This archive contains Amiga versions of the XSC cruncher and XSD decruncher.
This format is almost exclusively used on the MSX computers, and these
programs are mostly provided to allow Amiga users to easily decrunch MSX files.

Versions are provided for 68020 and PPC (WarpOS).


USAGE
=====

To crunch a single file:

XSC <infile> <outfile>

Example: to crunch the file INDEX you would type "XSC INDEX INDEX". The
cruncher automatically appends ".XSA" to the archive filename.


To decrunch a single file:

XSD <infile> <outfile>

Example: to decrunch the file INDEX.XSA you would type "XSD INDEX INDEX". It
would restore your original INDEX file.


INSTALLATION
============

Put the executables of your choice anywhere in your path.


REQUIREMENTS
============

For the 680x0 version:
- At least a 68020 processor.
- Any version of AmigaOS.

For the PPC version:
- Any PPC processor.
- WarpOS (available from http://www.haage-partner.com).


SPEED
=====

The XSC cruncher and XSD decruncher were tested on a version of the Aminet
index that was 4086900 bytes long. Compression rates and times are given in
the following table, as well as some comparisons with other crunchers.

Crunching was done from RAM: to RAM:, thus incurring no disk overhead. The
CPU's involved were a 68060@50MHz and a PPC604e@233MHz.

cruncher:   Size after crunching:  Time to crunch:  Time to decrunch:

XSC/680x0   1514832                82 sec.          14 sec.
XSC/PPC     1514832                11 sec.           7 sec.
LhA/680x0   1280064                31 sec.           5 sec.
LZX/680x0   1182110                61 sec.           5 sec.


MSX EMULATION
=============

MSX programs can be used on the Amiga under emulation. Two emulators exist:

fMSX Amiga:   misc/emu/fmsx_1.4.lha
AmiMSX:       misc/emu/amimsx23.lha


COPYRIGHT
=========

The XSC and XSD programs were originally written by Alex Wulms
(awulms@inter.nl.net) for the MSX computer. Other programs by Alex include a
modplayer for Amiga-style .mod files, a shoot'em-up called Zone Terra, and a
whole bunch of small tools, all for the MSX system. The 'XS' in XSC and XSD
stands for 'Xelasoft', the name under which Alex releases all his software.

The Amiga ports were done by Hans Guijt (hguijt@inter.nl.net). Hans also wrote
fMSX Amiga, a powerful MSX emulator for the Amiga, soon to appear in version
2.0.

The XSC and XSD programs are released under the following conditions:
- Copyright remains with Alex Wulms.
- You are free to use the programs in any way you feel like, except
commercially.
- For commercial usage of any kind, contact Alex.

 PERMSSN    UID  GID    PACKED    SIZE  RATIO     CRC       STAMP          NAME
---------- ----------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- ------------ -------------
[generic]                 1311    2731  48.0% -lh5- 9563 Jun 14  1998 XelasoftCruncher.readme
[generic]                 8308   13308  62.4% -lh5- cb01 Jun 14  1998 XelasoftCruncher/680x0/xsc
[generic]                 7413   11704  63.3% -lh5- ffaa Jun 14  1998 XelasoftCruncher/680x0/xsd
[generic]                12299   30864  39.8% -lh5- 8cd3 Jun 14  1998 XelasoftCruncher/PPC/xsc
[generic]                11490   28840  39.8% -lh5- dbfc Jun 14  1998 XelasoftCruncher/PPC/xsd
---------- ----------- ------- ------- ------ ---------- ------------ -------------
 Total         5 files   40821   87447  46.7%            Jun 15  1998