Contents
- A note for Linux users: read before downloading
- DC2N DMP to TAP conversion utility
- PRG to TAP encapsulation utility
- Filename extractors
- Book Layout Generator
- TAPClean Front End
- Integrator 2012 and The Last Ninja Construction Kit
- C64 Raster Effect Editor
- C64 Pic Extender
- ALBERT
- DC2N4-LC Clients
- C2NEmu Clients
- IECHost Clients
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.
DC2N DMP to TAP conversion utility
A comprehensive utility for DC2N DMP to TAP format conversion, that 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
- DC2N DMP to TAP command-line utility 3.1 for Linux 64-bit (Ubuntu/Debian)
- DC2N DMP to TAP command-line utility 3.1 for Windows (all versions – includes a utility for integration in Explorer)
- DC2N DMP to TAP command-line utility 3.1 for macOS (Intel)
- DC2N DMP to TAP command-line utility 3.1 for Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (Raspbian)
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 CBM 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
- PRG to TAP command-line utility 1.8 for Linux 64-bit (Ubuntu/Debian)
- PRG to TAP command-line utility 1.8 for Windows (all versions)
- PRG to TAP command-line utility 1.8 for macOS (Intel)
- PRG to TAP command-line utility 1.8 for Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (Raspbian)
Filename extractors
These are two utilities that parse TAP files in order to extract the filename from CBM ROM 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
- CBM ROM filename extractor utility 1.1 for Linux 64-bit (Ubuntu/Debian)
- CBM ROM filename extractor utility 1.1 for Windows (all versions)
- CBM ROM filename extractor utility 1.1 for Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (Raspbian)
- TT250 filename extractor utility 1.1 for Linux 64-bit (Ubuntu/Debian)
- TT250 filename extractor utility 1.1 for Windows (all versions)
- TT250 filename extractor utility 1.1 for Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (Raspbian)
Book Layout Generator
Book Layout Generator provides 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 – downloads
- Book Layout Generator 0.4 for Linux 64-bit (Ubuntu/Debian)
- GTK+ 2.24.31 runtime installer for Windows (all versions)
- Book Layout Generator 0.4 for Windows (all versions – requires the above GTK+ runtime)
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 – downloads
Note: binary packages of TAPClean Front End include TAPClean executables too.
- TAPClean Front End 0.40 for Linux 64-bit (Ubuntu/Debian)
- TAPClean Front End 0.40 for Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (Raspbian)
- TAPClean Front End 0.40 for Windows portable (all versions – includes runtime components)
- GTK+ 2.24.31 runtime installer for Windows (all versions)
- TAPClean Front End 0.40 for Windows (all versions – requires the above GTK+ runtime)
- TAPClean Front End User Manual (PDF)
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.
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).
Integrator 2012 – downloads
The following download options are available for Integrator 2012:
- LN bundle 1.5.1 for Linux 64-bit (Ubuntu/Debian)
- LN2 bundle 1.5.1 for Linux 64-bit (Ubuntu/Debian)
- LN3 bundle 1.5.1 for Linux 64-bit (Ubuntu/Debian)
- Time Machine bundle 1.5.1 for Linux 64-bit (Ubuntu/Debian)
- Vendetta bundle 1.5.1 for Linux 64-bit (Ubuntu/Debian)
- LN bundle 1.5.1 for Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (Raspbian)
- LN2 bundle 1.5.1 for Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (Raspbian)
- LN3 bundle 1.5.1 for Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (Raspbian)
- Time Machine bundle 1.5.1 for Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (Raspbian)
- Vendetta bundle 1.5.1 for Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (Raspbian)
- LN bundle 1.5.1 for macOS (Intel)
- LN2 bundle 1.5.1 for macOS (Intel)
- LN3 bundle 1.5.1 for macOS (Intel)
- Time Machine bundle 1.5.1 for macOS (Intel)
- Vendetta bundle 1.5.1 for macOS (Intel)
- LN bundle 1.5.1 for Windows portable (all versions – includes runtime components)
- LN2 bundle 1.5.1 for Windows portable (all versions – includes runtime components)
- LN3 bundle 1.5.1 for Windows portable (all versions – includes runtime components)
- Time Machine bundle 1.5.1 for Windows portable (all versions – includes runtime components)
- Vendetta bundle 1.5.1 for Windows portable (all versions – includes runtime components)
- GTK+ 2.24.31 runtime installer for Windows (all versions)
- LN bundle 1.5.1 for Windows (all versions – requires the above GTK+ runtime)
- LN2 bundle 1.5.1 for Windows (all versions – requires the above GTK+ runtime)
- LN3 bundle 1.5.1 for Windows (all versions – requires the above GTK+ runtime)
- Time Machine bundle 1.5.1 for Windows (all versions – requires the above GTK+ runtime)
- Vendetta bundle 1.5.1 for Windows (all versions – requires the above GTK+ runtime)
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.
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:
- Automatic raster bar generation
- Introducing the compact interface
- Replicating a selection in order to create repeating patterns
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 Raster Effect Editor 1.4.1 for Linux 64-bit (Ubuntu/Debian)
- C64 Raster Effect Editor 1.4.1 for Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (Raspbian)
- C64 Raster Effect Editor 1.4.1 for macOS (Intel)
- C64 Raster Effect Editor 1.4.1 for Windows portable (all versions – includes runtime components)
- GTK+ 2.24.31 runtime installer for Windows (all versions)
- C64 Raster Effect Editor 1.4.1 for Windows (all versions – requires the above GTK+ runtime)
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.
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
- C64 Pic Extender 1.1.1 for Linux 64-bit (Ubuntu/Debian)
- C64 Pic Extender 1.1.1 for Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (Raspbian)
- C64 Pic Extender 1.1.1 for macOS (Intel)
- C64 Pic Extender 1.1.1 for Windows portable (all versions – includes runtime components)
- GTK+ 2.24.31 runtime installer for Windows (all versions)
- C64 Pic Extender 1.1.1 for Windows (all versions – requires the above GTK+ runtime)
ALBERT
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ALBERT is a multi-platform cross-development pixel editor that allows users to create Commodore 64 images that extend into the left and right borders of the visible screen, using multicolor sprites to display the extra pixels.
Designs can be saved to project files for later modification. A project file contains all work-stages, which can be saved 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 using a “nearest match” approach to convert them to use the active Commodore 64 palette.
ALBERT also provides integration with Lua, for scripted drawing.
ALBERT – downloads
- ALBERT 1.0.47 for macOS (Intel)
- ALBERT 1.0.47 for Windows portable (64-bit – includes runtime components)
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 client – downloads
- DC2N4-LC command-line client 2.3 for Linux 64-bit (Ubuntu/Debian)
- DC2N4-LC command-line client 2.3 for Windows (all versions)
- DC2N4-LC multi-threaded GUI client 4.4.1 for Linux 64-bit (Ubuntu/Debian)
- DC2N4-LC multi-threaded GUI client 4.4.1 for Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (Raspbian)
- DC2N4-LC multi-threaded GUI client 4.4.1 for macOS (Intel)
- DC2N4-LC multi-threaded GUI client 4.4.1 for Windows portable (all versions – includes runtime components)
- GTK+ 2.24.31 runtime installer for Windows (all versions)
- DC2N4-LC multi-threaded GUI client 4.4.1 for Windows (all versions – requires the above GTK+ runtime)
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 clients – downloads
- C2NEmu command-line playback client 1.3 for Linux 64-bit (Ubuntu/Debian)
- C2NEmu command-line playback client 1.3 for Windows (all versions)
- C2NEmu command-line record client 1.0 for Linux 64-bit (Ubuntu/Debian)
- C2NEmu command-line record client 1.0 for Windows (all versions)
- C2NEmu multi-threaded GUI client 2.5 for Linux 64-bit (Ubuntu/Debian)
- C2NEmu multi-threaded GUI client 2.5 for Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (Raspbian)
- GTK+ 2.24.31 runtime installer for Windows (all versions)
- C2NEmu multi-threaded GUI client 2.5 for Windows (all versions – requires the above GTK+ runtime)
IECHost Clients
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Note: this software operates in conjunction with the IECHost hardware.
IECHost clients – downloads
- IECHost command-line utilities 1.8 for Linux 64-bit (Ubuntu/Debian)
- IECHost command-line utilities 1.8 for Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (Raspbian)
- IECHost command-line utilities 1.8 for Windows (all versions)
- IECHost multi-threaded GUI client 3.8.10 for Linux 64-bit (Ubuntu/Debian)
- IECHost multi-threaded GUI client 3.8.10 for Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (Raspbian)
- IECHost multi-threaded GUI client 3.8.10 for macOS (Intel)
- IECHost multi-threaded GUI client 3.8.10 for Windows portable (all versions – includes runtime components)
- GTK+ 2.24.31 runtime installer for Windows (all versions)
- IECHost multi-threaded GUI client 3.8.10 for Windows (all versions – requires the above GTK+ runtime)
- IECHost multi-threaded GUI client 3.8.10 User Manual (PDF)
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.