XcomGUI wrote on 2023-09-15, 17:15:

Could be. Unless you have changed the memory manager settings to use an internal allocator, it relies on djgpp/dpmi/dos to allocate the memory, and dynamically allocates the RAM with malloc/realloc/free. If you open the process explorer, you can observe the memory usage on the xcom process itself. If you see it crashing after reaching certain treshold, then its indeed due to the memory system. If the crash is not related to memory utilization, then it related to a bug in the code. Currently HDPMI32i.EXE and CWSDPMI.EXE can be used with XCOM. Last time i have checked it, neither of them supported swap files (despite cwsdpmi officially says it supports it - it doesnt) so swapping is not possible for now.

So, I haven't used DOS as main OS for more than two decades, but I correctly remember that there were some problems with its RAM management. And, yes, still there's info that HIMEM in DOS 7.10 has some bug that limits usable memory to 64 MB. I have to try alternatives to HIMEM+EMM386 memory management - maybe JEMMEX or UMBPCI.

Just tried again to reproduce the same crash conditions with no success. Xcom's process explorer shows memory usage of below 10 MB. Maybe it was some momentary instability of my test system.

XcomGUI wrote on 2023-09-15, 17:15:

I intentionally did it like this way. I don't like if things randomly pop out as you hover around.

It's not needed on hover to open all the submenus from the menu item pointed with mouse pointer, but just one more level in submenu if there's any. Users can't bother to remember which thing is in which exact (sub)menu 😀 But in the end it's only yours design and decision.

XcomGUI wrote on 2023-09-15, 17:15:

This system is designed for unix like systems, but so far only the dos version is available. Shutdown is supposed to turn off the computer by executing the command "halt", or "reboot" in the case you want to reboot the computer. If your system lacks these (and a pure dos lacks them) then it will simply quit from the software. Currently this is disabled under DOS. I am going to notice this proposal, and I am going to modify the code to call halt and reboot even under dos, but you will need to get a halt.exe and a reboot.exe in your DOS directory to get the desired functionality.

Actually reboot from Xcom's Menu works natively with this Win98 DOS version 7.10 on my system with AT-PSU powered board.

Some potential GUI bugs: I test Xcom with 800x600 display resolution and when I choose "Generate walpaper" in "Desktop settings" after quit and restart of Xcom it is always with activated "Mosaic" option in these settings. Also "Manual" checkbox always resets to "Auto" in "Display resolution" even if it was saved.

This is really cool and very promising program. Way to go! Keep up the good work!

2023, sept 20. - Hotfix release

-Fixed escape key interaction with right click menus
-Right clicking in right click local menus will open the menu element (requested by analog_programmer).
-Shutdown and reboot commands are now executed when requested in the DOS version (reported by analog_programmer).
-Fixed Manual and Automatic aspect ratio/resolution radio button status (reported by analog_programmer).

analog_programmer wrote on 2023-09-15, 08:29:

Also it will be nice if mouse right click works as left click on items of already opened by left click context menu.

Implemented.

analog_programmer wrote on 2023-09-15, 08:29:

"Quit" and "Shutdown" in "(Start) Menu/Exit" do the same - exit to DOS prompt.

Now it calls halt and reboot properly (but requires a halt.com and a reboot.com to work).

analog_programmer wrote on 2023-09-15, 08:29:

I think, DOS version of Xcom has its potential to be something like better Win3.x 😀

Now its at least 500% better. I measured it 😁

analog_programmer wrote on 2023-09-15, 08:29:

Some potential GUI bugs: I test Xcom with 800x600 display resolution and when I choose "Generate walpaper" in "Desktop settings" after quit and restart of Xcom it is always with activated "Mosaic" option in these settings.

Can not reproduce the bug.

analog_programmer wrote on 2023-09-15, 08:29:

Also "Manual" checkbox always resets to "Auto" in "Display resolution" even if it was saved.

The bug got fixed.

Sorry if I haven't done it yet: many compliments for XCom, it's truly exceptional!

XcomGUI wrote on 2023-09-20, 14:28:

2023, sept 20. - Hotfix release […]
Show full quote

2023, sept 20. - Hotfix release

-Fixed escape key interaction with right click menus
-Right clicking in right click local menus will open the menu element (requested by analog_programmer).
-Shutdown and reboot commands are now executed when requested in the DOS version (reported by analog_programmer).
-Fixed Manual and Automatic aspect ratio/resolution radio button status (reported by analog_programmer).

Great job, XcomGUI! Yesterday I tested this last release and all is as it's was described. I have to find HALT.COM to test shutdown functionality, but I can guarantee that restart works "out of the box" with Win98SE's MS-DOS 7.10.

But this bug persists:

XcomGUI wrote on 2023-09-20, 14:28:

analog_programmer wrote on 2023-09-15, 08:29:

Some potential GUI bugs: I test Xcom with 800x600 display resolution and when I choose "Generate wallpaper" in "Desktop settings" after quit and restart of Xcom it is always with activated "Mosaic" option in these settings.

Can not reproduce the bug.

I can make some pictures with additional explainations, if it will be of use.

Also I have spotted a couple of bugs when I use Xcom with keyboard navigation only i.e. no mouse, but dont't know if they'll be of interest to be fixed.

It's strange to me that a lot of people here seems to try Xcom, but don't test or report for bugs and we can't help with anything else if the software isn't open source. I regret for not being able to try Xcom on my 386SX-40 machine as I have only 4 MB EDO RAM for it and it looks like the full 16 MB supported by 386SX will be needed for Xcom. It's extremely difficult for me to find 4 modules of 4 MB 30 pin SIMM EDO/FP RAM at a reasonable price. Currently the oldest technology configuration I can test on Xcom is Pentium 100 (P54) with 16 MB PC66 SDRAM. For an adequate comparison with Win3.xx I would really need to try Xcom on 386SX machine. So far Win3.1 is winning in terms of hardware - needs minimum of 1MB RAM to start, but in terms of built-in functionalities and interface Xcom just wipes out every Win version prior Win95 and in certain aspects even the original first 95 release.

A lot of time has passed since the last news given by the author of Xcom, the website is now unreachable: what happened?

igna78 wrote on 2024-04-28, 16:35:

A lot of time has passed since the last news given by the author of Xcom, the website is now unreachable: what happened?

I think nobody here knows what happened. The Xcom's site just disappeared from the web space a coupule of months ago.

The Chryssalids must have got him )-:

analog_programmer wrote on 2024-04-29, 10:11:

igna78 wrote on 2024-04-28, 16:35:

A lot of time has passed since the last news given by the author of Xcom, the website is now unreachable: what happened?

I think nobody here knows what happened. The Xcom's site just disappeared from the web space a coupule of months ago.

Only, I hope that Xcom Author be well
Thank you very much for Xcom 🤞😉

It is a pity, the project looked very good and promising. Probably the best modern looking GUI for DOS in the works.

At least I managed to archive the latest releases before the site went down. Unfortunately the stored old website in archive.org did not back up them, so if the author sees no issue I would rather upload them somewhere for posterity and public access.

Thankyou, i am well and alive. No need to worry. Nothing happened, just website rot. I haven't logged in for a few months. I rarely do any online activities. I live my life, if i am in the front of my computer, i do my works, do my projects... and the website got nuked without notice. I have restored it.

XcomGUI wrote on 2024-05-03, 21:56:

Thankyou, i am well and alive. No need to worry. Nothing happened, just website rot. I haven't logged in for a few months. I rarely do any online activities. I live my life, if i am in the front of my computer, i do my works, do my projects... and the website got nuked without notice. I have restored it.

I'm really happy to hear that you are well and living your life 😄
Yours is truly a beautiful project and you have given a great gift to all of us. Thanks again and best wishes for your life 🤗

Bondi wrote on 2022-04-19, 20:33:

Cute stuff. Thanks for sharing!

PS
I thought it had something to do with X-com game, so maybe it's worth editing the thread name to be more relevant.

So disappointing when this program didn't offer alien research, plasma weaponry, and the ability to train psionics.

2024, july 15. - General bugfix release

-MP3 file loading bar added in the DOS version
-Fixed memory out of boundary issues when rasterizing menu elements.
-Fixed a bug which caused the text editor to hog the CPU for no reason.
-Optimized some generic parts of the GUI system to get some additional responsibility in idle-type usage.
-Fixed a bug when changing window transparency - no the sprite color is preserved.
-Increased file copying performance.
-Increased system responsibility when performing directory and file operations.
-Released an 1.44MB XCOM floppy boot image with FreeDOS.

Download XCOM actual version: http://xcom.infora.hu/xcom.zip

XCOM Live floppy version released (1.44mb):

Download XCOM Live Floppy: http://xcom.infora.hu/xcom144.img

Thank you for this new xcom’s version

Thanks!! Great software i try on c840. Easy, compatible with mi config (sbemu,ctmouse,etc). All work, i can chnage resolution, the mp3 player is great for use time in manage dos games 😀

Thanks

2024, september 01. - Editor feature update

-Revert (CRT-Z) hotkey now works in all input fields
-Fixed a memory corruption bug when opening programs.
-GUI system is optimized: now runs about two times faster when performing small operations (such as moving the mouse cursor).
-Control+Shift+Left, Control+Shift+Right, Control+Delete, and Control+Backspace hotkeys are now implemented.
-Fixed a selection bug when clicking in the text editor when multiple lines are selected.
-Fixed a bug causing crash when moving around in the text editor.
-The text editor now moves around more reliably when selecting the text with the mouse.
-Terminal can move left and right if needed, when navigating inside it.
-Fixed a bug when going up and down lines if selection is already active.
-Fixed a bug causing some texts to lean out from windows when resizing.
-CRTL+Z now works in paint.
-Fixed a bug causing the already loaded previews to dissapear when the system is running low on RAM.
-Fixed memory corruption when displaying error messages from a closed program.

MiNiDOS wrote on 2024-04-30, 01:35:

if the author sees no issue I would rather upload them somewhere for posterity and public access.

Please upload them wherever you want. This is a free software.

XcomGUI wrote on 2024-08-30, 15:02:

MiNiDOS wrote on 2024-04-30, 01:35:

if the author sees no issue I would rather upload them somewhere for posterity and public access.

Please upload them wherever you want. This is a free software.

Thank you!

BTW, here is a minor annoyance to report:

A visual queue is required in the startup menu to indicate items holding subitems.

So for example:

"Terminal" just launches the console, but "Information" expands the menu
showing two available items to select: "About" and "License.txt".

So, for this case, "Information" could have, for example, a directional arrow
drawn to the right, to hint the user that more content is available there.

Again, thank you for your continued work!

XcomGUI wrote on 2022-04-19, 18:59:

The networking part - i have fully implemented it, sadly the compiler i use (DJGPP) doesnt supports networking (TCP/IP) under DOS according to the official manual, so i had to cut it out from the DOS version. Maybe there are solutions to work around this - or maybe i will use a different compiler at the end.

There's WATTCP for DJGPP.

https://www.watt-32.net/
https://github.com/gvanem/Watt-32