◊ This control panel is distributed as shareware: if you like it please honor the shareware system by sending $3 to the author at the address above. Since cashing international cheques is very expensive, please send cash only (U.S. dollars are best, but any other currency is fine).
◊ If you work on the Macintosh, there are many things you can send me instead of the money. Here are some suggestions: original software (but don't send any shareware/freeware unless you're the author), books or computer-related magazines (any free issue or subscription is welcome), CD-ROMs, any piece of new or used hardware, or anything else you've created.
◊ There's still another thing you could do: I'll finish my physics studies sometime in 1996 and I'm looking for a one-year job as a programmer (or maybe a scientist?) outside of Italy. Let me know if you have anything to offer.
◊ If you can't afford any of the above an e-mail, a postcard or a letter is welcome. I speak English, French and Italian. Please forgive me if I don't answer to all of your letters - I am often overloaded with my school work.
• Introduction
◊ DBugR is a cool Control Panel for programmers and hackers who often have to break into MacsBug (or any other debugger supporting the _DebugStr trap). It puts a floating "small bomb" icon on your desktop which acts like a button. If the mouse button is pressed and released inside the icon, a user interrupt is invoked and MacsBug pops out. DBugR can show some basic info about the current application (name, free memory, max free block) and/or send one of two user-configurable MacsBug commands to be executed immediately upon breaks (hold down the Option key when clicking to send the alternate command). The icon may be moved anywhere on any monitor by holding down the Shift key and dragging it around.
◊ DBugR only takes about 6K of system memory and 35K of disk space.
• Special keys
◊ You may hold down the following keys when clicking in the DBugR icon:
- [SHIFT] lets you drag the DBugR icon somewhere else;
- [COMMAND] forces DBugR to send a MacsBug command even if the "Always send" option is not checked (if the option is checked, the Command key has no effect);
- [OPTION] makes DBugR send the alternate command string (this key may be combined with the Command key).
• The control panel
◊ This is what you'll see in the Control Panel:
- [On/Off] Activate/deactivate in case you don't have a startup/extensions manager;
- [Info] Brings up a brief shareware notice;
- [Corner] Sets the default corner for the DBugR icon, which can later be moved by holding down the Shift key;
- [Set Cmd] Change the command strings that can be sent to MacsBug at breaks;
- [Always send command] …or do it only when the Command key is down;
- [Show application info] Show current application's name and free memory or don't;
- [Show icon at startup] Display DBugR's icon at startup time or don't.
• Version history
◊ 1.2 - Fixed some bugs in the control panel and added online documentation;
◊ 1.1 - Now checks for a low-level debugger before calling it;
◊ 1.05 - Minor fixes;
◊ 1.04 - Now works under System 6 (checks the BitMapToRgn trap before calling it);
◊ 1.03 - Changed key combinations: Shift moves the icon, Command sends a command, Option activates the alternate command string;
◊ 1.02 - Added a second command string that replaces the first when the Command (now Option in 1.03) key is held down; also, holding down the Shift (now Command in 1.03) key will force DBugR to send a command string even if the "Always send command" option is not checked.
◊ 1.01 - Added control panel interface and user-configurable MacsBug command. Most changes to the control panel settings take effect immediately.
◊ 1.0 - First cut. DBugR icon floats and calls MacsBug without any trouble; it shows some basic application info and can be moved by holding down the Option key. No control panel yet, but can be configured with ResEdit.
• Thanks to…
◊ Fabrizio Oddone, who came out with the original idea, suggested the alternate command string and also did the beta-testing;
◊ Alberto Ricci, who didn't do anything except being a good friend as always;
◊ Richard E. Brown and Paul L. Merchant Jr. for their hint on debugger checking.
◊ You may find the latest version of all my shareware programs by anonymous ftp to ftp.alpcom.it, inside the /software/mac/LMontalcini directory. The complete ShareDisk package, which contains all my stuff and can be registered at a very low price, is also available there.
◊ All online services and bulletin boards may make it available to their users at no charge other than the normal connection fees.
◊ All non-profit user groups may distribute it at no charge.
◊ All magazines may publish it on floppy disk without asking me first, as long as I get a copy of the issue containing my software.
◊ All CD-ROM shareware collections and CD-ROM magazines may include it without my prior consent, as long as I get either a copy of the CD-ROM or an offer to buy the CD-ROM at a discounted price.
◊ All redistribution companies such as Educorp may distribute it, as long as I get a copy of each media containing my software and a catalog of the company’s offerings (where applicable).
• Disclaimer
◊ DBugR shouldn’t cause any damage, but you’re using it at your own risk. As an independent software developer, I can make no warranties whatsoever on it.
• Have fun!
◊ And don't forget to $$$ send your contribution $$$ so that more cool utilities will see the light in the near future, at the low-low-low costs of shareware.
