[Qgis-developer] ZX

[Mateusz Łoskot]

Radim Blazek wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> after successful PDA port: 
> http://mpa.itc.it/radim/qgis/qgis-0.0.9-grass/ipaq1.png 
> http://mpa.itc.it/radim/qgis/qgis-0.0.9-grass/ipaq2.png

Great!

Radim, is there any HOWTO related to QGIS on iPAQ?
I'd be interested :-)

> I am working to port QGIS to ZX Spectrum: 
> http://mpa.itc.it/radim/qgis/zx/img_0775.jpg 
> http://mpa.itc.it/radim/qgis/zx/img_0776.jpg 
> http://mpa.itc.it/radim/qgis/zx/img_0773.jpg

Heh, amazing!
Would you know if there could be a chance to use Commodore PLUS/4 for
such experiments?


> The work goes well but there are some issues  we have to sort out:
> 
> 1. Small memory. ZX Spectrum comes only with 48 kB of memory and my 
> current SVN trunk installation takes about 250 MB on Linux. I think 
> that we can resolve a lot if we strip binary and libraries. Also, 
> just one (default) icon theme and limited set of SVG symbols sould be
>  sufficient. The rest can be possibly resolved with some kind of 
> compressed file system?

There may be some problems with compressed FS. I remember I had problems
with uncompressing Linux kernel on 360KB. Finally, I stripped it from
unused stuff. It was doable because the kernel is much smaller than QGIS
binary. Stripping QGIS may be a challange.

> 2. C++.  So far I have not found a good C++ compiler fo ZX Spectrum.

Me too. I don't think you will find C++ compiler for ZX.
May be there is some cross compiler similar to z88
(http://z88dk.sourceforge.net)

> It is not problem to get C compiler however. I suggest to use C++ 
> preprocessor on some different machine and then compile pure C on ZX 
> Spectrum. I have no idea however how exceptions can be supported in 
> that case. I know  that it would be possible to use cross-compiler 
> and produce binaries for ZX Spectrum on Linux but it does not seem to
>  be fair enough to use such a practice known from proprietary
> software development.

Yup, you're right.


> 3 Qt. It seems that at moment Qt is not available for ZX Spectrum. I 
> hope that Trolls are going to release Qt for ZX Spectrum with 4.3, at
>  least I have heard such rumors.  In case it does not happen I will 
> start petition for ZX port of Qt which will be sent to Trolls. I 
> don't think we have enough resources to port Qt ourselves.

Hmm, I'd bet they have something like this but I'd not be surprised if
only for internal usage/experiments (similarly, to Windows CE support).

> If you are interested to support ZX Spectrum port, we are currently 
> looking for a sponsor to buy a new _green_ display as it is realy 
> tiring to watch black and white screen all the day and night . If you
>  want to donate a green display, please contact directly 
> Jan.Nonner at mt.com, director of ZXLabs in Roudnice. I cannot assure 
> you however that you can reduce taxes in that case.

I see it's a kind of wider initiative ;-)
Could you share your opinion about possible bussines/targets for QGIS on
ZX? May be it could be used as a mobile platform for navi systems in
cars or something like this.

Cheers
-- 
Mateusz Łoskot
http://mateusz.loskot.net