DCon is a system extension that adds a console window and file logging services to the MacOS. It can be used to record and display status and debugging information during the development of applications, drivers or virtually any other kind of code module on the MacOS.
Why use DCon?
Fast - DCon is FAT, it contains both 68K and PowerPC code for the most efficient operation on any kind of Macintosh or Power Macintosh computer. Additionally, DCon doesn't wait for other apps to give up time before drawing to the screen or logging to disk (like some other console applications), you will never miss updates because of other poorly written applications when using DCon.
Simple - DCon has a very simple and clean API. It can be added to virtually any kind of code module with absolutely no configuration required. There is no state or initialization/clean up functions that need to be called. Had A4/A5 problems in the past? You won't with DCon! Additionally, the DCon glue library will autosense the presence of the DConNub system extension, if it's not present then all DCon functions will become harmless NOPs.
Small - DCon only requires linking with a very small glue library (a couple of K), the core functionality of DCon resides in the system extension. This allows developers to keep their code small & fast and allows DCon to use only a small amount of RAM regardless of the number of clients using it.
Versatile - DCon can be called from virtually any code, any where at any time.* DCon does not allocate memory or otherwise rely on the MacOS ToolBox. It can be called from interrupt handlers, Time Manager tasks, VBL tasks, deferred tasks, etc., just to name a few of the places where DCon really shines. DCon is also ideal for developers who miss “debugging via printf”, a technique which is very common on other CLI driven operating systems, but is not readily available on the MacOS.
*DCon cannot be used from within an MPTask.
Where can I get the real version of DCon?
More information about DCon can be found at:
http://www.cache-computing.com/products/dcon
Features*
• System integrated floating console window
• Thread safe, Interrupt safe and Reentrant!
• Real-time display updates
• Real-time file logging*
• Application window mode
• Lots of configurable preferences*
• Simple and robust developer API
• Live window dragging & scrolling*
• ... and lots, lots more!
* NOTE: Some features are not available in the DEMO.
System Requirements
• System 7.5 or later
• 600K of free System RAM
• 68K or PowerPC Macintosh capable of displaying 256, Thousands or Millions of colors
Installation Instructions
1) Place the DConNub system extension file into the Extensions folder within the System Folder.
2) Place the DCon application file within the Applications folder (or wherever you choose to store applications on your computer). Typically it is useful to create an alias (short cut) to the DCon application and place it in the Startup Items folder within the System Folder.
3) Reboot your computer to install DCon.
Preferences (listed alphabetically)
Autoscroll on new output - This option will make DCon automatically jump scroll to the bottom of the console window whenever new output is available.**
Background - This option lets you specify the background color of the DCon console window.**
Clear Hotkey - This is the system wide hot key used to clear the scroll back history in the DCon console window. It has no effect on log files.
Echo log files to console - This option will make DCon redirect a copy of all output to the console window. This is useful to view output that has been previously redirected to a log file.**
Enable live window actions - This option enables 'live' window dragging and resizing. In the spirit of DCon that does everything else without regard to the traditional MacOS limitations, this feature is offered for those users that enjoy live feedback.** Note: live window actions require a Macintosh computer with a PowerPC processor.
Key scroll via mouse focus - This option allows the use of X-Windows style mouse focus for controlling scrolling using the up/down arrows, page up/down and home/end keys. Whenever the mouse is physically within an area of the DCon console window that is visible all keyboard events will be sent directly to DCon regardless of its window layering or the frontmost application.**
Log Creator - This option lets you specify the file creator type that DCon will use to create a new log file. The file creator type controls which application will be used to open the file if it is double-clicked in the Finder.
Log Directory - This option lets you specify the folder on your computer's hard drive where DCon will create and store log files. It can be located anywhere you wish as long as the volume is always accessible (i.e., it can't be located across an unmounted network volume). If this folder ever becomes inaccessible it will revert back to the default location within the DCon folder in the Preferences folder in the System Folder.**
Map newlines to CR - This options will make DCon automatically replace \n (newline) characters with the more appropriate Macintosh \r (carriage return) character. Text output from DCon will typically use \n characters to specify line endings as that is the custom when using ANSI standard printf functions, however simple text viewers (such as SimpleText) only understand the Macintosh convention of using \r characters. More advanced text viewers such as BBEdit or CodeWarrior's integrated editor can handle text using either set of line ending characters.**
Prefix with log name - This option adds the log name as a prefix to every complete line of redirected output displayed in the console window. This option works in conjunction with Echo log files to console and is only meaningful when that preference is also enabled.**
Text - This option lets you specify the foreground (text) color of the DCon console window.**
Toggle Hotkey - This is the system wide hot key used to reveal the DCon console window. If the DCon application is running the hot key will toggle between application window and floating window modes, otherwise the hot key will toggle between hiding and showing the floating console window.
** NOTE: Some preferences are not configurable in the DEMO.
