> That's why I switched to the GNU compiler. Actually, the package is called
> "DJGPP" on the InfoMagik disk. All programs use a parent process called
> "go32" that effectively allows all programs to run with all memory available,
> and then pages out to \TMP when it runs out. So I don't have to worry about
> data structure overhead.
> All this on DOS. And all for $20.
DJGPP was written by DJ Delorie, a good friend of mine. It's a port
of the standard GNU C/C++ compiler to DOS. Go32 is the execution
manager, it translates calls from the 32-bit virtual memory world
of GNU C to the 16-bit real-memory world of DOS, allowing you to
run a world of Unix utilities including make using just bare DOS,
and supports the entire GNU C/C++ compiler and environment - in
fact, most of the POSIX.1 Unix environment that relates to C prog-
ramming.
It is widely redistributed, but it is available free for ftp at
Clarkson, whose web address evades me right now, but which you can
get from DJGCC official web site at http://www.delorie.com/, which
is DJ's own computer. Use his list of sites to find a high-band-
width ftp site, don't download it from his site - the man is shoving
30 megabytes of data a day through a sniveling little 28.8K modem.
ObMechMusic:¶
I just latched on to a wonderful Nicole Freres fat-cylinder box. It's
a two-tunes-per-turn box playing twelve tunes total - at a minute and
a half apiece! The box is lever-wound, but looks pretty early - very
plain case. Anyone know any interesting details to look for that might
tell me something, or have suggestions for restoring it?
The Big News:¶
My wife is going up to Maine today to fetch back my completely-restored
drum-and-bell box from Danilo Konvalinka. Danilo thinks I will be hugely
pleased with the box, and I will post a review of the work - which took
just a tad over twice as long as the estimate! - late this week or early
next week.
More Interesting News:¶
One cannot overemphasize that fact that mechanical music is _mechanical_.
After having my 22 1/2 in Kalliope down since shortly after I got it, I
finally got around to oiling the governor and - Lo! - it plays. Plays
with an absolutely staggering beauty, in fact, I've never heard a box
with a tone like that one, even my Regina. It's not as brassy as the
Regina, but it is louder, richer - and with a huge double-comb, it has
an extra- ordinary range. Still needs a good cleaning and detailing,
though. Who has some recommendations for people who know how to deal
with a really freakin' huge spring motor? _I_ ain't going to touch the
thing, it looks like it could knock my house off its foundation. Any-
way, the lesson here is, if the box is playing, but slowly, try just a
tiny drop of oil at the top and bottom of the governor. Use a good
clock oil (which worked fine on the Kalliope even though the scale of
the thing and the ironmongery in it suggested something like WD-40!
But I don't recommend that. =)
regards,¶
Larry Smith
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