x16-PRos v0.9
A big release focused on program formats, large-file I/O, fresh system tooling, and a much more capable SETUP
The most important changes:
For users:
- MZ EXE program support. You can run some MS-DOS games or programs in .EXE format.
- SETUP can now install x16-PRos to any disk. Pick your target drive (floppy / HDD / SSD) and SETUP formats it and lays down the system files for you
- Installs are no longer capped at 1.44 MB. HDD/SSD partitions can be much larger, leaving real room for files and programs
- Improved HDD / multi-disk handling
- Seven new terminal themes, selectable via the
THEMEprogram - New
SETTINGS.BINprogram - place to configure username, timezone and more - New
CALENDAR.BINprogram CPUutility is now a stand-alone asCPU.BINinstead of being baked into the kernelPAINT.BINupdate: save your drawing to a file, plus new line-drawing mode (toggle between free and line withTAB)- Mouse text selection in the terminal (bare-bones, but it's there)
- Default prompt config fix
For developers:
- PLE (PRos Large Executable) - new native format. Hybrid of
.BINand MZ EXE: multi-segment, files up to ~448 KB, built-in description / author metadata, and a built-in 64×64 splash logo shown before the program runs. - New build tool
scripts/img2pleimg.pyconverts any image (PNG/JPG/etc.) to a 4096-byte PLE logo, snapped to the EGA 16-color palette - New syscall
INT 0x22 AH=0x13- write huge file from arbitrarysegment:offset, supports files larger than 64 KB - New syscalls
INT 0x21 AH=0x0C(clear screen + reapply current theme) andAH=0x06(clear screen, default VGA) - Improved mouse driver
Other improvements:
.BINprogram and CFG buffers moved out of the kernel segment (now at0x1000instead of0x2000), leaving more room for the kernel itself- Various bugfixes