Introduction

NoSense is a virtual machine (like DOS or Amiga emulators), but it emulates completely imaginary computer with its own assembler, input and output devices.

You can write for NoSense almost everything - from simple graphical and musical effects, through programs and games till new file system, high-level language compiler or even your own operating system!

It is free - under the GNU/GPL license.

Overview

NoSense is a virtual machine (like DOS or Amiga emulators), but it emulates completely imaginary computer with its own assembler, input and output devices.

Virtual machine consists of devices:

Kernel with code interpreter
Memory with registers
Virtual disk drives
Screen with text and graphic mode
Input from keyboard and mouse
MIDI sound

You can write programs under NoSense by using NoASM language compiler.

NoSense is under the GNU/GPL license. It means that, generally:

It is free software (open source)
You can use it and copy it for free
You have access to its source code
You must respect my copyright to it
You can modify it and use its source, but then your application must be on the GNU/GPL license too.

Downloads

NoSense 1.3

nosense_1.3.zip (109 KB)
Compiled Windows executable file, default configuration files, sample disks.
nosense_1.3_src.zip (76.1 KB)
Virtual machine source code in C++ with Visual C++ project.

NoASM 1.0.1

noasm_1.0.1.zip (104 KB)
NoASM compiler - executable file and other required files.
noasm_1.0.1_src.zip (40 KB)
Compiler source code in C++ with Visual C++ project.

Documentation 1.11

documentation_1.11.zip (207 KB)
Format: HTML
NoSense.chm (178 KB)
Format: CHM

DiskTool 1.0

disktool_1.0.zip (56 kB)
Small console program to manipulate disk files
disktool_1.0_src.zip (7 kB)
Source code

NoSense applications

lib.zip (3.56 KB) [Author: Adam Sawicki "Regedit"]
Library in NoASM with useful string [4s] functions and sample test application (Comments in Polish)
hello_opt.zip (607 B) [Author: Adam Sawicki "Regedit"]
"Hello World!" optimized to 205-byte disk. (Comments in Polish)
picek.zip (39 KB) [Author: 10log]
Shows bitmap on the screen. Contains source code. To run it:
1. Insert test.disk into first slot
2. Insert picek.disk into second slot
3. Restart the machine

How to run it?

Download NoSense
Extract downloaded ZIP archive
Run NoSense.exe
Select Settings > Disks... from virtual machine main menu
Select first slot
Press Insert...
Select a disk file from disks subdirectory
Restart the machine using File > Reset

Documentation

Current documentation version is 1.11.

View online

Tutorial

Introduction to programming for NoSense in Polish.

	Document	Files
0	Na poczatek
1	Hello world!	01.zip (840 B)
2	Sniezenie	02.zip (1.17 KB)

FAQ

General

What is NoSense?

See Overview above!

Is it free?

Yes, NoSense is under GNU/GPL license. It that means it is available for free with its source code.

What is the sense of this?

It isn't compatible with any existing platform. It isn't fast. It isn't specialised in any domain. It isn't useful for anything. It just has No Sense :)

Why did you decide to make this project in English?

I don't think that a project like this could be very popular. On the other hand, there are rich resources in the Web even for such a stupid language like BrainFuck. In English of course. That's why I want all the people over the world to be able to see my project. Maybe some people will become interested in it?...

Why there are so many lingual errors in this site?

Because English isn't my native language. I learn it for many years but I still can't write or speat it fluently.

Details

What platform is it written for?

NoSense is a Windows applicaton.

Can I run applications for DOS / Amiga / GameBoy / ... under it?

No, you can't. NoSense is completely imaginary platform.

How can I write applications for NoSense?

There is special assembler compiler.

What are "dir.xnl" files in the documentation?

These files determine title of the directory, order of files and subdirectories. They are used by an application I use to generate table of contents and index for the documentation.