Time has come to look into boosting software base of 64-bit system with some of the 32-bit software. On one hand, the emulator prototype I did a year ago showed us that it is possible. On the other hand, thanks to efforts of many of you, the software based of 64-bit system has already grown a lot this year and many functionalities are available in native builds.

Since developing a full emulator could easily take a year and eat up all time for all other developments, I decided to time-box this activity to next 2.5 months. This means I'm asking you to be really focused on the most important missing parts. I'm interested in enabling software that you are actually using "everyday" on your 32-bit installations you now miss on 64-bit or lack of which is stopping you from migrating from 32-bit to 64-bit.

Now for technical aspects. You will need a 20250418-1 release with Update 2 applied. Additionally if you are going to be testing this under hosted, you need to update your kernel from here: [url]https://axrt.org/development/hosted_kernel.x86_64-aros.zip[/url]

The emulator package can be downloaded from here: [url]https://axrt.org/development/EmuV0-0.10.x86_64-aros-v11.zip[/url]

Below are instructions intructions (available also in README file inside the archive).

Note1: 32-bit ZuneArc that comes with emulator hangs on AROS One 1.2 while it works on base hosted system. This will be further invastigated.
Note2: 32-bit software that is already recompiled for 64-bit is outside the scope for emulator.

Have fun with it. When reporting error/missing emulation be sure to take screen shots showing what's wrong or how to cause a give crash/issue.

[code]

*IMPORTANT*

This is an early alpha version of prototype of emulator for running ABIv0
programs under 64-bit AROS. At this point it is expected that only a few
programs other than included will even start. For programs that start, it is
expected that only a few of their functions will work.

Emulator is at this moment only an early alpha version. When emulator executes
functions that have not yet been made supported, it will crash and stop.

EmuV0 v0.10

1. Usage

There are two separate binaries, one for running under Linux-hosted AROS,
(EmuV0-linux) other for running under native AROS(EmuV0-pc). Using
Linux-hosted binary on native and vice versa will result in a crash.

From Shell type:

EmuV0-linux <path-to-abiv0-program>

Notes:
- it is not possible to pass argument to ABIv0 programs at this time

2. Dependecies

Emulator will try to load ABIv0 libraries from LIBSV0:. If emulator is
installed in default location, the Package-Startup script will take care
of creating the needed assigns.

ABIv0 programs included with emulator are located in SYS:ProgramsV0. ABIv0
programs can be placed anywhere on disk.

If the program requires additional 32-bit library, copy it from ABIv0 build
to LIBSV0. Other dependencies, like datatypes or Zune classes, also
follow standard paths, but starting at EmuV0:

3. Known issues

- codesets.libary will crash emulator
- sound and network are not supported at this time

[/code]

As you said, many applications have already been ported to 64-bit. The applications that need to work with the emulator are the Hollywood ones.

Problems encountered with emulation:

- Programs run through Emuv0 with the new Zune settings (rounded buttons) generate buttons without borders (no border on the buttons)

- Emuv0 could be run by supported applications via the project icon, but this is impossible to do on AROS.

AROS automatically changes the icon type, making it practically impossible to assign a project icon to a binary file. This operation can be done easily on Amiga OS, where any type of icon can be set on a file

[quote name=AMIGASYSTEM post=9777]@AMIGASYSTEM
- Programs run through Emuv0 with the new Zune settings (rounded buttons) generate buttons without borders (no border on the buttons)

[/quote]

That requires an updated 32-bit muimaster.library. Most of the 32-bit function are actually being provided by original 32-bit libraries. I might do an update of 32-bit muimaster.library. I'll put that on the list with medium priority.

@deadwood:

Can it be used on Axruntime currently ?

The 32 bit applications tnat should be made to work on the emulator FIRST and FOREMOST, are the "RNO" hollywood apps [url]https://aminet.net/search?query=rno&ord=DESC&sort=date[/url]

@arossystem

Hmm, I don't know TBH, didn't try yet.

Which of the RNO application are you actually using under AROS?

Time's a bit tight this week but I'll be trying this out from next week

As previously mentioned, Hollywood is a very particular need for me and I'll also be interested in trying YAM. AudioEvolution would be another useful program to keep as would QuickCDRip (alhough that one has issues with naming the tracks since the CD database it used has gone).

Could I please ask, is it be likely we'll be getting 64 bit naive Ghotscript for ABI1.1? If so I will not worry about trying that out.

Cheers,
Nigel.

Hi,

I think Andreas is close to being willing to port Hollywood to 64-bit AROS if someone with a little weight talked with him. I imagine that all of the RNO apps would quickly become available to 64-bit after that. I enjoy developing with Hollywood so would not switch to 64-bit AROS until Hollywood did too. Thanks.

NathanH

Also, SQLite 3.34a is available for all Amiga flavors now on Aminet including 32-bit AROS. That would also be necessary for me. I've talked with the developer recently (bee-base) so he's still active.

NathanH

@ntromans

Thanks. I'll be looking forward to your tests of Hollywood apps. With regards to YAM - how are you using it currently? I though YAM does not support SSL and most mail providers now switched to encrypted SMTP/POP3 connections.

[quote name=NathanH post=9788]@NathanH - Also, SQLite 3.34a is available for all Amiga flavors now on Aminet including 32-bit AROS. That would also be necessary for me. I've talked with the developer recently (bee-base) so he's still active.

NathanH[/quote]

sqlite is actually available in contrib archive. Have you tried that one? Alternativelly since you are already in contact with developer, could you ask him to do re-compile the version you need for the 64-bit?

[quote name=NathanH post=9787]@NathanH - Hi,

I think Andreas is close to being willing to port Hollywood to 64-bit AROS if someone with a little weight talked with him. I imagine that all of the RNO apps would quickly become available to 64-bit after that. I enjoy developing with Hollywood so would not switch to 64-bit AROS until Hollywood did too. Thanks.

NathanH[/quote]

There are two threads here I believe. One is getting Hollywood development environment to work under 64-bit which is a major development. Other is getting the Hollywood applications you use or wrote to work under 64-bit.

Could you test those applications with the emulator and let me know the issues?

[quote name=NathanH post=9788]@NathanH - Also, SQLite 3.34a is available for all Amiga flavors now on Aminet including 32-bit AROS. That would also be necessary for me. I've talked with the developer recently (bee-base) so he's still active.

NathanH[/quote]

The author of BeeBase has already released his program for 64-bit AROS:
https://archives.arosworld.org/?function=showfile&file=office/database/beebase-multi-1.2-.lha

[quote name=deadwood post=9780]@deadwood - @arossystem

Hmm, I don't know TBH, didn't try yet.

Which of the RNO application are you actually using under AROS?[/quote]

these are the ones i use most often:

- rnoeffects
- rnotunes
- rnoarchive
- rnopublisher

I tested the following applications with EmuV0 v0.10:

HFinder, LilCalendar, HollyPaint, RNOTunes, RNOSlides, RNOArchive, RNOEffects, PintorWeb, VAMP, VindentiumPicta, RNOPublisher

Currently the only one starting is HFinder (see screenshot). The rest of the programs currently fail to start. I will be looking into improving this.

EmuV0 with Calculator produces different results, see screenshot.

Calculator 32Bit > 1+1 = 2

EmuV0 Calculator > 1+1 = 2.00000

thank you very much deadwood

After two days of intense work, RNOSlides finally shows signs of life

Another intensive day of work. More stuff is now starting to work.

Great job, I hope RNOTunes will work too, ZuPlayer is very important, on 64Bit we don't have any MOD players with GUI.
Another important Hollywood software is ‘IconEditor’.

I'm happy to present a new version of EmuV0. It's been a massive work and we finally start to see good results.

[url]https://axrt.org/development/EmuV0-0.17.x86_64-aros-v11.zip[/url]

The following applications has been tested to start and exit without issue. Their functionality has not been tested at all.

HFinder, HollyPaint, RNOSlides, RNOArchive, RNOEffects, RNOPublisher, PintorWeb, VAMP, LilCalendar

I'm now accepting bug reports of broken application functionality or functionality that crashes the emulator. Please hold off reporting graphical glitches at this moment unless they make some functionality broken. Also if a Hollywood application you use is not on the list above, test it as well and report back.

Notes:
- support for sound, network, 3D and custom screen is missing
- delete your current SYS:Tools/EmuV0 and install this package from scratch