MacsBug 5.1? Or, version IV to 5.6.1?

[David Cook]

Does anyone have a copy of MacsBug 5.1? I'm trying to debug an application on the Macintosh 512K, and I would like the latest version that ran on that machine.

"MacsBug Debugger for Macintosh. Copyright Apple Computer 1982-1986. Originally by Motorola. Adapted to Lisa/Mac by Rich Page 1/25/1982. Enhanced by Steve Capps 11/1/1984. Version IV+ by Ken Krugler 5/13/1985. Disassembler by Ira Reuben 2/28/1986. Version 5.1 by Dan Allen May 1986. This version works w/512KB-4MB of RAM, 64KB or 128KB ROMs, and with 68000/68020/68881 processors"


Version 5.1 is referenced in this article. https://www.macgui.com/news/article.php?t=485

Wikipedia also lists the following entries:

• 1979 Motorola 68000 Design Module debugger[3]
• January 25, 1982 - Adapted by Rich Page for Lisa & Mac.
• November 1, 1984 - Enhanced by Steve Capps.
• May 13, 1985 - Version IV+ by Ken Krugler.
• November 21, 1986 - Disassembler upgraded by Ira Reuben.
• [Just added to Wikipedia] May, 1986 - Version 5.1 by Dan Allen.
• June 15, 1987 - Version 5.4 by Dan Allen.
• March 31, 1988 - Version 5.6.1 by Dan Allen.
• June 29, 1988 - Version 6.0 by Michael Tibbott.
• April 20, 1989 - Version 6.1 by Michael Tibbott.
• September 14, 2000 - Version 6.6.3.

The November 1 version is available from Mac GUI on the MDS 2 disk, as well as MacStuff 2/85 and 12/85 disk collections. Version 6 and beyond are available on the Apple Developer CDs.

However, I cannot locate a source for the IV through 5 versions. If you have any of those versions of MacsBug, would you kindly upload it?

Thank you in advance.

David

 

[David Cook]

I've scoured the internet, my floppy treasure trove, and even a ROM to locate the following eight versions of pre-6 MacsBug.

I found three versions of MacsBug that were originally titled Maxbug because it filled the screen (as opposed to the original MacsBug / xMacBug that only shows ten lines). Full screen required more memory to buffer, and thus targeted the Macintosh 512K.

November 1, 1984 - Enhanced by Steve Capps. Found on Consulair C, MacStuff, and 68000 MDS floppies

March 30, 1985 - Many changes compared to November. Found on random floppy.

May 13, 1985 - Version IV+ by Ken Krugler. Found on random floppy.

A lot of spelling changes of trap names between the three above. Dropping 'E's, changing 'SYSTEMBEEP' to 'SYSBEEP', etc


Introduced a spelling error for some reason. UnlodeScrap?


Five versions of 5.x

July 10, 1986 - Version 5.1 by Dan Allen. This is a different date than Mac GUI forum has, but it says so in the code. I think working copies kept coming from Dan from May to July. Found on MPW 1.0B2. Perhaps MPW 1.0 (golden) has an even newer dated 5.1?


September 18, 1986 - Version 5.2b4 by Dan Allen. Not sure what 'Z^2' is.



February 20, 1987 - Version 5.3A5 by Dan Allen. Found on MPW 2.0A3. Check out the 68030 support 18 months before the IIx shipped.



April 22, 1987 - Version 5.3 by Dan Allen. Found on the Macintosh Classic's ROM disk. The Classic came out three years later than this version.

July 14, 1987 - Version 5.5 by Dan Allen. Found on MPW 2.0. Why not use this in the Classic ROM?

It says v5.4 in the owner resource string and in the hidden credits.


However, the file comment says 5.5

(notice that Dan drops any mention of 68030 in the Get Info box. A little too early to be talking about this CPU publicly.)

And the onscreen version is 5.5.

This indeed runs on a Macintosh 512K.

Elizabeth is no longer thanked.


This is the first version with a resource fork and icon. Ahh. Some FKEYs!



Hmm. There's a 'CODE' segment in it. You won't believe this... double click on it to get a Mandelbrot set. Nice Easter egg!



I will post the MacsBug files next.

- David

 

[David Cook]

Here are the eight versions of pre-6 MacsBug that I located.

To use one, rename it to be just plain 'MacsBug' without the date or version number. Then, drag that into your System Folder. Those brave enough to use this on a MFS disk need not worry about whether it is in a folder or not.

The commands are significantly different than in the 6.x versions of MacsBug. Type ? for help, which will do you little good. Instead, use either of these manuals:

Macintosh Programmer's Workshop Reference Version 1.0 Chapter 8 page 181 https://dn720005.ca.archive.org/0/items/mpw-reference/mpw reference_text.pdf
Macintosh 68000 Development System User's Manual page 77 https://ia800604.us.archive.org/35/items/macintosh-68k-dev/Image072217155156.duplex.merged_text.pdf

 

[David Cook]

A quick note on getting the Classic to boot from the ROM disk in Mini vMac:

1. Perform a custom variation build from the website of Mini vMac targeting the Classic. https://www.gryphel.com/c/minivmac/var_serv.html
2. Put a copy of the Classic ROM (from https://www.macintoshrepository.org/7038-all-macintosh-roms-68k-ppc-) renamed as 'classic.rom' in the same folder a Mini vMac
3. Run Mini vMac
4. Ctrl-s, ctrl-z slow down to 1x speed.
5. Ctrl-f to enter full screen mode to avoid Windows showing the Windows menu when the key is pressed.
6. Ctrl-r to restart Mini vMac
7. Quickly hold down windowskey-alt-x-o and keep holding for a while
8. Rom disk should boot.

 

[siddhartha]

What amazing work, David! I've archived your versions on the Garden and referenced this page. There's quite a collection building there now (including 5.4 and 5.6.2 from Dan Allen himself) if you're interested.

 

[David Cook]

What amazing work, David! I've archived your versions on the Garden and referenced this page. There's quite a collection building there now (including 5.4 and 5.6.2 from Dan Allen himself) if you're interested.

Thank you for uploading those to the garden and letting me know about the collection! Pretty cool that Dan Allen is peeking over our shoulders from time to time.

 

[olePigeon]

I love this kind of digital archeology. Nice job.

 

[cheesestraws]

What amazing work, David! I've archived your versions on the Garden and referenced this page. There's quite a collection building there now (including 5.4 and 5.6.2 from Dan Allen himself) if you're interested.

Now that's cool