SkoolKit 9.2b1

[SkoolKid]

I don't usually announce pre-releases of SkoolKit anywhere - mainly because I don't usually publish pre-releases of SkoolKit - but I'm making an exception for 9.2b1 because, unlike all previous versions, this one contains C extension modules (for faster Z80 simulation), and I'd like to make sure they're built correctly and working.

So, if you're feeling brave and would like to try it out, you can grab it from TestPyPI.

I recommend installing it in a Python virtual environment (but you can also install it in your main Python environment if you like). The steps for doing that on Windows (for example) would be something like this:

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> py -m venv venv
> cd venv\Scripts
> activate
(venv) > pip install -i https://test.pypi.org/simple/ skoolkit

Then you could compare the speed of the pure Python Z80 simulator and its C counterpart by executing 10 million instructions on a 48K Spectrum like this:

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(venv) > python trace.py --python -m 10000000 --stats 48
(venv) > python trace.py -m 10000000 --stats 48

If all is well, that second invocation of trace.py should run quite a bit faster. Good luck!

[SkoolKid]

In case anyone wants to keep using SkoolKit 9.2b1 for a bit, the (updated) manual can be found here.

I should have mentioned that the new Z80 simulator is used by default wherever the old one was, so it's not only trace.py that's faster now - tap2sna.py, #AUDIO and #SIM also get a speed boost. Try loading Skool Daze, for example:

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$ tap2sna.py https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/pub/sinclair/games/s/SkoolDaze.tzx.zip

[pobtastic]

I've used #SIM a lot for my Booty disassembly and can confirm that everything appears to work identically to the 9.1 version. I don't see any differences, and the build time is roughly a third less.

Excellent work!

[SkoolKid]

I've used #SIM a lot for my Booty disassembly and can confirm that everything appears to work identically to the 9.1 version. I don't see any differences, and the build time is roughly a third less.

Glad to hear it. SkoolKit - saving energy and the planet since version 9.2.

For my own part, I'm enjoying being able to run the tap2sna.py test suite over ~13000 tapes in just under 13 minutes instead of just under 3 hours. And the rzxplay.py test suite over 6652 RZX files in just under 3 hours instead of about a week.