RetroEevorg Archive

Synthetic git repository built from the RetroEevorg software archive (1984-2024).

Each branch represents a software family. Each commit represents a dated snapshot.

Quick Overview

The archive contains multiple generations of software, transitioning from 8-bit BASIC to Turbo Pascal, Modula-2, C++, and eventually .NET/Java.

• radar/ (1985–1992): RADARPAS - A commercial radar terminal for Ellason E300/E250 systems. Evolved from Turbo Pascal monolith to modular TopSpeed Modula-2.
• eevorg/ (1987–2007): EEVORG - Cellular automata research exploring the "edge of chaos" (entropy 0.5) using genetic algorithms.
• ssm/ (1986–1996): Spreadsheet Management System - A custom spreadsheet engine with formula evaluation.
• thewheel/ (1990–2000): theWheel - Knowledge visualization using spreading activation networks and visual graph browsing.
• kb/: Knowledge Base - RDF/Turtle semantic metadata describing the archive's structure, modules, and functions. Queryable via Prolog.
• cogmap/ (1996): Cognitive Map - Web-based knowledge mapping experiments.
• gdem/ (1984–1985): Graphical Data Entry Manager - Mapping tools for radar overlays.
• egalib-math/: Custom EGA graphics and mathematical utility libraries.
• misc/: Miscellaneous projects including Browsee, Pic-Analysis, and TURING samples.
• bqtourn/: Tournament bracket and scoring software.

Archive Contents

radar/ -- E300PC / RADARPAS (1985-1992)

Original Pascal and MODULA-2 code for the E300/E250 radar (see http://ewradar.com/)

This is some very old code written when I was 15 years old. I still have a version that runs on a DOS simulator (though it only shows canned data).

GDEM (Graphical Data Entry Manager)

• GDEM 1.0 was a line-based digital map/geographic data entry and editing tool.
• GDEM's input was a set of coordinates manually entered from chart derived measurements. Protractor coordinates. Acetate.
• GDEM would output a binary formatted map, based on a pre-defined schema, using a third party EEPROM reader that Arnold had found.
• GDEM 1.0 was implemented as 300 lines of Commodore BASIC, which Derek had used with the eighth grade PET computers. DATA statements. GOSUBs.
• DG was paid $200 in 1984 to produce GDEM 1.0. The development was mostly in the spring and summer.
• GDEM Version 2.0 was imagined as having graphical preview capabilities. But E300PC happened instead.

RADARPAS

• RADARPAS was the name of the Turbo Pascal program that implemented the E300PC 1.0 product. Hardware PC.
• RADARPAS's input was data sent from the E300 radar system. It would interact with the system over a modem, and then receive the current radar feed.
• RADARPAS graphics library allowed visualization of radar images with a map overlay.
• Implemented in Turbo Pascal. EGA graphics. Hayes Racal-Vadic modem. Graphics, Communication, Control, and GUI modules. Functions. Interrupts.
• DG was paid $600 in 1985 to produce RADARPAS. This gave Ellason rights to sell as many copies as he wanted.
• DG made RADARPAS 2.0 with save and load options. The upgrade to 2.0 earned Derek $800 each.
• Storm cell recognition algorithm for automatic weather detection.
• Greensville trip. Auto programming.
• E300RX extensions 1990. Lawrenceburg TX.
• E250Term 1991 and ISR (Interrupt Service Routine).
• TopSpeed Modula-2 port -- the Pascal codebase was migrated to Modula-2 for better modularity and separate compilation.
• Dynamic camera model 1997 and orthorectification.
• ERDAS plugin architecture.
• Nelder-Mead simplex optimization for parameter fitting.
• Forstner-like operator and tie point extraction for image registration.

24 dated snapshots spanning the full evolution from Turbo Pascal to TopSpeed Modula-2:

• 1985xxxx E300PC Demo -- earliest demo version
• 19870412-19870512 -- RADARPAS RadioTx, Tennterm variants (Pascal)
• 19871102 RADAR MOD Pas2Mod2 -- the Pascal-to-Modula-2 conversion
• 19880226-19890101 -- SN8801, RADIO, Tenn, Rad1dot1, 2dot1 releases
• 19880815 RADAR MOD -- major Modula-2 release with full module set
• 19890316-19890326 -- RS811A interface, sweep display (assembly + Modula-2)
• 19910104-19910309 -- RADARDB, E250Term
• 19921021-19921228 -- Testchan, RADIO, AUTO system, final releases

eevorg/ -- EEVORG Cellular Automata (1987-2007)

• Cellular automata evolved toward entropy 0.5 -- the edge of chaos.
• Rule space search using genetic algorithms.
• Originated as a Turbo Pascal project, later ported to C++ and then .NET.

ssm/ -- Spreadsheet Management System (1986-1996)

• Custom spreadsheet engine with formula evaluation.
• Pascal and Modula-2 implementations spanning a decade of evolution.
• Financial and accounting applications.

thewheel/ -- theWheel (1990-2000)

• Spreading activation networks -- knowledge as navigable space.
• Visual knowledge browser with coolbar/treeview navigation.
• Multiple generations: theWheel, wlXxx, theWheel-CoolDraw, theWheel2000.

cogmap/ -- Cognitive Map (1996)

• Early web-based knowledge mapping experiments.
• HTML-based reference maps and link structures.

gdem/ and gdem-eme/ -- GDEM and EME

• Graphical Data Entry Manager source and related tools.
• Geographic/map data editing for radar overlay generation.

egalib-math/ -- EGA Library and Math

• Graphics library routines and mathematical utilities.
• Supporting code for the radar display system.

misc/ -- Miscellaneous

• Pic-Analysis (1989) -- image analysis tools.
• browsee (2000) -- web browsing experiment.
• Other small utilities and experiments.

bqtourn/ -- BQ Tournament

• Tournament bracket/scoring software.

kb/ -- Knowledge Base

• RDF Turtle and Prolog-format semantic metadata for the RADARPAS project.
• Machine-readable descriptions of the archive contents.

documents/

• PDF documentation and historical records.

Building RADARPAS

The original RADARPAS source can be compiled with FreePascal. See BUILD.md for instructions.

# Quick start with Docker
./build.sh

# Or with FreePascal installed locally
make

License

The original software is Copyright (C) 1987 D. G. Lane. All rights reserved.