t94xr · July 13, 2025 12:24
diff --git a/make_blank_disk.py b/make_blank_disk.py
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 #
 # This script creates a blank, formatted floppy disk image and mounts it.
 # It is based on the following disk geometry for a DOT Computer floppy disk:
 #
 # disk ibm.dot
 #     cyls = 70
 #     heads = 1
 #     tracks * ibm.mfm
 #         secs = 8
 #         bps = 512
 #         gap3 = 84
 #         rate = 250
 #     end
 # end
 #
 # Dependencies (Debian/Ubuntu):
 # - coreutils (for dd)
 # - dosfstools (for mkfs.fat)
 # - greaseweasel (optional, for writing to a physical disk)
 #
 # To install dependencies, run:
 # sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y coreutils dosfstools
 #

 import subprocess
 import sys
 import os

 def run_command(command, as_root=False):
    """A helper function to run a command and handle errors."""
    if as_root and os.geteuid() != 0:
        command.insert(0, "sudo")

    print(f"Running command: {' '.join(command)}")
    try:
        process = subprocess.run(
            command,
            check=True,
            capture_output=True,
            text=True,
        )
        # Print stdout or stderr from the command for more context.
        if process.stdout:
            print(process.stdout.strip())
        if process.stderr:
            print(process.stderr.strip())
        return True
    except FileNotFoundError:
        print(f"Error: '{command[0]}' command not found. Please ensure it is installed and in your PATH.", file=sys.stderr)
        return False
    except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
        print(f"Error executing command: {' '.join(command)}", file=sys.stderr)
        print(f"Return Code: {e.returncode}", file=sys.stderr)
        print(f"Stdout: {e.stdout.strip()}", file=sys.stderr)
        print(f"Stderr: {e.stderr.strip()}", file=sys.stderr)
        return False

 def main():
    """
    Creates a blank, formatted disk image and mounts it.
    """
    # --- Configuration ---
    # The name of the disk image file to create.
    output_file = "blank_disk.img"
    # The size of the disk image in bytes, calculated from the disk geometry.
    # 70 cylinders * 1 head * 8 sectors/track * 512 bytes/sector
    image_size = 286720
    # The path where the disk image will be mounted.
    mount_point = "/media/floppy.dot"

    # --- Step 1: Create a blank image file using dd ---
    # 'dd' is a core utility for copying and converting data.
    # We use it here to create a file of a specific size, filled with zeros.
    print("\n--- Step 1: Creating blank disk image ---")
    dd_command = ["dd", "if=/dev/zero", f"of={output_file}", "bs=1", f"count={image_size}"]
    if not run_command(dd_command):
        sys.exit(1)
    print("Blank image file created successfully.")

    # --- Step 2: Format the image with a FAT12 filesystem ---
    # 'mkfs.fat' creates a FAT (File Allocation Table) filesystem.
    # FAT12 is standard for floppy disks of this size.
    # We use the full path '/sbin/mkfs.fat' to avoid PATH issues.
    print("\n--- Step 2: Formatting the disk image ---")
    mkfs_command = ["/sbin/mkfs.fat", "-F", "12", output_file]
    if not run_command(mkfs_command):
        sys.exit(1)
    print("Image formatted successfully.")

    # --- Step 3: Create the mount point directory ---
    # The 'mkdir -p' command creates a directory, including any parent
    # directories that don't exist. This requires root privileges.
    print(f"\n--- Step 3: Creating mount point at {mount_point} ---")
    print("This step requires root privileges to create a directory in /media.")
    mkdir_command = ["mkdir", "-p", mount_point]
    if not run_command(mkdir_command, as_root=True):
        sys.exit(1)
    print("Mount point created successfully.")

    # --- Step 4: Mount the disk image ---
    # The 'mount' command attaches the filesystem on the image file to the
    # specified mount point. The '-o loop' option is used to mount a file
    # as if it were a block device. This also requires root privileges.
    print(f"\n--- Step 4: Mounting {output_file} to {mount_point} ---")
    print("This step requires root privileges to mount the image.")
    mount_command = ["mount", "-o", "loop", output_file, mount_point]
    if not run_command(mount_command, as_root=True):
        sys.exit(1)

    print(f"\nSuccess! The disk image '{output_file}' is now mounted on '{mount_point}'.")

    # --- Step 5: Write to a physical disk (Optional) ---
    # The following command can be used with Greaseweazle hardware to write
    # the created image file to a real floppy disk.
    #
    # IMPORTANT: This will erase all data on the floppy disk in the drive.
    #
    # You will need to:
    #   1. Have Greaseweazle installed and a device connected.
    #   2. Insert a blank floppy disk into your drive.
    #   3. Un-comment and run the command below, replacing 'A' with your drive letter if needed.
    #
    # print("\n--- Optional: Write to physical disk ---")
    # gw_command = ["gw", "write", output_file, "--drive=A"]
    # if not run_command(gw_command):
    #     print("Failed to write to physical disk.", file=sys.stderr)
    #

 if __name__ == "__main__":
    # This check ensures the main function is called only when the script is executed directly.
    main()
	#!/usr/bin/env python3
	#
	# This script creates a blank, formatted floppy disk image and mounts it.
	# It is based on the following disk geometry for a DOT Computer floppy disk:
	#
	# disk ibm.dot
	# cyls = 70
	# heads = 1
	# tracks * ibm.mfm
	# secs = 8
	# bps = 512
	# gap3 = 84
	# rate = 250
	# end
	# end
	#
	# Dependencies (Debian/Ubuntu):
	# - coreutils (for dd)
	# - dosfstools (for mkfs.fat)
	# - greaseweasel (optional, for writing to a physical disk)
	#
	# To install dependencies, run:
	# sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -y coreutils dosfstools
	#

	import subprocess
	import sys
	import os

	def run_command(command, as_root=False):
	"""A helper function to run a command and handle errors."""
	if as_root and os.geteuid() != 0:
	command.insert(0, "sudo")

	print(f"Running command: {' '.join(command)}")
	try:
	process = subprocess.run(
	command,
	check=True,
	capture_output=True,
	text=True,
	)
	# Print stdout or stderr from the command for more context.
	if process.stdout:
	print(process.stdout.strip())
	if process.stderr:
	print(process.stderr.strip())
	return True
	except FileNotFoundError:
	print(f"Error: '{command[0]}' command not found. Please ensure it is installed and in your PATH.", file=sys.stderr)
	return False
	except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
	print(f"Error executing command: {' '.join(command)}", file=sys.stderr)
	print(f"Return Code: {e.returncode}", file=sys.stderr)
	print(f"Stdout: {e.stdout.strip()}", file=sys.stderr)
	print(f"Stderr: {e.stderr.strip()}", file=sys.stderr)
	return False

	def main():
	"""
	Creates a blank, formatted disk image and mounts it.
	"""
	# --- Configuration ---
	# The name of the disk image file to create.
	output_file = "blank_disk.img"
	# The size of the disk image in bytes, calculated from the disk geometry.
	# 70 cylinders * 1 head * 8 sectors/track * 512 bytes/sector
	image_size = 286720
	# The path where the disk image will be mounted.
	mount_point = "/media/floppy.dot"

	# --- Step 1: Create a blank image file using dd ---
	# 'dd' is a core utility for copying and converting data.
	# We use it here to create a file of a specific size, filled with zeros.
	print("\n--- Step 1: Creating blank disk image ---")
	dd_command = ["dd", "if=/dev/zero", f"of={output_file}", "bs=1", f"count={image_size}"]
	if not run_command(dd_command):
	sys.exit(1)
	print("Blank image file created successfully.")

	# --- Step 2: Format the image with a FAT12 filesystem ---
	# 'mkfs.fat' creates a FAT (File Allocation Table) filesystem.
	# FAT12 is standard for floppy disks of this size.
	# We use the full path '/sbin/mkfs.fat' to avoid PATH issues.
	print("\n--- Step 2: Formatting the disk image ---")
	mkfs_command = ["/sbin/mkfs.fat", "-F", "12", output_file]
	if not run_command(mkfs_command):
	sys.exit(1)
	print("Image formatted successfully.")

	# --- Step 3: Create the mount point directory ---
	# The 'mkdir -p' command creates a directory, including any parent
	# directories that don't exist. This requires root privileges.
	print(f"\n--- Step 3: Creating mount point at {mount_point} ---")
	print("This step requires root privileges to create a directory in /media.")
	mkdir_command = ["mkdir", "-p", mount_point]
	if not run_command(mkdir_command, as_root=True):
	sys.exit(1)
	print("Mount point created successfully.")

	# --- Step 4: Mount the disk image ---
	# The 'mount' command attaches the filesystem on the image file to the
	# specified mount point. The '-o loop' option is used to mount a file
	# as if it were a block device. This also requires root privileges.
	print(f"\n--- Step 4: Mounting {output_file} to {mount_point} ---")
	print("This step requires root privileges to mount the image.")
	mount_command = ["mount", "-o", "loop", output_file, mount_point]
	if not run_command(mount_command, as_root=True):
	sys.exit(1)

	print(f"\nSuccess! The disk image '{output_file}' is now mounted on '{mount_point}'.")

	# --- Step 5: Write to a physical disk (Optional) ---
	# The following command can be used with Greaseweazle hardware to write
	# the created image file to a real floppy disk.
	#
	# IMPORTANT: This will erase all data on the floppy disk in the drive.
	#
	# You will need to:
	# 1. Have Greaseweazle installed and a device connected.
	# 2. Insert a blank floppy disk into your drive.
	# 3. Un-comment and run the command below, replacing 'A' with your drive letter if needed.
	#
	# print("\n--- Optional: Write to physical disk ---")
	# gw_command = ["gw", "write", output_file, "--drive=A"]
	# if not run_command(gw_command):
	# print("Failed to write to physical disk.", file=sys.stderr)
	#

	if __name__ == "__main__":
	# This check ensures the main function is called only when the script is executed directly.
	main()
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