Very Computer

Hello,

I am planning to port a 2D CAD system (URL:
http://users.pandora.be/desi-iii), now freeware,  to a Linux environment,
but I have a few (a lot) of questions:

First of all: the program is written in MS-Fortran 5.1, which fortran should
I use ? -- don't ask me to convert to C, I have then two years work with the
conversion alone (360 modules) -- what do you think about Absoft, Salford or
Intel (I have tried gcc -> too much troubles with equivalence statements) ?.
If possible freeware, then DESI-III for Linux will be freeware, else if I
have to invest in a compiler, DESI-III will become shareware)

Second: Can I have direct access to video memory with VESA standard calls ?
I have a few assembler routines to convert: save and restore a part of the
screen, draw lines and draw pixel text in some variations. Where can I find
info ? Or can I find a decent free and fortran compatible library ?

Third: Can I read from the mouse via system calls, which buttons are
activated, how many steps did the mouse in X and Y since the last "mouse
call".

If all this can be solved, watch my site!

Thanks for your info and help.

Hugo

I have only tried g77 and that worked for the small amount of Fortran
code I ran through it.

Quote:> Second: Can I have direct access to video memory with VESA standard calls ?

No. Linux is a general purpose multi-user protected OS. It will not allow
any arbitrary program to change the screen behind its back.

Erik
--
+-----------------------------------------------------------+

+-----------------------------------------------------------+
#!/bin/sh
unzip ; strip; touch ; finger ; mount ; gasp ;
yes ; more ; umount ; sleep ;

On the bright side, if he can somehow use OpenGL, it'll work great, and
there won't be any need for asm.

I'd encourage you to give g77 a second try. MS Fortran 5.1 is
nearly 15 years old, I cannot believe that g77 cannot handle
code that 5.1 handles. BTW, If you have trouble with equivalence,
I would strongly suggest to look for bugs. It's a part of a
language that requires utmost discipline. Once you start using
equivalence for commons (e.g. store into one set, read from
other set), the code becomes utterly unmaintainable and unportable.

Quote:> Second: Can I have direct access to video memory with VESA standard calls ?
> I have a few assembler routines to convert: save and restore a part of the
> screen, draw lines and draw pixel text in some variations. Where can I find
> info ? Or can I find a decent free and fortran compatible library ?

Google for SVGAlib. You also might want to think about porting
to X11 Window System. For your application, perhaps you may
do with raw Xlib.

Quote:> Third: Can I read from the mouse via system calls, which buttons are
> activated, how many steps did the mouse in X and Y since the last "mouse
> call".

If you go with SVGAlib, I strongly suggest not to use /dev/mouse
directly and read from gpm pipe instead. Read gpm's man.
Once you port to X11, the problem solves itself.

-- Pete