test program.
    please notice: i am busy working on cleaning up this code (among a dozen other things) so please be patient... library and sources will be there when they are ready.


    Some examples on how to abuse the rr.exe program for different purposes.
    • rrkoa.bat rrkoa
      batchfile/shellscript that shows a koala pic on the c64 with just the help of the debug stub.
    • rrsid.bat rrsid
      batchfile/shellscript that plays a sidtune on the c64.
    • sidplay.s
      source of the little sidplay helper program.

    3rd party applications supported by rr.exe

    Retro-Replay Flash-Tool (by Countzero)
    The Flashtool has an option to update the eeprom via the serial cable. To use this feature proceed the same way as if flashing from disc, except in the final step you first choose "flash from silversurfer" in the mainmenu, and then type rr flash newrom.bin on the host commandline.

    serial slave (by Magervalp)
    another attempt to implement a fileserver via a serial line. rr.exe supports most of its basic functionality, but not all. (in other words, you can use c64 programs written for the serial slave, to do this you have to be in console mode and the fileserver set to "serialslave")

    cc65 suite (by Ullrich von Bassewitz)
    this is a full featured cross-development suite, ranging from a powerful assembler to an almost fully ansi-c compatible c-compiler. full support of debug information, possibly also sourcelevel debugging is planned for a later revision of the debugger.

    if you still got any questions, drop me a mail (w)2002 Groepaz/Hitmen.