From:	"David Christensen" <dchristensen AT california DOT com>
Newsgroups:	comp.os.msdos.djgpp,comp.lang.perl.misc
References:	<37b4a540 AT news5 DOT newsfeeds DOT com>
Subject:	Re: djgpp, Win98, Perl, and serial port
Date:	Mon, 16 Aug 1999 12:20:20 -0700
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-----Original Message-----
From: Bbirthisel AT aol DOT com <Bbirthisel AT aol DOT com>
To: dchristensen AT california DOT com <dchristensen AT california DOT com>
Date: Friday, August 13, 1999 10:50 PM
Subject: Re: djgpp, Win98, Perl, and serial port


Hi David:

In a message dated 8/13/99 6:07:37 PM Central Daylight Time,
dchristensen AT california DOT com writes:

>  am running the FSF distribution of DJGPP 2.01 (?) and Perl
5.004_02 on my Win98 box.

I think you mean a Perl version build with DJGPP 2.01. Did you
compile it yourself, or just use a pre-build binary distribution? I
also must ask WHY? The last time I looked, the DJGPP-built Perl was
intended for MSDOS-based systems that were not running Win32. But
Win98 is not a plausible target. The MSDOS port traded full
functionality and module support for the ability to run on
older/reduced_capability platforms.

There are at least two common ports for Win98 which have complete
serial support: The 5.004_02 binary from CPAN (the GSAR port) and
the 5xx builds from ActiveState. Both are freely available (for
almost all meanings of the word free - all I care to discuss,
anyway).

>  I am attempting to communicate with a machine we are developing
via the serial port (9600 8-N-1).  I have grep'ed and read through
several docs (open, sysopen, perlfaq8, config.h, ioctrl.h, etc.)
trying to piece together the clues.  This is my current attempt

And it, like all others based on the Un*x driver model, is doomed
to failure on Win9x. Sorry. I wasn't my idea. I tried once, too.
And failed.

>  Searching around on Deja, it looks like people with ActivePerl
have some modules (Win32::SerialPort, Win32::CommPort, and
Win32::API) to make life easier.  There is also supposed to be a
Un*x version of ::SerialPort.

People with either of the above ports, or even the 3xx ActiveState
builds which are no longer encouraged for new installations, do in
fact use those modules on Win9x/NT/2000. With great success. The
Un*x one is named Device::SerialPort and it has been run on linux,
AIX and Solaris. Cross-platform scripts exist which run on all
platforms (takes a messy BEGIN {eval { use } } setup, but works. I
usually just fix the "use" statement and keep two copies).

Actually, Win32::API is a prerequisite for Win32::CommPort - but is
itself a free-standing module. The source is available. Mostly XS
plus a bit of inline X86 assembly code is how it was described to
me. I have not heard of anyone compiling it with DJGPP.
Device::SerialPort uses POSIX.pm. But I suspect no one can create a
Win98 version of THAT module.

>  On 1999/07/23, Bbirthisel <bbirthisel AT aol DOT com> posted a message
"Re: What is the best way to write data to a com port under DOS."
to comp.lang.perl.misc:
>> There is a gentleman in Japan who is working on limited COM port
support for the djgpp-built version of Perl - but he has not yet
released results.

I still have not seen results. He was compiling his own Perl. I'm
not sure if he was using XS for the serial port code or hacking the
source directly. Portability and "general purpose" did not head his
list of priorities - so I'm not sure when or what will happen with
his project.

-bill





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