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The system comprised an "[[Apricot PC]]" (an early PC), assembler, debugger, editor, profile, graphics tool and hardware to connect to a target computer.

The system made it easy to develop for computers like the AmstradCPC, [[Commodore 64|C64 ]], [[MSX]], and [[ZX Spectrum]].

*FBEC is used The '''CPC interface''' connects to transfer 8-bit dataExpansion Port, and contains a [[Z80 PIO]] chip, and 74LS245, 74LS04, 74LS32 logic chips, and a Reset button.*FBED input is used to signal data is ready And a 2x8pin connector, for CPC connecting to read*FBED output is used to signal back to host that data has been receivedPC via 16pin flat-cable.*FBEE,FBEF purpose unknown (?)

Not known what the The '''PC interface contained''' connects to ISA bus, and contains a [[8255 PPI chip]], five logic chips, and two 2x8pin connectors, allowing to connect to up to two slave computers.

== The CPC Games that contain needs to execute [[PDS download source code ==]], for communicatiing with the debugger, and for loading CPC software via cable rather than from tape or disc.

''Not 100% sure if above describes the original PC/CPC interfaces - or if that are homebrew remakes (?)'' == Another Version (?) == There seems to be also another version, using Port FBEC-FBEF, too. But assigning different meanings to that ports - using different hardware without Z80 PIO chip. FBEC - unknown (maybe configuration, or maybe REQUEST to PC) FBED - data to PC (used in Last V8) FBEE - bit0 = CLK signal from PC FBEF - data from PCNormally, the PDS related debug/transfer code wasnisn't included in release versions, however, some CPC release versions do still contain some (unused) code fragments that access some Ports at FBEC-FBEF(in non-Z80 PIO fashion):* Gremlins (Adventure Soft, UK) (debug I/O code found in spanish Gremlins version)* Last V8* Robin of Sherwood(Adventure Soft, UK)* Seabloodaka Seas of Blood (Adventure Soft, UK)* The code fragments seem to be related to data transfers - whether or not they are Last V8 (Mastertronic)Unclear if these games were made using an alternate (older or newer) version of the official PDS hardware, or other if they were using a similar devkit from another company. Note: The handshake/timing used in the above games seems to be less stable than in the Z80 PIO version (seem to be working only if the PC software disables interrupts during transfer - unless the hardware includes automatic handshaking, which isn't seen in the Z80 disassemblies), so the four games may have been using an ''older'' PDS version (or a third-party remake). == Pictures (original) == <gallery>File:PDS_Original_Top.jpg|Unit TopFile:PDS_Original_Bottom.jpg|Unit BottomFile:PDS_Original_PCB_Top.jpg|PCB Top File:PDS_Original_PCB_Bottom.jpg|PCB Bottom File:PDS_Original_PCCard_Top.jpg|PC Card Top File:PDS_Original_PCCard_Bottom.jpg|PC Card Bottom </gallery> == Pictures (remake) == <gallery>File:Manuel Montoto PDS placa Amstrad.jpg|Amstrad (component)File:Manuel Montoto PDS placa MSX.jpg|MSX (component)File:Jose Leandro PDS placa Spectrum-A.jpg|Spectrum (component)File:Jose Leandro PDS placa Spectrum-B.jpg|Spectum (solder)File:Jose Leandro PDS placa PC-A.jpg|PC (component)File:Jose Leandro PDS placa PC-B.jpg|PC (solder)File:Jose Leandro PDS el cable.jpg|Pin1-16 wired to Pin16-1File:Jose Leandro PDS programa tecla-f1.jpg|PC (software)File:Jose Leandro PDS Schematic spectrum.png|Schematic (Spectrum)File:Jose Leandro PDS Schematic PC.png|Schematic (PC)File:NoPicture.gif|C64 User Port interface</gallery> Note that the photos are showing a spanish remake, not the origial hardware (as indicated by the "P DE FRANCISCO" text on the solder side).The PCBs on the photos are dated around late eighties (the newest YYWW datestamp seen on the chips is from week 01 of year 1989). Andy confirmedthat the photos aren't showing his cards.The schematics were drawn at a later time, when reverse engineering how those remake PCBs worked), so the schematics are a "remake-of-the-remake".

"During the rest of the 1980's I started working on a development system as typing in hex using a two line basic program was becoming more and more difficult. This was developed on one of the first IBM PC clones from England - the 'Apricot PC'.  This was an extremely well designed machine and actually had some advantages over the early IBM PC's - namely a 960K memory limit, a separate LCD in the keyboard and great hardware and software manuals. The assembler, editor, debugger, profiler, graphics tool and hardware card to connect to C64's, ZX Spectrums, Amstrads, C16's etc... became really popular with first my friends and then more and more developers.  I formed a company called 'Programmers Development Systems Ltd.' or PD Systems with [[Jacqui Lyons ]] (of Marjacq) and [[Fouad Katan ]] (of Bits) and for the remainder of the 1980's and early 90's we sold about 500 systems to pretty much all the game development companies in England. Many of the people who bought these systems would never have used the PC for anything else, so it was quite a large investment at the time.  It's difficult to find information on PDS these days, I have found a couple of links to companies and individuals who mention PDS: http://tacgr.emuunlim.com/interviews/interviews.php?interview=1, http://www.blitzgames.com/olivertwins/earlyyearsp2.htm" == Manuals == * [[Media:The PDS Z80 Manual.pdf]] - Describes Z80 Assembler, Debugger, and Transfer Protocol (1987)* [[Media:The PDS 6502 Manual.pdf]] - Describes 6502 Assembler, Debugger, and Transfer Protocol* [[Media:The PDS Editor Manual.pdf]] - Describes the PC side (2nd edition, 1988)* [[Media:PDS guide early version.pdf]] - Describes the PC side (early version with only 4 pages)* [[Media:P.D.S. Manual.pdf]] - Describes Assembler directives, Download protocol, Debugger (54 pages) (1987) (OCRed version form worldofspectrum.org) See DL0,DL1,DL2 source code files for more info on the download protocol. == Downloads == * [[Media:PDS source code.zip]] - DL0/DL1/DL2 source code files (for CPC, C64, BBC, Spectrum)* [[Media:PDS executables.zip]] - PC Executables (Z80 v1.21, v1.26, and 6502 v1.21) The executables will hardly work on modern PCs (v1.26 shows a blank screen and beeps on any keystrokes, v1.21 accidently complains about needing MSDOS 3 or higher under win98, or needing 640K or more RAM under freedos). Aside from that, the executables are said to work only if the PDS ISA card is installed.