Software

A note for Linux users: read before downloading

When downloading .tar.gz files from this website, be mindful that certain Web browsers (e.g. Chrome) will gunzip them. This happens despite these files being served with “content-encoding: x-gzip”, possibly due to their type “content-type: application/x-tar”. Example below:

$ curl -I https://www.luigidifraia.com/hosted/software/c64-rastereditor-1.2-linux-x86_64.tar.gz
  % Total    % Received % Xferd  Average Speed   Time    Time     Time  Current
                                 Dload  Upload   Total   Spent    Left  Speed
  0  173k    0     0    0     0      0      0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:--     0HTTP/2 200
server: aruba-proxy
date: Fri, 25 Dec 2020 17:08:08 GMT
content-type: application/x-tar
content-length: 177476
last-modified: Thu, 24 Dec 2020 11:08:43 GMT
etag: "2b544-5b733d4afffc6"
accept-ranges: bytes
content-encoding: x-gzip
x-servername: ipvsproxy207.ad.aruba.it

You should therefore either:

  • use cURL or wget to download these files, or
  • rename them to .tar if they were gunzipped by your browser.

A note about macOS builds of my GTK applications

Users can enjoy macOS builds of my GTK+ applications mainly as a result of the help that Christian Vogelgsang (aka lallafa) provided me with. I went through the details in one of my blog posts.

DC2N DMP to TAP conversion utility

A comprehensive utility for DC2N DMP to TAP format conversion, which includes support for DMP version 1 and, consequently, TAP version 2 generation.

Note: this software operates on files produced by the DC2N hardware, whose format is defined here.

Dc2nconv – downloads

PRG to TAP encapsulation utility

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A handy utility for encapsulating PRG file data into TAP files, with a selection of encoding schemes, including CBM’s Kernal Loader, TurboTape 250, and Freeload. Bootable (i.e. with an auto-executable Kernal Loader boot section) TurboTape 250 TAP files can be generated as well. The utility can also be used iteratively to append new data to an existing TAP file.
Finally, downloadable archives include a historical version of the Turbotape 64 utility in PRG format that can be included at the very beginning of a compilation of programs encoded using TurboTape 250, which was a very common layout on tape in the old days.

Prg2tap – downloads

Filename extractors

These are two utilities that parse TAP files in order to extract the filename from CBM’s Kernal Loader (also referred to as CBM’s ROM Loader) and Turbotape 250 files.

I wrote a gist that uses the CBM ROM filename extractor in order to append the name of the first CBM ROM file found in each TAP file to the TAP filename itself.

Filename extractors – downloads

Replacement Pro-Micro firmware

In case the micro-USB port of one of my AVR based devices (DC2N4-LC, IECHost, C2NEmu, or C64 Cartridge Dumper) broke off, you can use this generic firmware to flash a replacement Pro-Micro board and then use it in conjunction with my device’s client software to flash the firmware for the device itself.

Replacement Pro-Micro firmware – downloads

TAPClean Front End

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TAPClean is a console utility whose key features are:

  • Detects and retrieves information about TAP and DC2N DMP file contents
  • Tests and reports on the integrity and condition of the files
  • Performs structural corrections and optimizations
  • Develops a library of all detected files as their binary equivalents and allows content exporting
  • Allows conversion to audio format (.AU or .WAV) so TAPs may be played out and recorded back to cassette tape

TAPClean Front End is built using GTK+ 2.x, hence multi-platform, and is not just a front end program as its name might suggest. In fact, it incorporates unique features not found in TAPClean, such as:

  • Interactive report of the tape contents with graphical breakdown
  • Hex monitor, Disassembler, and CBM BASIC untokenizer for PRG files
  • TAP editor
  • TAP splitting tool
  • TAP repair tool for CBM files (fully automated but manual tweaking is available too!)
  • Graphical TAP/DMP analysis tool
TAPClean Front End by Luigi Di Fraia

TAPClean Front End: main window

TAPClean Front End's disassembler by Luigi Di Fraia

TAPClean Front End: disassembler

TAPClean Front End's CBM file repair tool by Luigi Di Fraia

TAPClean Front End: CBM file repair tool

TAPClean Front End's graphical analysis tool by Luigi Di Fraia

TAPClean Front End: graphical analysis tool

TAPClean Front End – downloads

Note: binary packages of TAPClean Front End include TAPClean executables too.

DC2N4-LC Clients

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Note: this software operates in conjunction with the DC2N4-LC hardware.

Both command-line and GUI clients are available to interact with my DC2N4-LC device.

DC2N4-LC GTK+ GUI client: filename interceptor by Luigi Di Fraia

DC2N4-LC GTK+ GUI client: filename interceptor

DC2N4-LC Clients – downloads

IECHost Clients

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Note: this software operates in conjunction with the IECHost hardware.

IECHost multi-threaded client: disk imaging in progress

IECHost multi-threaded client: disk imaging in progress

IECHost multi-threaded client: Files / Directory view

IECHost multi-threaded client: Files / Directory view

IECHost multi-threaded client: PRG exporting in progress

IECHost multi-threaded client: PRG exporting in progress

IECHost multi-threaded client: Firmware menu

IECHost multi-threaded client: Firmware menu

IECHost multi-threaded client: Tools menu

IECHost multi-threaded client: Tools menu

IECHost multi-threaded client: Special menu

IECHost multi-threaded client: Special menu

IECHost Clients – downloads

Note: nibbling utilities require the use of the extended IECHost firmware that ships with them, instead of the standard IECHost firmware. The former is backward compatible with the latter, but I recommend not mixing things up: use the standard IECHost firmware when running non-nibbling software and the extended IECHost firmware when running nibbling software.

IECHost firmware update “how to” videos

IECHost GUI client issue tracker

The official issue tracker for IECHost GUI client is available here. If you have an issue with the client that is not already listed there, or would like to request a new feature, feel free to contact me or raise it.

C2NEmu Clients

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Note: this software operates in conjunction with the C2NEmu hardware.

Both command-line and GUI clients are available to interact with my C2NEmu device. GUI clients can additionally be used to create and/or edit IDX files.

C2NEmu client: IDX file loaded and ready to play by Luigi Di Fraia

C2NEmu client: IDX file loaded and ready to play

C2NEmu Clients – downloads

Commodore 64 Cartridge Dumper Clients

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Note: this software operates in conjunction with the Commodore 64 Cartridge Dumper hardware.

Commodore 64 Cartridge Dumper Clients – downloads

Note: the firmware update option is only relevant to the Pro-Micro based devices. Older Blue Pill based devices do not support updates via the USB serial port.

Integrator 2012 and The Last Ninja Construction Kit

To filter my WordPress.com blog entries on this subject click here. This is the post where it all started a while ago!

Integrator 2012 is one of my most ambitious projects to date: a GTK+ 2.x based, hence multi-platform, viewer targeting those games that were designed using John Twiddy’s “Integrator”. The ones I am aware of are: The Last Ninja, LN2, LN3, Vendetta and Time Machine.

Not much of the original C64 software came to us through time, but a “Bug Free PDS Ninja III Editor” that’s almost surely based on original work done by John.

Quoting from The Last Ninja Archives: John Twiddy wrote an editor (he called it the integrator) that let Hugh [Riley] pick up the individual background elements like trees and bushes and drop them into place on screen. It also worked out the best colour combination for each element when they overlaid each other. John then designated which pixels were foreground and cut those bits out of the ninja sprite as it went past.

The above is consistent with the fact that the “Bug Free PDS Ninja III Editor” has an option for importing objects (it is possible to grab them from multicolour pictures) and combine them as part of the screen design. Actually we don’t know whether John did the rest manually or he wrote additional editors in order to complete the game design, such as designation of foreground (i.e. sprite clipping masks), definition of events, boundaries that confine movements and trigger events, etc.

Integrator 2012: Build for The Last Ninja

Integrator 2012: Build for Last Ninja 2

Integrator 2012: Build for Last Ninja 3

Integrator 2012: Build for Time Machine

Integrator 2012: Build for Vendetta

The Last Ninja Construction Kit extends Integrator 2012 and is set to be the one-stop shop for all the above mentioned activities: my aim is to make it extremely usable and intuitive. Being a cross-development tool running on modern development systems not only it offers the ability to browse what was done back in the 80’s and 90’s, but also produce new designs that could be used for a new C64 game (and consequently other platforms too).

The Last Ninja Construction Kit: main window by Luigi Di Fraia

The Last Ninja Construction Kit: main window

The Last Ninja Construction Kit: panel editor by Luigi Di Fraia

The Last Ninja Construction Kit: panel editor

The Last Ninja Construction Kit: object import browser with object preview by Luigi Di Fraia

The Last Ninja Construction Kit: object import browser with object preview

The Last Ninja Construction Kit: object grabber for capturing new objects by Luigi Di Fraia

The Last Ninja Construction Kit: object grabber for capturing new objects

The Last Ninja Construction Kit: boundary editor by Luigi Di Fraia

The Last Ninja Construction Kit: boundary editor

The Last Ninja Construction Kit: foreground editor (for sprite clipping) by Luigi Di Fraia

The Last Ninja Construction Kit: foreground editor (for sprite clipping)

The Last Ninja Construction Kit: connection editor by Luigi Di Fraia

The Last Ninja Construction Kit: connection editor

The Last Ninja Construction Kit: sprite position editor by Luigi Di Fraia

The Last Ninja Construction Kit: sprite position editor

The Last Ninja Construction Kit: working at a new design by Luigi Di Fraia!

The Last Ninja Construction Kit: working at a new design!

Integrator 2012 – downloads

The following download options are available for Integrator 2012:

C64 Raster Effect Editor

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The C64 Raster Effect Editor is a cross-development tool used to add stable side-border raster bars to Multicolor, Hires or PETSCII artwork for the Commodore 64.

C64 Raster Effect Editor: Elsewhere by Mermaid

C64 Raster Effect Editor: Elsewhere by Mermaid (multicolor)

C64 Raster Effect Editor: The Fall by Electric (hires)

C64 Raster Effect Editor: Oman by chris2balls (PETSCII)

Designs can be saved to a project file and progressed at a later time. A project can be exported to an executable PRG file that:

  • is compressed with Exomizer,
  • includes a bit of support code for smoothing video transitions and disabling the restore key, and
  • has raster bars that are stable on PAL and NTSC machines, including old NTSC and Drean.

Here are a few videos on how to use the application:

Note for PETSCII artwork: the only PETSCII editor that saves files compatible with C64 Raster Effect Editor I am aware of is Marq’s PETSCII Editor (November 2020 Edition).

C64 Raster Effect Editor – downloads

C64 Pic Extender

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The C64 Pic Extender is a multi-platform cross-development tool used to augment Multicolor and PETSCII artwork for the Commodore 64 by adding sprites in the left and right borders of the visible screen.

C64 Pic Extender: Love from Sweden by The Sarge (multicolor)

C64 Pic Extender: Love from Sweden by The Sarge (multicolor)

C64 Pic Extender: Love from Sweden by The Sarge (multicolor)

C64 Pic Extender: Love from Sweden by The Sarge (multicolor)

Designs can be saved to a project file and progressed at a later time. A project can be exported to an executable PRG file that:

  • is compressed with Exomizer,
  • includes a bit of support code for smoothing video transitions and disabling the restore key, and
  • optionally includes a transition effect to highlight the use of sprites in the side-borders.

Note for PETSCII artwork: the only PETSCII editor that saves files compatible with C64 Pic Extender I am aware of is Marq’s PETSCII Editor (November 2020 Edition).

C64 Pic Extender – downloads

ALBERT

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ALBERT is a multi-platform cross-development pixel art editor, developed with assistance from Joachim Ljunggren (a.k.a The Sarge) for the UI, UX, and testing. It allows users to create Commodore 64 images that extend into the left and right borders of the visible screen, with sprites to display the extra pixels, using an uncomplicated drawing workflow.

ALBERT: the pixel art editor for extended Commodore 64 images by Luigi Di Fraia

ALBERT: the pixel art editor for extended Commodore 64 images

ALBERT: PNG image import dialog by Luigi Di Fraia

ALBERT: PNG image import dialog

Designs can be saved to project files for later modification. A project file contains all work-stages, which can be exported to PNG files. The latter can then be used to produce a time-lapse to illustrate all production stages of the creative process behind a project.

Currently ALBERT can import non-native images (in PNG format) using a nearest match, an error diffusion (Floyd–Steinberg) dithering, or an ordered dithering approach to convert them, based on the Commodore 64 palette used for importing.
Furthermore, whereas the natural (Euclidean) distance is found to be unsuitable for color matching, a weighted alternative is available. The latter should produce results in line with expectations based on the luminance value of Commodore 64 palette colors.
Finally, a “curves adjustment” widget is provided in order to adjust each color channel separately and/or all of them at the same time.

ALBERT also provides integration with the programming language Lua, for access to scripted drawing.

ALBERT – downloads

Book Layout Generator

Book Layout Generator is a multi-platform tool that produces the page sequence required to print long documents in a book fashion.

Users just need to specify how many pages are there in a document and whether to print 2 or 4 pages on each side of the sheet (the latter choice, 4, requires cutting the sheets).
Optionally, a document can also be divided into sub-volumes, bound separately.
If a book has to be printed from bottom to top (e.g for books that are read from right to left), there also is an option for doing just that.
The program will then produce the exact sequence to provide to a “print dialog”.

Book Layout Generator: example of usage by Luigi Di Fraia

Book Layout Generator: example of usage

Book Layout Generator: about dialog by Luigi Di Fraia (Xubuntu Linux)

Book Layout Generator: about dialog (Xubuntu Linux)

Book Layout Generator – downloads