The hunt for Benchmark Modula-2 (2018)
8 days ago
- #Software Preservation
- #Modula-2
- #Amiga
- Received 16 old disks containing rare Modula-2 materials, specifically the Benchmark Modula-2 compiler environment.
- Goal was to release Gold Disk applications File and Pro Calc as Public Domain (CC0), but needed to ensure they were buildable.
- Discovered Benchmark Modula-2 was the likely original compiler used, thanks to Mark Wickens.
- Learned Benchmark Modula-2 had continued development by Armadillo Computing and Tom Breeden post-Leon Frenkel's initial release.
- Contacted Jim Olinger (Armadillo Computing) who directed to Tom Breeden for further materials.
- Found Tom Breeden via an Amiga forum and he agreed to help, sending disks and source code backups.
- Disks were successfully preserved using a Kryoflux device with no bad sectors.
- Future plans include releasing an Asciidoctor-version of the manual and more Modula-2 projects.
- Call for original BM2 box donations or sales for scanning purposes.