Release v0.9: TR Host Extensions, MPE, and more

TR (PCB v0.2–0.3) and TR+ (PCB v0.4) each have their own .hex file: TeensyROM_0.9_full.hex for TR, TeensyROM+_0.9_full.hex for TR+.
See Firmware updates for how to install it.

• Note: EEPROM settings are kept when updating from 0.8. Updating from an older release resets them to defaults.

New for TR+

TR Host Extensions

• Install an extension host (.TRH) into its own flash slot alongside the core firmware, without modifying it. See TR_Host_Extensions.md for details.
• Envisioned and implemented by Kelly Fox — a huge thank you!
• Opens the TeensyROM to developers: write and experiment with your own Teensy code as an extension, built and installed without recompiling or reflashing the core firmware.
  • Start with Writing your own extension host, which includes a minimal example to build from.
• Mean Hamster Power Engine (MPE) is the first TRH extension: NES, Game Boy, Doom, classic point-and-click adventures and more on your C64!
  • Get MPE.TRH and its SD card setup files (Teensy.Support.Package.zip) from the MHS-GAME-SUPPORT releases page.
  • Thank you John Swiderski of Mean Hamster Software for MPE and the inspiration behind extensions.
• Extension packages live in the SD card's /VMS folder and claim file types, so selecting one of those files launches it through the installed extension.
  • Claimed files show their own extension as the file type in the menu, and can be used as hot keys, the autolaunch file, or NFC tags.
• New Settings page 0: Installed Extension
  • Shows the installed extension, lists the SD card's extension packages and the file types each claims, and flags problems.
  • u uninstalls. Firmware updates keep the installed extension.

Freezers and REU

• New freezer cartridges: Retro Replay and Final Cartridge III (FC3, 101% and III+ 256K)
  • Retro Replay includes RAM banking and NOFREEZE support.
• TR+ REU alongside Retro Replay, Final Cartridge III 101% and Super Snapshot V5
  • REU is sized from 128K to 512K depending on free RAM. A larger pre-load image loads the part that fits.
  • Short press of the Alt button freezes; hold 700 ms or longer to save the REU image.
  • On by default. To run these carts without the REU, turn it off with g on Settings page 2 (Config: TeensyROM General).
  • Thank you Paul Harker (LessPaul) for all of the freezer contributions!

DMA

• C128 detected, with its own NTSC DMA timing
  • DMA writes on an NTSC C128 are much more reliable. DMA write timing was also corrected for all NTSC machines.
  • See TR+NTSC_C128_DMA_Findings.md for the investigation, including the U55 74F245 -> 74LS245 fix on some C128s.
• DMA hardening: a C64 that stops clocking can no longer hang the TeensyROM in a DMA wait, and every DMA result is now checked.
  • Remote DMA commands now stage their data in a buffer of their own, so a write no longer overwrites a running cartridge's ROM or REU contents.
• New remote command WriteC64Spans: writes a list of C64 memory spans by DMA in caller-sized slices with gaps between, so a running C64 program keeps its timer interrupts.
• Expansion Port test now includes a DMA bit-pattern write test, with results shown on the C64 screen.
• Thank you Kelly Fox for most of the DMA work above!

Other

• External Reset Detect can now be turned off (f on Settings page 2), for setups where an external reset shouldn't return to the TR menu.
  • Helpful for getting into C128 BASIC when needed.
  • Thanks Joe Ochwat for the prompt!

Updates for both TR and TR+

USB and MIDI

• One USB identity: MinimalBoot (large CRTs, FW updates, extension launches) now presents the same USB device as the main firmware
  • Same COM port and the same MIDI port name throughout; a DAW's MIDI port no longer disappears while MinimalBoot runs.
  • Existing boards will see MinimalBoot enumerate as a new device one time.
• USB MIDI device name now includes the unique Teensy ID (TeensyROM-xxxxxxxx), so multiple TeensyROMs can be told apart in a DAW or ASID player.
  • See ASID_Player.md and MIDI_Usage.md for using more than one unit. Thanks William Pereira (MetalHexx)!
• MIDI channel fix: USB MIDI to/from the C64 (Cynthcart, SID-Wizard, Station64, etc.) was off by one channel in both directions.
  • Thank you retrodal for reporting and tracking it down!
• MIDI Message Filter fix: SongSelect, TuneRequest and RealTimeSystem filters now toggle independently (they followed the Song Position setting)
• USB host port: some USB devices stopped being recognized after Teensyduino 1.60. FW now builds against the USBHost_t36 library from before that change.

Files and remote control

• Remote control updates for TeensyROM-Web (thanks William!):
  • Version Info reply now ends with the C64 menu's boot state (Boot: complete / Boot: in progress), so a host knows when it's safe to send a launch after a reset.
  • Ping and the file commands (get, list, post, copy, delete) are now accepted over USB serial while the ASID Player runs, for TeensyROM-Web's DJ Player.
  • See ControlComms.md for details.
• Dot files hidden from USB/SD listings: any file or folder whose name starts with a dot, such as the macOS ._ twins, .DS_Store and .Trashes
  • Applies to the menu browser, NFC random pick, remote listings, TR BASIC directory, and the SwiftLink browser. Thanks Kelly!
• Remote file post/copy/delete now refreshes the menu's SD/USB listing instead of showing the old contents until you navigate away.

New and updated programs

• New programs in the Utilities directory:
  • HEADCRASH Format Util 1541/1581 by Robert Mech: formats a track at a time with progress shown, retries failing tracks and keeps bad tracks out of the BAM. Drive 8-11 selectable.
    • Thank you Robert for writing it and offering it for the TeensyROM menu! https://github.com/rwmech/c64_HEADCRASH_Format_Util
  • CBM FileBrowser v1.6 (IEC drives): browse and launch from real drives, SD2IEC, pi1541, etc. Starts on drive 8, D steps to the next drive.
    • Thank you nbla000 for CBM FileBrowser, and Hannu Nuotio (sd2brwse) and Michael Kircher (sort routine), whose work it builds on.
• RetroMate Internet Chess updated to v1.03
  • Fixes 1/2 keypresses being read as mouse buttons (e.g. 1 acting like backspace while typing a chess server password), plus a buffer-handling rework.
  • Thank you Stefan Wessels!
• Segment+Dot Matrix Digital Clock updated to v11. Thanks again Steven Hardison!

PAL/NTSC detection

• PAL/NTSC now detected by the TeensyROM itself by timing the C64 clock at power-up, instead of waiting for the main menu to report it
  • Cartridges started without the menu (autolaunch, large CRTs in MinimalBoot) now get the right bus timing from the first cycle.
  • Keeps checking afterwards, so a C64 Ultimate that switches video standard (at boot or live from its menu) is followed.
  • The detected machine (C64/C128, NTSC/PAL, 50/60 Hz) is now shown consistently in General Settings, the Version Info remote command, and the SID Info page.

Other

• Larger CRTs in MinimalBoot: image buffer grown from 160KB to 208KB, holding 103 8K banks before any are swapped from SD
  • Bank swaps now read SD in one call per bank instead of per byte, for shorter pauses on large EasyFlash and Magic Desk 2 images.
• The C64 is now held in reset while the TeensyROM reboots, so it can't run garbage off the cartridge port. TR+ also blanks the screen when a large CRT hands off to MinimalBoot.
• PRGs start a little faster: the post-load IO handler swap now uses a handshake instead of a fixed worst-case delay.
• Each firmware image is ~210KB smaller and has more free RAM: the unused TLS library is no longer linked in.

Infrastructure, bug fixes, and Housekeeping updates (TR and TR+)

• New cross-platform build system (thank you Kelly Fox!)
  • npm run build:tr / build:tr-plus / build:c64 on Windows, macOS and Linux
  • Replaces Build-DualBoot.ps1, HexCombine.exe, the C64 .bat files and Python helpers
  • Builds in a private copy of the Teensy core, so the installed one is never modified
  • Build date in the banner is now the commit's date, so a commit always rebuilds to the same .hex
• GitHub CI: every push and pull request builds TR and TR+, and runs the tool, C64 header and extension tests
• tools/flash-firmware.mjs: write firmware over USB from Windows, macOS or Linux, choosing the right board when several are attached and refusing a TR/TR+ mismatched image. Thanks Kelly and William!
• Python bench scripts for driving a TeensyROM over USB (push, launch, peek, read the screen, reflash)
• SD card build scripts (Makefile and PowerShell) to rebuild the full SD card file set
• Run Self Test removed from Settings: on TR+ the Expansion Port test replaces it; plain TR no longer has an IO1 read test
• Crash reports are now printed on USB serial where they can be read
• Misc bug fixes: SD autolaunch card-detect settle time, D64 double close, remote delete with no SD card, C64 message buffer bounds, file handle leaks
• General info page: the Gateway IP and Subnet Mask values no longer show under each other's labels (thanks Kelly!)

Documentation additions/updates since last release

• TR Host Extensions guide
• NTSC C128 DMA write-fault findings
• General Usage revised throughout
• CONTRIBUTING.md and the docs/Architecture reference set for contributors
• C64 Ultimate: set Cartridge Preference to External and Bus Operation Mode to Writes for TR+ DMA features. See C64_Ultimate_Enhancements.md
• Connections diagram updated with the TR+ additions; notes on reaching the case button with a paperclip, and on USB updates with the C64 powered