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matherp
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Joined: 11/12/2012
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 10310

Posted: 06:58pm 12 Oct 2020

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This post is responding to questions raised on other threads

The H/W for the CMM2 is fixed. There will be no support for any pins not available on the V1.5 and V2.1 PCBs. This will ensure that there can be no S/W written in Basic that cannot run on a "standard" CMM2 with the latest version of the firmware. Of course, S/W can be written that uses externally connected devices and this will only run if you have the relevant external device.

The CMM2 firmware and MMBasic in general already support a lot of external devices, distance sensors, temperature sensors, WS2812 etc. It is possible that additional support for more external devices may be included in the firmware at a later date but this will not be done in a way that would require H/W changes to the standard design.

There are now a range of H/W variants available but AFAIK they all are essentially identical to the "official" designs and will run the firmware unaltered. Geoff and I will enforce to the extent possible the licence terms for the CMM2 firmware source code so anyone who modifies it to run on different H/W can only do this for their own use. No attempt will be made to ensure firmware compatibility with variant designs when the firmware is updated - possibly the opposite

With V5.05.06 when released the CMM2 firmware will be essentially complete. However, I will always try and fix bugs as they are found and if and when great ideas come forward for enhancements then I will try and accommodate them. Moreover, if you take the source and can enhance it then I will always consider integrating your changes into the official firmware as long as the changes don't either break existing code or require any H/W change. Recently a TBS member wrote the code to play individual MOD file channels and this was incorporated into the firmware.

Areas for future code enhancement could include better 3D support or support for some sort of TUI but in these area I would be looking for someone to provide code (could be in Basic) and have a sensible approach as to how the Basic UI to that code would work.

For the avoidance of doubt the Turbo-C style TUI is not capable of being integrated in any sensible way.

The MM+ GUI that was included in the experimental V5.05.06 release will be removed as it doesn't fit comfortably with the CMM2 concept and the Basic callback mechanism is not sufficiently reliable.

Finally there is no CMM3 on the horizon. The gap between the CMM1 and CMM2 was nearly 10 years!

elk1984

Senior Member

Joined: 11/07/2020
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 228

Posted: 07:17pm 12 Oct 2020

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Thank you Peter - that gives a clear view on the roadmap and what may be possible. I don't know how threads are marked as sticky, but could this be a candidate?

Loving the CMM 2 and all the great work that you, Geoff and the firms that are building / supplying kits are doing.

Thanks

thwill

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Joined: 16/09/2019
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 4311

Posted: 07:21pm 12 Oct 2020

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+2 from me Peter.

Thanks for everything,

Tom

MMBasic for Linux, Game*Mite, CMM2 Welcome Tape, Creaky old text adventures

flip
Senior Member

Joined: 18/07/2016
Location: Australia
Posts: 114

Posted: 01:14am 13 Oct 2020

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Ditto from me.

I really appreciate the quality work and generosity from Geoff and Peter (and also all the extended support team)

I feel this is entirely reasonable...indeed more beneficial to all MM users...that their wish to keep the design clean, unforked, and under their control is respected.
Thanks & Regards Phil

PeteCotton

Guru

Joined: 13/08/2020
Location: Canada
Posts: 543

Posted: 07:34pm 13 Oct 2020

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Just adding my thanks as well. Everything you guys have done for this project is very appreciated.
Edited 2020-10-14 05:34 by PeteCotton

mkopack73
Senior Member

Joined: 03/07/2020
Location: United States
Posts: 261

Posted: 08:17pm 13 Oct 2020

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Give yourself a break and take a rest for a bit man. Have a few beers, you've earned them!

But I do hope you consider going back to some sort of GUI toolkit in the future. I was really excited to see that effort. Maybe it can be reworked into something more congruent to the CMM2 and MMBasic design...

TweakerRay

Senior Member

Joined: 01/08/2020
Location: Germany
Posts: 138

Posted: 09:47am 14 Oct 2020

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Thank you for all your hard work ! I have so much fun working with this computer and appreciate the support and help here so much. This machine is awesome.

Greets from Germany ! Cheers TweakerRay

http://tweakerray.bandcamp.com

RetroJoe

Senior Member

Joined: 06/08/2020
Location: Canada
Posts: 290

Posted: 12:02pm 14 Oct 2020

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Thanks for the clarifications, Peter, and I echo everyone�s sentiments: thanks for all the tremendous work... �but please take a freaking break!

To be honest, I am looking forward to the cooling-off / stabilization period your post implies. Innovation is great, but so is solidification around a particular set of features and documented behaviours (intended or otherwise - they are all part of the CMM2 �envelope�).

By way of comparison, the Apple II hardware and firmware was largely unchanged over its 14 year lifespan, and almost all software written for it was forward compatible (even on the Apple IIgs, which effectively included an ASIC to emulate a legacy Apple II).

Regardless of your anticipated roadmap (e.g. a standardized mouse interface, a rudimentary GUI, etc), I believe the CMM2�s best days are yet to come, as people uncover its �secrets� and learn how to unlock its full potential.

Onwards and upwards!
Edited 2020-10-14 22:04 by RetroJoe

Enjoy Every Sandwich / Joe P.

William Leue
Guru

Joined: 03/07/2020
Location: United States
Posts: 405

Posted: 05:16pm 14 Oct 2020

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Thanks for the comprehensive look forward, Peter! Also for your incredible work for the platform!

It is comforting to know that things will be stable going forward other than bug fixes and new peripherals. This means we can post our software work with the knowledge that it will still be viable for a few years. As you know, most application-level software has a half life of just a few years at best, since both the hardware and O/S (or firmware) also evolve.

I am having a great time writing little games and such for the CMM2. It really takes me back about 50 years before I got into this silly business as a professional. Coding is fun again!

-Bill

ChrisJournoud
Newbie

Joined: 12/10/2020
Location: France
Posts: 20

Posted: 01:23pm 15 Oct 2020

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Thanks for the great job.
I have ordered the CMM2 2 weeks ago on Micromite.org. Is there a plan for the CCM2 to accept french keyboard layout like the micromites do ?

Best regards

twofingers

Guru

Joined: 02/06/2014
Location: Germany
Posts: 1593

Posted: 01:40pm 15 Oct 2020

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ChrisJournoud said Thanks for the great job.
I have ordered the CMM2 2 weeks ago on Micromite.org. Is there a plan for the CCM2 to accept french keyboard layout like the micromites do ?

Best regards

Hi ChrisJournoud,
the CMM2 supports the french keyboard layout, but only the ASCII characters 32-126.

Kind regards

causality ≠ correlation ≠ coincidence

ChrisJournoud
Newbie

Joined: 12/10/2020
Location: France
Posts: 20

Posted: 02:11pm 15 Oct 2020

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twofingers said
Hi ChrisJournoud,
the CMM2 supports the french keyboard layout, but only the ASCII characters 32-126.

Kind regards

Thanks

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