11 Aug
2004
11 Aug
'04
10:16 a.m.
would you rather have one format that allows for easy data access and re-creation of media
or only be able to re-create media and have a difficult interface in EVERY emulator that
needs to access the data? From a usage standpoint, I think putting the burden on the
emulators is not a reasonable approach. There are a variety of emulators available do not
have to deal with track sector access of information. One uses an import command to bring
ms-dos files in for example. To have to write an outside utility that has to know what the
image file type is, know the physical layout of the disk, know how the OS accesses files
on the disk just to retrieve file data is not a good idea. leave the OS access to the real
platform or emulators that want to deal with actual tracks and sectors.
best regards, Steve Thatcher
-----Original Message-----
From: "Dwight K. Elvey" <dwight.elvey(a)amd.com>
Sent: Aug 11, 2004 3:05 PM
To: cctalk(a)classiccmp.org
Subject: Re: Let's develop an open-source media archive standard
From: spc(a)conman.org
It was thus said that the Great Vintage Computer Festival once stated:
I agree. We only need to provide a format that could be converted
for a specific emulator, not necessarily one that can be conveniently
read by an emulator.
Dwight
HOWEVER, this makes it very difficult to use the imagefile on an emulator.
To use the floppy disk example again, if the emulator wants Track 14
Sector 8 (or Block 417) but it has not been explicitly laid out in the
imagefile because it was originally zeroes, then the emulator, if poorly
designed, may crap out.
Are you trying to create an archive format, or a format that is to be used
by emulators? I say skip the emulators and concentrate on archival
purposes. An emulator can then use the archive format to create a disk
image in whatever internal format it requires.
Don't complicate the problem.
-spc (And don't try to become everything for everybody ... )