[NTLK] Hammer (Mac) and Debugger Connection (Newton)

[Matthias Melcher]

Sorry for the late reply. Quite busy these days.

There is a preliminary Hammer manual on unna in the developer section:

"Debugging Using a Newton

You can use Hammer with either an emulator such as an Armistice card or with a Newton. When you debug using a Newton, Hammer communicates with the Newton using a serial connection, so it is called serial debugging.

Serial debugging is primarily intended for licensees who develop their software on top of Newton system software. Such developers may, ultimately, either combine their code with Newton system software and build a ROM or leave their code as loadable packages, or do both. 

You can use serial debugging for C code and for Newton Script code.

You can’t run the NTK inspector in serial debugging. You must use the listener built in to Hammer.

What You Need

You need the following for serial debugging:

- A Newton using a 2.0 system, or which has a stable flash ROM that includes the ROM code needed for serial debugging
- A matching image file. You can use a debug or nodebug image; all features are available with a nodebug image except starting debugging after the target crashed.
(Matt: the files "Senior CirrusNoDebug image" and "Senior CirrusNoDebug high")
- A Macintosh running Hammer
- The serial debugger setup application, TMChooser, loaded on the Newton
(Matt: I beleive the tool was renamed after the documentation was written. Look for "Debugger Connection" on your Mac. It's a package even without the .pkg extension. Install it on your MessagePad 2x00. This is what connects to Hammer)
- Serial cable

You may want to use a serial PCMCIA card, which leaves the Newton serial port free for other uses. We have tested the Socket Communications serial I/O card, and this works fine with the Newton; we recommend that developers use this.  Other cards may work as well, but we haven’t tested any others yet.

(Matt: I used the standard serial port, not the modem port or a PCMCIA card)

For debugging packages containing C code you also need:

- the package you want to debug loaded on the Newton 
- the package file and symbol files or their aliases in Hammer’s folder

Beginning Serial Debugging

You need to choose tell Hammer which serial port you want to connect the Newton to. See page 3 for how to do that.

You first need to set the baud rate in Hammer:
1. Run Hammer.
2. When selecting the image, hold down both the command and the option key. Hammer shows a dialog for target selection.
(Matt: for me, double clicking the "Senior CirrusNoDebug Image" file opens Hammer with the correct settings)
3. Choose modem port and click on OK.
4. Choose Serial Debugger Options from the Options menu.
5. Choose the baud rate you want. All of the available baud rates work well.
6. If you have changed baud rate setting, quit Hammer.

To begin serial debugging:

1. If you quit Hammer after changing the baud rate, run Hammer again and select an image.  This time you don’t need to choose the target because Hammer remembers that as the debugging target.
2. On the Newton, open the TMChooser application (Matt: "Debugger Connection").
3. Select the same baud rate you chose in Hammer.
4. Select Serial Debugger.
5. Tap on Connect.

You should see a Listener window on the Macintosh. You can see progress information in the stdin/stdout/stderr window.
"

Hope that helps. Good luck.


> On 12/31/25 10:18 AM, Doctor Clu wrote:
>> Hello all, currently trying to get the Hammer application on the Mac to connect to the Debugger Connection on the Newton.  I'm not yet familiar with Hammer so would appreciate hearing from those that have gotten this to work, and maybe a video if possible.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>     Got a G4 Powerbook up and running 10.4 that can run classic. Hammer runs on the G4.  Got the debugger going on the Newton.
>> 
>>     Newton: Currently have built in serial and 57K baud.  I am using the "dongle destroyer" serial port on the Newton 2000.
>> 
>>     Mac: Hammer when brought up looked for something to open. I hit cancel.  I look in the preferences and it is set for 57 K baud.  (Stop of debug traps and beep on stops selected as the opening default).
>> 
>> 
>>     Trying to connect I get a error 1 saying I need to check the cable and baud rate.
>> 
>>     That is where I am at this point.  Any recommendations?
>> 
>> 
>>     Thoughts of mine at this point :
>> 
>>     * the dongle destroyer serial port is used in countless connections of other programs, usually lately with the serial to USB from AppleNewtonFan.
>> 
>>     * Serial cable being used has been used with quite a few USB-28 to serial adaptor connections.
>> 
>>     * The only connection not tested with other applications is the serial connection under this G4 Powerbook running Classic.
>> 
>> 
>>     I've heard this can work using Basilisk II.   If you've gotten this to work, please let me know what kind of setup you used.
>> 
>>     Thanks,
>> 
>>     Greg / Doc Clu
>> 
>> 
>> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> https://newtontalk.net
> https://bitbang.social/@newtontalk
> https://twitter.com/newtontalk