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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
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