CFFA3000 new feature requests

General forum for non-support issues

Moderator: rich

CFFA3000 new feature requests

Postby rich » Thu Dec 01, 2011 6:08 pm

CFFA3000 Customers,

If you have ideas for new features for the CFFA3000 firmware please add them to this thread.
I will start the list with a couple features that are already planned:

1) Subdirectory support.
2) Greater then 256 image file limit per device.


Thanks,
-Rich
rich
 
Posts: 188
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2002 6:00 pm
Location: Wisconsin

Re: CFFA3000 new feature requests

Postby a2fan » Sun Dec 11, 2011 2:06 pm

Firmware upgrades from USB (or auto-copy them from USB to CF) would be nice.
a2fan
 
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2011 3:53 pm

Re: CFFA3000 new feature requests

Postby hatta » Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:27 am

Copying disk images (or folders, recursively) between CF and USB would really help us avoid opening our machines unnecessarily.

Supporting disk swapping on the smart port would help for those unusual IIgs programs that look for disks by device and not by label.

Saving and reloading of configuration would be nice to quickly swap between software.
hatta
 
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2011 9:25 am

Re: CFFA3000 new feature requests

Postby leandro » Sat Dec 17, 2011 11:19 am

Rich,

Alter the order of images mounted, without deleting it, in smartport option.

Regards,

Leandro
leandro
 
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Dec 16, 2011 7:56 am

Re: CFFA3000 new feature requests

Postby europlus » Thu Dec 22, 2011 5:09 am

Am absolutely loving my CFFA3K, but had a suggestion for the screen for importing from disk to USB/CF.

I've had some disks that are having trouble at different parts, and I see some of them report that a certain track couldn't be read - perhaps instead of a row of "all-the-same" asterisks, there could be something to indicate which tracks had trouble (because the report of the problem can scroll off the screen).

Also, maybe some ticks or indicator of the track numbers.

So the end result (with tracks 7 and 17 failing to be read) would look like:

Code: Select all
   |******-*********-*****************|   
   0    '    1    '    2    '    3
   0         0         0         0

or to save a line of output:

Code: Select all
   |******-*********-*****************|   
   |    '    |    '    |    '    |    '

The more I look at it, the more I prefer the latter.

Not sure if it'd be possible to also save a log for disks that didn't work (tracks/sectors which didn't work, number of attempts, etc.) - I'd suggest diskname.log, but it is possible to write a different disk image to a previously abandoned name - maybe concatenated if the .log file already exists. I'm sure cleverer people than me could figure out a mechanism for that. Only just thought of the log file (whereas I've been thinking of the above indicators all day), not sure how useful it might be.

Might have more suggestions later :)

Sean
europlus
 
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:46 pm

Re: CFFA3000 new feature requests

Postby Sprout » Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:40 pm

I'd lump my requests under "file management"...

You've covered part of it by adding sub-directories, and increasing the file limit.

I'd also chime in that having an ability to copy between USB and CF would be awesome, and time saving.

I'd also vote for the ability to at delete files from the USB and CF devices. Example - while experimenting, I'd create a largish ProDOS volume on the CF card, but have to remove the card and move it back to the Mac in order to delete the file afterwards.

Finally - if there was the ability to add/delete folders, and even perhaps move files around, I don't think you'd ever need to pull your CF card at all...
Sprout
 
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Aug 24, 2011 1:23 pm
Location: Cedar Park, TX

Re: CFFA3000 new feature requests

Postby a2retro » Sat Jan 14, 2012 12:25 pm

Hi Rich, I was looking to see what opportunities there might be to extend the CFFA3000 via firmware or hardware.

For example

1) Is it possible to access CF/IO cards via the CF port?
2) How much room is left in the AT90USB1287 for additional code for supplementary function?
3) Can other USB devices be accessed via the USB port directly or via a HUB. I understand this relates to item number 2 above as well.

Glenn
a2retro
 
Posts: 15
Joined: Wed May 24, 2006 5:01 pm
Location: Ajax, ON, Canada

Re: CFFA3000 new feature requests

Postby dlyons » Sun Jan 15, 2012 1:31 am

>1) Is it possible to access CF/IO cards via the CF port?

I'm not sure what sort of cards you're referring to. Are there some specific ones? The hardware should be able to talk to anything that uses ATA parallel I/O, at least. For something more out of the ordinary, I'd have to look into it.

>2) How much room is left in the AT90USB1287 for additional code for supplementary function?

Currently (v3.0.1) there is about 13.5K free, out of 120K available for the main code (8K is for the bootloader that allows firmware updates). But there are various ways to free up some of the space when needed: Reducing the amount of Debug code and Debug logging; compressing UI text; rewriting portions in assembly in some cases; and just generally trying hard to optimize the C code for size.

>3) Can other USB devices be accessed via the USB port directly or via a HUB. I understand this relates to item number 2 above as well.

The CFFA software doesn't currently support any devices other than a Mass Storage class device, and the LUFA USB stack we're using does not currently offer support for hubs. But the hardware should be fine -- it's "a small matter of programming," plus managing complexity of the UI.

Cheers,

--Dave
dlyons
 
Posts: 42
Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2002 6:00 pm

Re: CFFA3000 new feature requests

Postby rich » Sun Jan 15, 2012 6:44 pm

Also, the source is closed at this time. I would like it to be open at some point.
But that time still hasn't arrived yet. Not sure when that will be.

-Rich
rich
 
Posts: 188
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2002 6:00 pm
Location: Wisconsin

Re: CFFA3000 new feature requests

Postby a2retro » Mon Jan 23, 2012 10:47 pm

Hi Dave, thanks for the reply.

[quote="dlyons"] >1) Is it possible to access CF/IO cards via the CF port?

I'm not sure what sort of cards you're referring to. Are there some specific ones? [/quote]

Yes I was thinking specifically wifi CF/IO cards. They are getting kind of hard to find these days and there are better alternatives for embedding in a project but I was just curious. Then on second thought it's probably not workable anyway as the Antenna is to big and the cover would not close.

[quote="dlyons"] The hardware should be able to talk to anything that uses ATA parallel I/O, at least. For something more out of the ordinary, I'd have to look into it.

>2) How much room is left in the AT90USB1287 for additional code for supplementary function?

Currently (v3.0.1) there is about 13.5K free, out of 120K available for the main code (8K is for the bootloader that allows firmware updates). But there are various ways to free up some of the space when needed: Reducing the amount of Debug code and Debug logging; compressing UI text; rewriting portions in assembly in some cases; and just generally trying hard to optimize the C code for size. [/quote]

Okay good to know

[quote="dlyons"] >3) Can other USB devices be accessed via the USB port directly or via a HUB. I understand this relates to item number 2 above as well.

The CFFA software doesn't currently support any devices other than a Mass Storage class device, and the LUFA USB stack we're using does not currently offer support for hubs. But the hardware should be fine -- it's "a small matter of programming," plus managing complexity of the UI.

Cheers,

--Dave[/quote]

Okay thanks for the info

Glenn
a2retro
 
Posts: 15
Joined: Wed May 24, 2006 5:01 pm
Location: Ajax, ON, Canada

Re: CFFA3000 new feature requests

Postby a2retro » Mon Jan 23, 2012 10:53 pm

[quote="rich"]Also, the source is closed at this time. I would like it to be open at some point.
But that time still hasn't arrived yet. Not sure when that will be.

-Rich[/quote]

Hi Rich, I hope you don't mind me asking every once in a while. :)

Glenn
a2retro
 
Posts: 15
Joined: Wed May 24, 2006 5:01 pm
Location: Ajax, ON, Canada

Re: CFFA3000 new feature requests

Postby MattPower » Sat Oct 06, 2012 2:26 pm

I'll echo all the file management requests - sub-directories, copy (and copy between USB to and from CF), move, delete - and to add a new one - rename.

I have a USB extender cable so that if I need to add files, I can plug a USB flash drive into that rather that popping the top off or using serial transfers, but it would be nice to be able to copy from USB to the CF.
MattPower
 
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2012 11:48 am

Re: CFFA3000 new feature requests

Postby MattPower » Sun Oct 07, 2012 9:12 am

I have just figured out a kludge to copy disk images to/from CF & USB.

For USB to CF
Mount the desired images on the virtual Disk II from the USB drive.
Import the disk image to the compact flash.

It's slower than a 'select all these and copy', but it's making backing up my files from the CF and importing new ones to it much easier - and I no longer have to open the box.
MattPower
 
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Sep 21, 2012 11:48 am

Re: CFFA3000 new feature requests

Postby alelee » Thu Jan 10, 2013 7:50 pm

rich wrote:CFFA3000 Customers,

If you have ideas for new features for the CFFA3000 firmware please add them to this thread.
I will start the list with a couple features that are already planned:

1) Subdirectory support.
2) Greater then 256 image file limit per device.


Thanks,
-Rich


Would IWM emulation be on the cards for full support of the 3.5" drive on the IIGS? Or is that something best left to the CFFA4000? :-)

- Alex
alelee
 
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2003 6:00 pm
Location: Australia

Re: CFFA3000 new feature requests

Postby david__schmidt » Wed Jan 16, 2013 12:36 pm

alelee wrote:Would IWM emulation be on the cards for full support of the 3.5" drive on the IIGS? Or is that something best left to the CFFA4000? :-)

My personal opinion is that it would be very low ROI - there was so little software written targeting that hardware. And I haven't seen anything beyond those few demos that has done so before or since.
david__schmidt
 
Posts: 158
Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2006 9:32 pm

Re: CFFA3000 new feature requests

Postby rjustice » Fri May 10, 2013 3:57 pm

Would there be a possibility to add the floppy drive emulation to take over the native apple /// controller. This would be a really nice feature to have. The CFFA card does this for the A2 emulation, but not for the normal A3 disk operations.

/Rob
rjustice
 
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri May 10, 2013 3:20 am

Re: CFFA3000 new feature requests

Postby JCCyC » Tue Jun 11, 2013 2:09 pm

Hello! I just acquired a //gs, and it needs storage! Already asked to be included in the list for batch #3.

My feature suggestion is: space for more RAM. So the CFFA could also expand the //gs to 1M / 2M / 4M. Would that be at all possible?

Juan
JCCyC
 
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Jun 11, 2013 11:42 am

Re: CFFA3000 new feature requests

Postby skaratso » Sat Jun 15, 2013 12:44 am

JCCyC wrote:Hello! I just acquired a //gs, and it needs storage! Already asked to be included in the list for batch #3.

My feature suggestion is: space for more RAM. So the CFFA could also expand the //gs to 1M / 2M / 4M. Would that be at all possible?

Juan


Probably not, and even if it were possible the card would need to be redesigned.

For the memory to be recognized in the IIgs, the card would need to be installed in the memory expansion slot, which is different from the other 7 slots. Older memory cards that worked in the IIe could go into one of the other 7 slots, but their memory would not be seen as "IIgs" memory and therefore would not be available to GS/OS programs.

You can still buy new memory cards for the IIgs.

http://www.brielcomputers.com/wordpress/?cat=22

http://16sector.com/shop/a2ram/sirius-ram-iigs-w8mb/
skaratso
 
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun Aug 03, 2008 9:34 am

Re: CFFA3000 new feature requests

Postby dxx » Sat Oct 05, 2013 4:33 pm

I have worked in professional software development and engineering for many years, and would be interested in reasonable means by which I can use CFFA to test FPGA code development (not necessarily very interested in viewing your own sources ;-/)...

David
dxx
 
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Aug 28, 2013 4:01 pm

Re: CFFA3000 new feature requests

Postby dlyons » Sun Oct 06, 2013 8:24 pm

I'm not sure what you're looking for here...is the CPLD on the CFFA3000 similar enough to some FPGA you want to target that the CFFA3000 would make a good testbed?

--Dave
dlyons
 
Posts: 42
Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2002 6:00 pm

Next

Return to CFFA3000 General Discussion

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 14 guests

cron