GPC is the
scripting language used by the CronusMAX PLUS. Its commands have been designed to be self explanatory
so anyone from a novice to expert programmer is able to pick it up quickly. The basic syntax of GPC
has been borrowed from C language and the basic structure and keywords will be familiar to those whom have
programmed in C before. There are of course a number of unique GPC functions that you will not find in
C, however, these have also been designed in a way were they can be read and understood with ease.
GPC however is
simply a human readable version of the code used by the CronusMAX PLUS. The CronusMAX actually uses a
bytecode system. Whenever you program, build or compile a GPC script, the Compiler built in to Cronus
PRO converts the script in to bytecode prior to being sent to the device.
Bytecode is an
instruction set for the virtual machine (VM or software interpreter) which the CronusMAX PLUS runs.
Inputs for controllers are sent to the VM which then modifies them according the instruction set in the
bytecode. This modified output is then sent to the console. The Virtual Machine is a
hypothetical computer and its functions and architecture has been optimized specifically for the task of
modifying and outputting controller commands to a console.
The CronusMAX VM
is a stack machine and has been optimized so it is able to send data to a console without delay. Providing
the CPU load is kept below 80%, the CronusMAX PLUS's CPU is able to carry out all the tasks assigned to it
without delaying the output to the console. Part of the optimization process means error checks by the
VM are kept to a minimum and to only what is necessary. This means it is important the programmer has
a good understanding of the limitations and fundamentals of GPC when developing scripts.
