From: "David Christensen" 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 Lines: 75 X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3110.1 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3110.3 NNTP-Posting-Host: 209.3.225.99 Message-ID: <37b8620b@news5.newsfeeds.com> X-Trace: 16 Aug 1999 14:10:03 -0500, 209.3.225.99 X-Report: Report abuse to abuse AT newsfeeds DOT com X-Abuse-Info: Please be sure to forward a copy of ALL headers, INCLUDING the body X-Abuse-Info2: ALL Spam complaints are acted upon within 24 hours! Organization: Newsfeeds.com http://www.newsfeeds.com 72,000+ UNCENSORED Newsgroups. Instant access!! To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com DJ-Gateway: from newsgroup comp.os.msdos.djgpp Reply-To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com -----Original Message----- From: Bbirthisel AT aol DOT com To: 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 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 -----------== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News ==---------- http://www.newsfeeds.com The Largest Usenet Servers in the World! ------== Over 73,000 Newsgroups - Including Dedicated Binaries Servers ==-----