Psion and ROM cartridges

[RalfR]

Thanks folks for various bits of info on this. I've learnt other things along the way.

The RPM manual (on Dilwyn's site "QLiberator") gives an example how to put EXEC programs resident into RAM, so you can start them with a command, say, type in e.g. "QUILL" and Quill starts. Maybe this also meets your requirements.

[dilwyn]

A wild thought on this which came to mind just now. Not thought through at all, so I'll just float it for those with better knowledge of this to consider.

Ralf mentioned whether or not the Xchange / separate progs were re-entrant (i.e. not self-modifying code). If they are, it might be possible to have them "running" in the EPROM area, possibly?

Many years ago, when Page Designer 2 was being supplied on microdrive by Sector Software, the executable was too big for one MDV, the code was split between two cartridges. So both loaded into heap memory one after the other to "rebuild" the job. Then used MT.CJOB (Trap #1, D0=$1) to create a job from it, and then activated the created job using MT.ACTIV trap (Trap #1,D0=$A). Somewhat unorthodox of course, probably quite naughty in fact.

No idea if this would work in an EPROM above RAM in memory.

• 1. would the operating system manage to start such a job executing outside and above RAM in upper memory?
  2. what would happen when the job eventually terminates or is removed? It's possible the system might try to reclaim the job's memory and all sorts of things could probably happen.
  3. would such a job running in EPROM in upper memory beyond RAM manage to start itself up (e.g. would it be able to allocate its required heap memory in normal RAM or whatever)?

I don't mind being told I'm talking through my nether regions with this post!

[RalfR]

Many years ago, when Page Designer 2 was being supplied on microdrive by Sector Software, the executable was too big for one MDV, the code was split between two cartridges. So both loaded into heap memory one after the other to "rebuild" the job. Then used MT.CJOB (Trap #1, D0=$1) to create a job from it, and then activated the created job using MT.ACTIV trap (Trap #1,D0=$A). Somewhat unorthodox of course, probably quite naughty in fact.

A bit OT but that was the way, Martin Berndt has supplied Turbo-XChange for MDV user.

And to be OT:
The Liberation Software "RPM" manual gives an example to put Quill in an 64k Eprom. I do not know, if they have ever tried it, but I hope so....

[Wicksy]

Sorry to bring this back. I just wanted to add a couple of points for anyone that comes across this.

A recent short convo with Jan Jones I had on what the 128K add-on card was going to be, she said it was a long time ago but they added lots to the design "just in case".
There's a few business apps and early games that could of fitted in to 128K, but it looks like an awkward process taking a card in and out, so likely it would be for something you'd leave in the QL?

The only pure ROM board I know of released was the GST 32K O/S board with room for applications as well, am not sure on the total.
Qflash were reportedly seeking software houses for their eprom board around '86, the obvious one's would have been grouping together various 16k utilities.