Gm Programming

[Jemison Richard]

Modula 2 is a programming language based on Pascal.  It has more flexibility
than Pascal however (sort of like Turbo Pascal for those of you that are
familiar with that) but with added constructs.  It is a separate language in
it's own right.  I don't think the profitable way to handle reverse
engineering the code is to try translating Modula to C or C++.  Leave it in
Modula and simply change the code as needed and leave it alone.  I don't
think for changes like mapping and variables you would even need to
recompile and relink unless there is no space for your changes.  Even that
can be handled faster and easier than translating one language to another
(unless you have / create software to do that efficiently).  Modula was a
popular language at one time ( it was very popular in UNIX business circles
and universities in the early to mid 80's) so there should be plenty of
people around that can code in it.  

Rick

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Tom Sharpe [SMTP:twsharpe at mtco.com]
> Sent:	Monday, November 23, 1998 10:50 PM
> To:	diy_efi at efi332.eng.ohio-state.edu; efi332 at efi332.eng.ohio-state.edu
> Subject:	Gm Programming
> 
> Groups,
> 
> I found a site that might explain why it is difficult to decifer(sp?) GM
> code.
> 
> http://www.averstar.com
> http://www.averstar.com/tools
> http://www.averstar.com/tools/more.html
> 
> Anyone ever heard of Intermetrics???  AverStar??  Know anyone there??
> 
> "Modula-GM
> Engines controlled by software written in AverStar's Modula-GM won the
> Indianapolis 500 two years in a row. If you have a recent model GM car
> or truck, the engine controller was most likely programmed in Modula-GM.
> A Modula-2 derivative, Modula-GM is the primary programming tool for
> Delco engine controllers and other real-time automotive control
> software. We enhanced Modula-2 to give Delco maximum performance of its
> in-vehicle microcontrollers while minimizing memory requirements. The
> result for Delco is cost-effective production of the millions of units
> it ships each year."
> 
> Can we get a copy of any code??  Compilers, etc.??
> 
> Is there a GNU modula compiler?? Yes!! (SEVERAL)
> http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/m3doc/index.html
> 
> Now that we know what it is, (where it came from) it may be easier to
> translate Bin files into C++ rather than C (or M-asm). Modula looks like
> Object Pascal (Delphi) to me.
> 
> http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/computer-lang/Modula2-f
> aq/part1/faq.html
> 
> "General Motors and its subsidiary Delco do their programming in General
> Motors Modula-2."
> 
> Regards  Tom
>