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From: jlee@clyde.ICS.UCI.EDU (Joseph) Subject: [GNO/ORCA] Virtual Shape Compiler v1.6.5b47 [01/01] Message-ID: <9505081206.aa05934@paris.ics.uci.edu> Newsgroups: comp.binaries.apple2 Lines: 1341 Date: 8 May 95 19:07:48 GMT This is the fast and dirty VSC (Virtual Shape Compiler) system to compile sprites into asm code compilable by ORCA/M. It will generate the best optimal sprite code to draw/erase sprites from the screen using the stack-blasting techniques of GS graphics programming. A editor that can create/edit icon files and can copy/paste icons from the clipboard is required. Certain programming tricks dealing with GS hardware/software interfacing have been used to squeeze as much speed out has been incorporated. Large amount of register caching (up to 4 registers, or 8 bytes of data in sets of 2) is used in a semi-intelligent fashion to keep as much of data cached unchanged as possible. This basically means that VSC generates relatively the fastest and most compressed executable code possible in comparison to other sprite compilers, i.e. Mr. Sprite, etc. Not only fast sprite code, but a recent addition of a feature (11/19/93) makes compiling the generated sprite code fast. All those who have used ORCA/M and Merlin know how slow ORCA/M is. Well, VSC generates all the sprite data as HEX codes instead of ASM codes so that ORCA/M compilation speed is somewhat easier to stand (being that sprite files for Star Command GS consist of lots of 300k files that take a while to recompile). A nice interface to this compiler would've been nice, but I don't have the time to finish the one in the works. Instead, this compiler was expressively designed to compile resource-based icon files as the intermediary stage. This has a few advantages. Tt lets you use any paint program you want to create your graphics and save in any format. Then you cut-and-paste your drawn graphics (using a scrapbook, The Manager, SwitchIt!, MultiGS, or some other program) into some icon editor that supports icons from the clipboard. There, in the icon editor, you define and edit the mask to your sprite, VSC the icon file, and voila, a self-sufficient, self-contained, sprite code segment fully optimized for speed and size. Joseph -- <Anime Expo '95 Staffer> <http://www.tcp.com/~prisoner/ax.html for info> -- jlee@clyde.ics.uci.edu | Have you watched your Koko wa GreenWood, Yotoden, -------------------------+ Gundam 0083, Bubble Gum Crisis/Crash!, Video Girl II(> Creative 'Ware <)II | Ai, Tenchi Miyou, Ah! My Goddess, Maison Ikkoku, Cal-Animage Epsilon VP | PatLabor, Ranma 1/2, and Five Star Stories today?