Satgen76 Satellite Software - Source Code by GM4IHJ 10th Sept 90 Have had several enquiries " What is SOURCE CODE ". Is it like machine code ? No it is not . In fact it is best to forget notions derived from computers using BASIC software. They use INTERPRETED LANGUAGES. Source code is a feature of COMPILED LANGUAGES and it is the start rather than the end product. BASIC and other interpreted languages usually use statements in lines. The computer reads a line in high level Basic. Translates it to machine code , then executes it as an instruction. It then looks at succeeding lines ,translating and executing them one by one till the program is finished. This process is slow and must be repeated every time the program is run. C is a compiled language. You first write the SOURCE CODE, a high level description of the program You feed the source code into a Compiler which goes right through all the source code file and translates it to a machine level equivalent as relocatable object code. This then goes to a Linker where it takes onboard ready made library files of standard operations, and combines the lot. This is then translated to an executable code file. The executable code file is then available to all and sundry , to be run at high speed, when ever the program is required. Provided that is, that it does the job correctly when fully tested. You should not need to go back to the source code. From the above, I hope it is clear that Source Code files are only of direct use to people who can compile them, and turn them into useful executable code files. If you cannot do this you have to wait until someone produces tried and tested executable files for your model of computer. Needless to say this will not happen overnight. A lot of testing in real time is necessary before ordinary users will get software appropriate to their needs which is fast enough for real time operation on the Pacsats, and, most important , safe enough to be operated in automatic access mode, without wrecking the whole shebang. SCOTTISH CONVENTION CARDONALD GLASGOW Sat 15th Sept next. For anyone interested , I have put some Pacsat software protocol descriptions from which Source code could be written, into the "UOSAT3 OPERATING MANUAL " which I hope to be showing at the Scottish Convention. Come and see me there on the PACK-AGE stall,or in the Lecture Hall ( talk on sats at 1315 ), to discuss sat software or any other satellite/space topic that takes your fancy. If you cannot come to Glasgow and want details of the Uosat3 Manual, drop me a packet at GM4IHJ@GB7MAC . 73 de GM4IHJ