fpc4gp2x: GP2X Console Development

[paul_nicholls]

Hi Guys and Gals

If you are interested, I have had success with compiling SDL programs for the GP2X handheld console using the devkitGP2X and a freepascal cross-compiler program that I built from the freepascal source code.

At the site (http://fpc4gp2x.eonclash.com/) I have uploaded a simple sdl tutorial that compiles under Win32 and gp2x, and I have also written some documentation on how to set it all up!

The site also says where to get the devkitGP2X and freepascal cross-compiler stuff from that is required.

Enjoy!!
cheers,
Paul.

[JoeDonth]

Paul,

Thank you very much for your response and information.

I have just finished downloading the documentation and sample program. I hope to spend time studying them later this afternoon.

I'm really looking forward to working on the gp2x with Pascal.

Thanks again,
Joe

[JoeDonth]

I'm trying to understand Paul's configuration information and have a question.

There are two locations for arm-linux-ar.exe (as an example):
C:\devkitGP2X\bin
and
C:\FPC_win32_arm-linux\bin\arm-linux

They have different dates (and different sizes). Which directory is the correct one to use (and why are there two -- I'm just trying to understand the pieces)?

Thanks,
Joe

[paul_nicholls]

I'm trying to understand Paul's configuration information and have a question.

There are two locations for arm-linux-ar.exe (as an example):
C:\devkitGP2X\bin
and
C:\FPC_win32_arm-linux\bin\arm-linux

They have different dates (and different sizes). Which directory is the correct one to use (and why are there two -- I'm just trying to understand the pieces)?

Thanks,
Joe

So the downloaded cross-compiler file also contains arm-linux-ar.exe?

I must have deleted it from my local copy...it isn't needed and I should update the uploaded file. Sorry about that.

You should delete all the arm-linux-*.exe files in your cross-compiler \FPC_win32_arm-linux\bin\arm-linux folder.

The ppcrossarm.exe file in the cross-compiler folder is used as well as the arm-linux-*.exe files in the C:\devkitGP2X\bin folder.

Hope this helps :-)
cheers,
Paul.

[paul_nicholls]

I'm trying to understand Paul's configuration information and have a question.

There are two locations for arm-linux-ar.exe (as an example):
C:\devkitGP2X\bin
and
C:\FPC_win32_arm-linux\bin\arm-linux

They have different dates (and different sizes). Which directory is the correct one to use (and why are there two -- I'm just trying to understand the pieces)?

Thanks,
Joe

So the downloaded cross-compiler file also contains arm-linux-ar.exe?

I must have deleted it from my local copy...it isn't needed and I should update the uploaded file. Sorry about that.

You should delete all the arm-linux-*.exe files in your cross-compiler \FPC_win32_arm-linux\bin\arm-linux folder.

The ppcrossarm.exe file in the cross-compiler folder is used as well as the arm-linux-*.exe files in the C:\devkitGP2X\bin folder.

Hope this helps :-)
cheers,
Paul.

I have updated my fpc4gp2x site with a note about removing the arm-linux-*.exe files from the cross-compiler folder.

cheers,
Paul.

[Legolas]

In order to be fpc-compliant, I think that should be better to put binutils and compiler in %fpc%/bin/arm-gp2x. However, do you have contacted Florian for releasing your port in the SVN server?

[JoeDonth]

Paul,

I hope this question does not fall into the category of "Is he kidding!?", but I am having trouble compiling your gp2x_tutorial program from the command line into a WIN32 exe. It can't find the system unit.

Do I need to install a different version of the FPC or can I use the one that you provided?

What compiler command would you issue to compile the dpr program?

I'm issuing the following:
ppc -FiC:\GP2X\FPC\units\arm-linux\rtl C:\GP2X\Projects\gp2x_tutorial\gp2x_tutorial.dpr

Also, would it change if I was compiling a support unit like SDL.pas?

Thanks,
Joe

[paul_nicholls]

Paul,

I hope this question does not fall into the category of "Is he kidding!?", but I am having trouble compiling your gp2x_tutorial program from the command line into a WIN32 exe. It can't find the system unit.

Do I need to install a different version of the FPC or can I use the one that you provided?

What compiler command would you issue to compile the dpr program?

I'm issuing the following:
ppc -FiC:\GP2X\FPC\units\arm-linux\rtl C:\GP2X\Projects\gp2x_tutorial\gp2x_tutorial.dpr

Also, would it change if I was compiling a support unit like SDL.pas?

Thanks,
Joe

I normally use Lazarus (www.lazarus.freepascal.org) to compile the project for Win32, so I haven't had a problem.

I am not sure what the pcc.exe would be used for, but I don't think it is for creating Win32 programs (but don't quote me on this )

Have you managed to make Win32 programs using ppc.exe?

I am pretty sure that to compile a Win32 version of the project you either need a Win32 version of Lazarus or freepascal (or Delphi of course)...

When using Delphi, Lazarus or freepascal to compile a project, the 'support' units like sdl.pas should be compiled just fine...it is only when doing the cross-compile to GP2X using the batch file that this should be an issue.

cheers,
Paul.

[savage]

ppc -FiC:\GP2X\FPC\units\arm-linux\rtl C:\GP2X\Projects\gp2x_tutorial\gp2x_tutorial.dpr

I prefer using the command line to Lazarus. Unless you have edited the fpc.cfg file to point to the jedi-sdl directory, you will need to pass the directories where the sdl.pas and jedi-sdl.inc file are as well via the command line. I would tend to use...

fpc -FiC:\GP2X\FPC\units\arm-linux\rtl -FiC:\{path to jedi-sdl} -FuC:\{path to jedi-sdl} C:\GP2X\Projects\gp2x_tutorial\gp2x_tutorial.dpr

[JoeDonth]

savage,

Thank you for your suggestion. I was able to compile Paul's tutorial program and run it on my Windows box!

Joe