Home Computing Weekly


Juggernaut/Auto Load, Buccaneer, Mirage/Pre-Loads

Categories: Review: Software
Author: A.W.
Publisher: Novasoft
Machine: Commodore Vic 20

 
Published in Home Computing Weekly #12

Three cassettes with utility routines for VICs with any memory configuration.

Juggernaut enables you to relocate blocks of memory and, if desired, save memory to tape. As such, the routine functions correctly.

My main criticism is of the such techniques to add comslightly misleading instructions. The author suggests that, provided you have RAM in the relevant block, you can store code in the ROM expansion area.

In order to do this, it is suggested that you may like to relocate your extra ROMs into lower RAM (a task apparently easily done by Juggernaut). I agree that it is simple to relocate the bulk of machine code, but there is no way that Juggernaut can relocate code which either alters the interrupt vector or uses a "Charget" wedge.

Since most extra ROMs use such techniques to add commands to Basic, relocation of ROMs will be fraught with problems. Auto Load will boot code into the expansion ROM area should you want to use it.

Buccaneer is a copier program. With it, you can make backup copies of software. It handled normal programs well but couldn't copy more of the protected software I tried.

Mirage enables you to reconfigure the memory map of your Vic. This is useful if you regularly alter the memory size and can't remember the easy way to do it.

Of greater value are the Pre-Loaders. These short routines are saved in front of a program requiring a changed memory map. When run the pre-loader changes the memory configuration and boots up the main program.

Overall an average bunch of routines which would offer better value if they were all on the same cassette.

A.W.

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