Does anyone reading this list still write code to be run
under RT-11? When a program has a bug, what do
you use to find the problem? For debugging programs,
SD: seems the most efficient way, especially when a
Mapped Monitor is being used. Alternatively, ODT
(VDT when Multi-terminal Support is included in the
RT-11 monitor) can be LINKed into the program.
Recently, I have been considering enhancements to
the SD: variant, SDHX.SYS, which would reduce
the Low Memory required along with adding an
additional feature which is part of Ersatz-11.
Specifically, SET PCLOG ON requests the
Ersatz-11 emulator to save the addresses of the
last 64 instructions that were executed. The the
command SHOW PCLOG displays all 64 addresses
at the users request.
I would appreciate a response from anyone still writing
and debugging programs that run under RT-11 and
which debug package is being used along with the
advantages and disadvantages that have been found.
One big advantage of SDHX.SYS (actually all of the
SD: variants) is that the user can request an automatic
display of all of the register contents every time that a
breakpoint occurs. The display occurs at the top of
the screen each time the breakpoint takes place. The
VT100 escape codes are then used to scroll down the
screen and display each instruction in turn as it is about
to be executed. One big disadvantage of SDHX.SYS
is that it freezes the system completely, including the
clock interrupts.
The big advantage of VDT is that other jobs are able
to continue running, but no other information is easily
available when the program is stopped at a breakpoint.
I would appreciate any response.
Jerome Fine