GP32 Borland C++ Builder

[aapje89]

Is it possible to use c++ builder to code for the gp32?, and if it is, does anybody have some instructions on how to do it?

 

[WhiteFalcon]

I think you can use any text editor to write code for the GP32. It just wont compile it, but you can use all the rest of its benefits (coloring, text structuring...).
I use MS Visual C++ and its pretty nice for that. You can then use devkitadv for compiling the code into gxb.

 

[aapje89]

It's not only a text edit, it has things like RAD(rapid acces developing), VCL, is it possible
to use those features for gp32 programming?

 

[Oankali]

It's not only a text edit, it has things like RAD(rapid acces developing), VCL, is it possible
to use those features for gp32 programming?

​

You can't use VCL, but I suppose you can compile GP32 aplications for windows if you use the Windows oficial SDK as I do with VC++ 6.
When all testing and debugging is done, you then compile with devkitARM (newer GCC version then DevKitAdv) to final tests on real hardware or GeePee32.

 

[Squidge]

I normally create programs using BCB++, and then recompile them for the GP32 or whatever, but that's only because I've written a suit of functions for builder that mimic the functions of the gp32 sdk that I use. It does make things a lot easier as you can use all the debugging features in windows and then just recompile for gp32 to do final testing.

You can't use any of builders drag and drop though, because builder doesn't support the GP32 or the ARM processor, and the GP32 compilers don't understand builders file formats.

I'm trying to move over to Visual Studio 2005 though now, as the editor is far better, and you can turn it into a multiple platform development environment quite easily - compile and play with prog in windows, test, compile for GP32, test on device

If you want to play with Visual Studio 2005, order the beta from Microsoft for a few $. I think each beta is limited to something like 180 days or so

 

[aapje89]

I normally create programs using BCB++, and then recompile them for the GP32 or whatever, but that's only because I've written a suit of functions for builder that mimic the functions of the gp32 sdk that I use. It does make things a lot easier as you can use all the debugging features in windows and then just recompile for gp32 to do final testing.

You can't use any of builders drag and drop though, because builder doesn't support the GP32 or the ARM processor, and the GP32 compilers don't understand builders file formats.

I'm trying to move over to Visual Studio 2005 though now, as the editor is far better, and you can turn it into a multiple platform development environment quite easily - compile and play with prog in windows, test, compile for GP32, test on device

If you want to play with Visual Studio 2005, order the beta from Microsoft for a few $. I think each beta is limited to something like 180 days or so

​

How do you do that?, after the testing you use another sdk (devkit adv., mr.mirko...) to compile for the gp32?

 

[Squidge]

I have a very small and compact SDK which only contains minimum functions such as reading buttons and controlling the frame buffer. It is then easy to create this for both GP32 and Windows. The rest of the functions I use are platform independant (well, not exactly, but they are written to be compatible with both ARM & Intel, so they ensure alignment, etc).

To compile the code for GP32 or Windows require no alterations to the code whatsoever - just recompile for your target system.

 

[Oankali]

I have a very small and compact SDK which only contains minimum functions such as reading buttons and controlling the frame buffer. It is then easy to create this for both GP32 and Windows. The rest of the functions I use are platform independant (well, not exactly, but they are written to be compatible with both ARM & Intel, so they ensure alignment, etc).

To compile the code for GP32 or Windows require no alterations to the code whatsoever - just recompile for your target system.

​

Why haven't you used the oficial SDK for Windows?
A lot of functions work correctly, even SMC functions, for some I had to prepare a very small compatibility source file.

 

[Squidge]

I believe the official SDK is for Visual C++ only, and I've been using BorlandC++Builder, which I've not managed to get to work with the official SDK as there is no source code.

Also, I don't use the official SDK on the GP32, but my own hacked up SDK which contains a mixture of various other peoples code and my own.

 

[aapje89]

I believe the official SDK is for Visual C++ only, and I've been using BorlandC++Builder, which I've not managed to get to work with the official SDK as there is no source code.

Also, I don't use the official SDK on the GP32, but my own hacked up SDK which contains a mixture of various other peoples code and my own.

​

So its not possible to use VCL , but I would still like to use c++ builder, so can you send me your sdk squidge?
I'll send you a PM with my e-mail adress.

 

[Squidge]

Like I say earlier, it's a very small SDK, and so contains minimum functions such as reading buttons and controlling the frame buffer.

So, the functions in full (only three, but can't remember exact names without loading the source file, so I'm going to guess):

SetPalette (just sets a value in "unsigned short gp32palette[256]")
BitBlt (copies a gp32 ready frame buffer to a window, possibly using the above)
ButtonStatus (returns bitmap of buttons pressed, but windows version only allows one button at a time)
(There are others on the Gp32 for like resetting the device and changing the clockspeed, but they are just #define's in the windows SDK)

That's it. You could write them yourself in under 5 minutes.

However, I think if you are just starting out, you need to an "established" SDK, like GpSDK, or Mirko's.

 

[aapje89]

maybe then an "original sdk", anyway thanks for the info