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FantasyLand

I recently added a demo of the Logitech Modula-2/86 Compiler (1984), because I wanted to recreate the IBM PC test environment that John T. Cockerham had used in his October 1986 PC Tech Journal article “Evaluating the EGA: The EGA Standard”.

I actually wanted to do that several years ago, when I first added EGA support to PCx86 (the PCjs emulation of the IBM PC), because Cockerham described two rigorous tests of EGA hardware compatibility that I would have liked to try:

FantasyLand, an EGA demo written by IBM in 1984
EGATEST, a program written by Cockerham himself in Modula-2

Cockerham describes FantasyLand:

IBM wrote FantasyLand in 1984 in order to demonstrate some of the more obscure features of the EGA. The program was distributed very selectively to dealers and sales representatives; it has never been a product intended for sale.

FantasyLand builds a large, 150-by-400-character virtual text screen in the EGA video RAM. The screen uses custom fonts to create a map of an imaginary continent, complete with rivers, lakes, mountains, and fantastic creatures like dragons and sea serpents. The illusion of bit-mapped graphics is great, but all the drawings actually are done with custom characters from a 25-by-80 window into the larger virtual text screen. The program allows vertical and horizontal smooth scrolling throughout the map by using the cursor keys, allowing the user to tour FantasyLand. Help screens are implemented with the EGA’s split-screen abilities and scroll smoothly up from the bottom of the screen when requested.

To make the test even more rigorous, FantasyLand uses the EGA’s switchable fonts to create animation effects. The program loads several copies of a custom font into memory, and an interrupt service routine cycles through the copies every four system clock ticks. Certain characters in the custom font have slight differences across the copies so that, when cycled, they give the illusion of motion–a dragon flaps his wings, smoke billows from a chimney, grass waves in the wind. By tying the animation directly to the system’s 8253 timer interrupt, font switching happens continuously, independent of CPU speed and divorced from other program operations. Rapid ongoing font changes, along with fast smooth scrolling in both directions, test subtle timing dependencies between subunits of the EGA.

Due to the “very selective” distribution of the program, FantasyLand has been impossible to locate. Even Cockerham seemed reluctant to tell us too much about the program. My guess is that Page 48 of the October 1986 issue displays a zoomed-in section of a FantasyLand screen, but it’s unattributed, so who knows. If you come across a copy of FantasyLand, please let me know.

So, given that FantasyLand seemed unattainable, I next turned my attention to Cockerham’s own EGATEST.

The October 1986 issue contains the EGATEST program listing, starting on Page 64, but who wants to type in all that code? And while the issue – like all our archived publications – has been OCR’ed, there’s always a significant number of errors in the Optical Character Recognition process.

Another option would have been to download the code from PC Tech Journal’s own “PCTECHline” – if we were doing this 30 years ago. Even back then, PCTECHline apparently wasn’t the the most reliable service. In fact, the very same issue of PC Tech Journal (Page 14) contains the following “Update/Apology”:

PCTECHLINE UPDATE

The telephone number for PCTECHline, now operating from our new Columbia, Maryland, office, has been changed to 301/740-8383. The PCTECHline number is always published in our masthead.

Improvements to our system are planned. Six telephone lines have already been installed in our new lab for this purpose; the lines will be put into service one by one as demand warrants. The bottleneck in our plan ning is our fondness for PCTECHline’s software; unfortunately, its current multiline capabilities are not to our liking. We hope that better solutions are forthcoming from the vendor, Micro-Systems Software.

Part of the plan is to increase the capacity and performance of the PCTECHline computer. We do not yet know how this will be accomplished. One idea is to install an RT/PC that has the performance to handle at least six lines and the necessary software (AIX) to control them. We would value the experience gained on the RT and users would benefit from the expansion of services it would allow.

We apologize for any disruption of service that may be caused by our move to Columbia or our experiments with new equipment and service. As always, we invite your comments and suggestions for PCTECHline. –WF

As it turns out, the simplest means of obtaining all the code was finding it in another online archive. A website called The Programmer’s Corner contains a Magazine File Archive, and in that archive, a file named PCTJ1086.ZIP appears to contain all of Cockerham’s EGATEST files.

I’ve transferred the contents of that ZIP archive to a PCx86 diskette image named “PC Tech Journal (1986-10)”, which we can now load into the machine below, and then run “EGAMAKE.BAT” to rebuild the entire program.

Building EGATEST

Unfortunately, as of this writing, while the EGATEST code mostly compiles, it encounters a few errors along the way that I’ve not resolved yet (like a missing TimeDate module). And the closest version of the compiler I was able to find is Logitech Modula-2/86 Compiler 1.10. Cockerham doesn’t mention what version of the compiler he used, but it may well have been a newer version (2.00?), since that article was published almost two years after version 1.10 was released.

I’m also at a bit of a disadvantage with Modula-2 itself: I’ve never written anything in Modula-2, I’ve never used any Logitech compilers before now, and the closest documentation I’ve been able to locate is for Logitech Modula-2/86 Compiler 1.00 (the previous version).

On the other hand, maybe I’m trying too hard, because Cockerham provided the final binary as well: EGATEST.EXE.

How well does it work? I must confess, I don’t know, because I’m too chicken to try it right now. I know my EGA simulation, while good, is far from perfect, so before I dive into these tests, I want to make sure I have enough time set aside to debug and fix the inevitable problems.

Anyway, the Logitech Modula-2/86 Demo machine has been recreated below, along with the PCjs Debugger. One nice thing about this configuration is that COM1 is connected to the Debugger’s output window, so you can use the MS-DOS command:

CTTY COM1

to redirect all console I/O, making it easy to copy and paste the text for future reference. And in fact, that’s exactly what I’ve done “below the fold”.

[PCjs Machine "ibm5160-msdos320"]

Waiting for machine "ibm5160-msdos320" to load....

Transcript of the EGATEST Build Process (as of July 3, 2017)

PCx86 v1.35.2
Copyright © 2012-2024 Jeff Parsons <Jeff@pcjs.org>
License: MIT <https://www.pcjs.org/LICENSE.txt>
Loading /machines/pcx86/ibm/5160/rom/hdc/IBM-XEBEC-1982.json5.......
Loading /machines/pcx86/ibm/5160/rom/basic/BASIC110.json5.......
Loading /machines/pcx86/ibm/5160/rom/bios/1982-11-08/XTBIOS-REV1.json5.......
Loading /machines/pcx86/ibm/video/ega/1984-09-13/IBM-EGA.json5.......
HDC: Type 3 "10Mb Hard Disk" is fixed disk 0
Loading /harddisks/pcx86/10mb/MSDOS320-C400.json.......
Loading /software/pcx86/lang/logitech/modula2/1.10/state.json........
Bus: 8Kb ROM at 000C8000
Bus: 8Kb ROM at 000FE000
Bus: 32Kb ROM at 000F6000
Bus: 16Kb ROM at 000C0000
HDC: Mounted disk "10Mb Hard Disk" in drive C
Bus: 640Kb RAM at 0000
RAM: 0xa0000 (640Kb) size overrides SW1
RAM: ROM BIOS memory test has been disabled
Bus: 32Kb VIDEO at 000B8000
Type ? for help with PCx86 Debugger commands
AX=0100 BX=0004 CX=00F9 DX=007F SP=09F6 BP=0000 SI=00D3 DI=01A9 
SS=028C DS=028C ES=028C PS=F202 V0 D0 I1 T0 S0 Z0 A0 P0 C0 
&028C:14AD 2E              CS:     
&028C:14AE 8F068005        POP      WORD [0580]
running
Loading /disks/pcx86/shareware/pctj/PCTJ8610.json.......
FDC: Mounted diskette "PC Tech Journal (1986-10)" in drive A

C:\>mkdir egatest

C:\>cd egatest

C:\EGATEST>copy a:*.*
A:DOTTIME.DEF
A:DOTTIME.MOD
A:DRAWPOLY.DEF
A:DRAWPOLY.MOD
A:EDITBLCK
A:EGAMAKE.BAT
A:EGATEST.EXE
A:EGATEST.MOD
A:FONTBUMP.DEF
A:FONTBUMP.MOD
A:INFO
A:LOWEGA.DEF
A:LOWEGA.MOD
A:OPCODES.DEF
A:OPCODES.MOD
A:OTHRFONT.DAT
A:PAUSES.DEF
A:PAUSES.MOD
A:POINTLIB.DEF
A:POINTLIB.MOD
        20 File(s) copied

C:\EGATEST>egamake

C:\EGATEST>rem

C:\EGATEST>rem compile files in this order to avoid version conflicts

C:\EGATEST>rem

C:\EGATEST>m2 comp  opcodes.def
LOGITECH MODULA-2/86 Compiler, DOS 8086, Rel. 1.10, Nov 84
Copyright (C) 1983, 1984 LOGITECH.

    source file> opcodes.def

Syntax Analysis
target speed: 9.54Mhz
Declaration Analysis
target speed: 19.08Mhz
Symbol File Generation
Termination
End Compilation

C:\EGATEST>m2 comp  pointlib.def
LOGITECH MODULA-2/86 Compiler, DOS 8086, Rel. 1.10, target speed: 38.16Mhz
Nov 84
Copyright (C) 1983, 1984 LOGITECH.

    source file> pointlib.def

Syntax Analysis
Declaration Analysis
Symbol File Generation
Termination
End Compilation

C:\EGATEST>m2 comp  lowega.def
LOGITECH MODULA-2/86 Compiler, DOS 8086, Rel. 1.10, Nov 84
Copyright (C) 1983, 1984 LOGITECH.

    source file> lowega.def

Syntax Analysis
    PointLib in file: C:PointLib.SYM
Declaration Analysis
Symbol File Generation
Termination
End Compilation

C:\EGATEST>m2 comp  pauses.def
LOGITECH MODULA-2/86 Compiler, DOS 8086, Rel. 1.10, Nov 84
Copyright (C) 1983, 1984 LOGITECH.

    source file> pauses.def

Syntax Analysis
Declaration Analysis
Symbol File Generation
Termination
End Compilation

C:\EGATEST>m2 comp  drawpoly.def
LOGITECH MODULA-2/86 Compiler, DOS 8086, Rel. 1.10, Nov 84
Copyright (C) 1983, 1984 LOGITECH.

    source file> drawpoly.def

Syntax Analysis
    LowEGA   in file: C:LowEGA.SYM
    PointLib in file: C:PointLib.SYM
Declaration Analysis
Symbol File Generation
Termination
End Compilation

C:\EGATEST>m2 comp  dottime.def
LOGITECH MODULA-2/86 Compiler, DOS 8086, Rel. 1.10, Nov 84
Copyright (C) 1983, 1984 LOGITECH.

    source file> dottime.def

Syntax Analysis
Declaration Analysis
Symbol File Generation
Termination
End Compilation

C:\EGATEST>m2 comp  fontbump.def
LOGITECH MODULA-2/86 Compiler, DOS 8086, Rel. 1.10, Nov 84
Copyright (C) 1983, 1984 LOGITECH.

    source file> fontbump.def

Syntax Analysis
Declaration Analysis
Symbol File Generation
Termination
End Compilation

C:\EGATEST>m2 comp  lowega.mod
LOGITECH MODULA-2/86 Compiler, DOS 8086, Rel. 1.10, Nov 84
Copyright (C) 1983, 1984 LOGITECH.

    source file> lowega.mod

Syntax Analysis
    LowEGA   in file: C:LowEGA.SYM
    PointLib in file: C:PointLib.SYM
    Opcodes  in file: C:Opcodes.SYM
Declaration Analysis
Block Analysis
Code Generation
Termination
    The interactive setting of the options was: S+ /R+ /T+ 
    Codesize:   5342 bytes   Datasize:     94 bytes
End Compilation

C:\EGATEST>m2 comp  egatest.mod
LOGITECH MODULA-2/86 Compiler, DOS 8086, Rel. 1.10, Nov 84
Copyright (C) 1983, 1984 LOGITECH.

    source file> egatest.mod

Syntax Analysis
    Terminal in file: C:\M2LIB\SYM\Terminal.SYM
    InOut    in file: C:\M2LIB\SYM\InOut.SYM
    LowEGA   in file: C:LowEGA.SYM
    PointLib in file: C:PointLib.SYM
    FontBump in file: C:FontBump.SYM
    Conversi in file: C:\M2LIB\SYM\Conversi.SYM
    Strings  in file: C:\M2LIB\SYM\Strings.SYM
    Pauses   in file: C:Pauses.SYM
    DrawPoly in file: C:DrawPoly.SYM
    DotTime  in file: C:DotTime.SYM
Declaration Analysis
Block Analysis
Code Generation
Termination
    The interactive setting of the options was: S+ /R+ /T+ 
    Codesize:   5362 bytes   Datasize:    294 bytes
End Compilation

C:\EGATEST>m2 comp  fontbump.mod
LOGITECH MODULA-2/86 Compiler, DOS 8086, Rel. 1.10, Nov 84
Copyright (C) 1983, 1984 LOGITECH.

    source file> fontbump.mod

Syntax Analysis
    FontBump in file: C:FontBump.SYM
    FileSyst in file: C:\M2LIB\SYM\FileSyst.SYM
    LowEGA   in file: C:LowEGA.SYM
    Opcodes  in file: C:Opcodes.SYM
    Pauses   in file: C:Pauses.SYM
Declaration Analysis
Block Analysis
Code Generation
Termination
    The interactive setting of the options was: S+ /R+ /T+ 
    Codesize:    715 bytes   Datasize:   3638 bytes
End Compilation

C:\EGATEST>m2 comp  pointlib.mod
LOGITECH MODULA-2/86 Compiler, DOS 8086, Rel. 1.10, Nov 84
Copyright (C) 1983, 1984 LOGITECH.

    source file> pointlib.mod

Syntax Analysis
    PointLib in file: C:PointLib.SYM
Declaration Analysis
Block Analysis
Code Generation
Termination
    The interactive setting of the options was: S+ /R+ /T+ 
    Codesize:     97 bytes   Datasize:      0 bytes
End Compilation

C:\EGATEST>m2 comp  opcodes.mod
LOGITECH MODULA-2/86 Compiler, DOS 8086, Rel. 1.10, Nov 84
Copyright (C) 1983, 1984 LOGITECH.

    source file> opcodes.mod

Syntax Analysis
    Opcodes  in file: C:Opcodes.SYM
Declaration Analysis
Block Analysis
Code Generation
Termination
    The interactive setting of the options was: S+ /R+ /T+ 
    Codesize:     17 bytes   Datasize:      0 bytes
End Compilation

C:\EGATEST>m2 comp  pauses.mod
LOGITECH MODULA-2/86 Compiler, DOS 8086, Rel. 1.10, Nov 84
Copyright (C) 1983, 1984 LOGITECH.

    source file> pauses.mod

Syntax Analysis
    Pauses   in file: C:Pauses.SYM
    Terminal in file: C:\M2LIB\SYM\Terminal.SYM
    LowEGA   in file: C:LowEGA.SYM
    PointLib in file: C:PointLib.SYM
Declaration Analysis
Block Analysis
Code Generation
Termination
    The interactive setting of the options was: S+ /R+ /T+ 
    Codesize:    483 bytes   Datasize:      0 bytes
End Compilation

C:\EGATEST>m2 comp  dottime.mod
LOGITECH MODULA-2/86 Compiler, DOS 8086, Rel. 1.10, Nov 84
Copyright (C) 1983, 1984 LOGITECH.

    source file> dottime.mod

Syntax Analysis
    DotTime  in file: C:DotTime.SYM
    Terminal in file: C:\M2LIB\SYM\Terminal.SYM
    LowEGA   in file: C:LowEGA.SYM
    TimeDate in file: DK:TimeDate.SYM
    ---- file not found
    TimeDate in file>  ---- DK:Pass1.LOD warning
Termination
End Compilation

===>  warning, file DK:M2COMP.LOD
^C

Terminate batch job (Y/N)? n
C:\EGATEST>m2 comp  drawpoly.mod
LOGITECH MODULA-2/86 Compiler, DOS 8086, Rel. 1.10, Nov 84
Copyright (C) 1983, 1984 LOGITECH.

    source file> drawpoly.mod

Syntax Analysis
    DrawPoly in file: C:DrawPoly.SYM
    LowEGA   in file: C:LowEGA.SYM
    PointLib in file: C:PointLib.SYM
Declaration Analysis
Block Analysis
Code Generation
Termination
    The interactive setting of the options was: S+ /R+ /T+ 
    Codesize:    781 bytes   Datasize:      0 bytes
End Compilation

C:\EGATEST>rem

C:\EGATEST>rem Linker requires manual entry of two real-number library file

C:\EGATEST>rem names unless you have renamed one set of the E87, C87, or M87

C:\EGATEST>rem libraries to be your standard set.  If not, add prefix E87, C87,

C:\EGATEST>rem or M87 to library names realc.lnk and reals.lnk & enter manually

C:\EGATEST>rem in response to linker query.   See section 5.7.2 in red manual.

C:\EGATEST>rem

C:\EGATEST>m2 link  egatest
LOGITECH MODULA-2/86 Linker, DOS 8086, Rel. 1.10, Nov 84
Copyright (C) 1983, 1984 LOGITECH.

    master file  > egatest.LNK
    linked with:
        Terminal      in file : C:\M2LIB\LNK\Terminal.LNK
        Termbase      in file : C:\M2LIB\LNK\Termbase.LNK
        System        in file : C:\M2LIB\LNK\System.LNK
        Keyboard      in file : C:\M2LIB\LNK\Keyboard.LNK
        ASCII         in file : C:\M2LIB\LNK\ASCII.LNK
        Display       in file : C:\M2LIB\LNK\Display.LNK
        InOut         in file : C:\M2LIB\LNK\InOut.LNK
        FileSystem    in file : C:\M2LIB\LNK\FileSyst.LNK
        DiskFiles     in file : C:\M2LIB\LNK\DiskFile.LNK
        LowEGA        in file : C:LowEGA.LNK
        PointLib      in file : C:PointLib.LNK
        Opcodes       in file : C:Opcodes.LNK
        FontBumper    in file : C:FontBump.LNK
        Pauses        in file : C:Pauses.LNK
        Conversions   in file : C:\M2LIB\LNK\Conversi.LNK
        Strings       in file : C:\M2LIB\LNK\Strings.LNK
        DrawPoly      in file : C:DrawPoly.LNK
        DotTime       in file : DK:DotTime.LNK
    ---- file not found
        DotTime       in file > 
===>  warning, file DK:M2LINK.LOD

C:\EGATEST>m2 lod2exe egatest
lod2exe.LOD<NUL><NUL><NUL><NUL> not found in current directory or in \M2LOD
C:\EGATEST>
C:\EGATEST>
C:\EGATEST>

[GitHub Source]

Jeff Parsons
Jul 3, 2017