Poll: help me choose QL projects

A place to discuss general QL issues.

What QL projects should I work on next?

Q-emuLator 4.0 with cycle-accurate emulation and more new features (85% done)
17
30%
Release MDVRAW image format to support non-QDOS mdvs, improve logic trace converter (75% done)
5
9%
YouTube videos e.g. recovering mdvs with mdump, how the IPC works, etc. (1% done)
3
5%
QL video card prototype (20% done)
6
11%
Free limited (128K QL and MDV) emulator for Raspberry Pi Zero (70% done)
3
5%
Arcade game for the QL (early 80s arcade port, 50 fps) (75% done)
14
25%
Complete ZX83 (partial ROM of pre-release prototype)+JS_or_PM ROM and release it. (70% done)
2
4%
ROM port Raspberry Pico attachment (ROM switcher, wifi MDV, etc.) (35% done)
1
2%
Add 'QemuFast' JIT CPU engine option (4x speedup, less compatible) to Q-emuLator, investigate QLiberator and other issues (60% done)
4
7%
Other (add in comment)
1
2%
 
Total votes: 56

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Pr0f
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Re: Poll: help me choose QL projects

Post by Pr0f »

I did see that, but was after something even more simple perhaps - so literally to be able to input and outbit bit values from checkboxes / indicators

A bit simplistic perhaps, but I would find something like this useful just as a - "yes your output got called"

But all in all - I like Qemulator and find it useful for testing ideas and developping QL code on the laptop (sshh - the QL purists will hang me out to dry!)


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Andrew
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Re: Poll: help me choose QL projects

Post by Andrew »

Which are the new features that will be present in Q-Emulator 4?


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M68008
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Re: Poll: help me choose QL projects

Post by M68008 »

Andrew wrote: Tue Sep 02, 2025 10:14 pm Which are the new features that will be present in Q-Emulator 4?
Largest one from my point of view is the accurate QL timing. It took me a long time to study and replicate the interaction of CPU, ZX8301/video and IPC. It's been a good excuse to buy more QL hardware and electronics :)
Other features: QSound, MDVRAW, a surprise exotic feature and a few quality of life improvements.

Anything you'd like to see?


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Andrew
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Re: Poll: help me choose QL projects

Post by Andrew »

M68008 wrote: Tue Sep 02, 2025 10:39 pm
Andrew wrote: Tue Sep 02, 2025 10:14 pm Which are the new features that will be present in Q-Emulator 4?
Largest one from my point of view is the accurate QL timing. It took me a long time to study and replicate the interaction of CPU, ZX8301/video and IPC. It's been a good excuse to buy more QL hardware and electronics :)
Other features: QSound, MDVRAW, a surprise exotic feature and a few quality of life improvements.

Anything you'd like to see?
Not really, I am very happy with the current (registered) version.
Maybe a couple of "nice to have":
- a SuperGoldCard setting in the Speed menu
- To have different predefined default directories for QEmulator configuration files (for "Open Configuration" and "Save Configuration"), for ROMs and for mdv/flp/win images. Now the file manager opens the last opened directory on the computer, so each time I have to navigate to the drive and directory where I store the ROMS or to the directory where I keep the config files, and then navigate back to the drive and directory where I keep the flp/mdv/win images, to load one.

A bit more details
1. Add in QEmulator configuration values for :
- Default Configuration directory
- Default ROM Directory
- Default Images Directory
2. When the user clicks on "Open configuration" or on "Save Configuration" then the File Manager should open the default (preset) Configuration directory
3. When the user clicks on "Select..." button for Main Rom, Back ROM or Ext ROM then the File Manager should open the default (preset) ROM directory
4. When the user clicks on a drive and then on 'Attach Directory', 'QXL Hard Disk File', 'ZIP/QLPAK Archive', 'MDV Image' or 'Floppy image' then the File Manager should open:
- the last opened directory, if one was already opened in the current session and used for loading
- the default Images directory, if no previous open+load operation was performed in this session


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M68008
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Re: Poll: help me choose QL projects

Post by M68008 »

Andrew wrote: Tue Sep 02, 2025 11:23 pm - a SuperGoldCard setting in the Speed menu
It would not be very precise anyways (only "QL Speed" will be)... maybe in the future. Do you have a SGC to run benchmarks? At the moment, I only have GC.

Andrew wrote: Tue Sep 02, 2025 11:23 pm - To have different predefined default directories for QEmulator configuration files (for "Open Configuration" and "Save Configuration"), for ROMs and for mdv/flp/win images. Now the file manager opens the last opened directory on the computer, so each time I have to navigate to the drive and directory where I store the ROMS or
Yes, this bothers me, too! :)
I was afraid automatically doing something else would confuse users... maybe making it a user option as you suggested (and also making it optional) would be the safer solution.


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dilwyn
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Re: Poll: help me choose QL projects

Post by dilwyn »

I am happy with QemuLator for Windows as it stands, but I do agree with what Andrew has said about Super Gold Card speed emulation and the directories/configuration issues.

Personally, I'd like to be able to run extended resolutions (the Aurora and Q60 modes) in a window rather than having to switch to full screen as at present. But that's not so important.


thorsinclair
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Re: Poll: help me choose QL projects

Post by thorsinclair »

Hi,

am interested in the arcade game, thanks. Is there any more info you could announce?


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M68008
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Re: Poll: help me choose QL projects

Post by M68008 »

thorsinclair wrote: Wed Sep 03, 2025 2:35 pm am interested in the arcade game, thanks. Is there any more info you could announce?
It's a relatively unknown game, generation and complexity are comparable to pacman.
First version will probably need a QL or emulator as it takes over the machine and uses the QL pixel aspect ratio. Could be adapted later to play nice with all other systems.


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Andrew
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Re: Poll: help me choose QL projects

Post by Andrew »

M68008 wrote: Wed Sep 03, 2025 12:37 am It would not be very precise anyways (only "QL Speed" will be)... maybe in the future. Do you have a SGC to run benchmarks? At the moment, I only have GC.
Yes, I have both GC and SGC, so I can run some benchmarks for you. Just tell me what you need.


Derek_Stewart
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Re: Poll: help me choose QL projects

Post by Derek_Stewart »

Hi,

I missed the Poll, but I would be interested in all the projects, I am mainly biased to towards hardware.

I have completed the Aurora conversion to Altium Designer, and just correcting the warning in Altium for the PCB file, and draw the schematic, then transfer to KiCad.

But there is a lack of good software on the QL, so anything new would be great.

Qemulator is excellent as it is, maybe as mentioned, high resolution modes without full screen.


Regards, Derek
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