Commander X16

On 10/3/2021 at 8:22 PM, Ed Minchau said:

I don't use macros at all; my editor doesn't have that feature. I can however copy and paste code. 

name    .macro
        jsr print
        .null "Hello @1!";first parameter
        .endm

On 10/4/2021 at 10:49 AM, TomXP411 said:

Macros don’t come from the editor. The assembler does that. Technically, it’s part of the preprocessor, but most assemblers just integrate the preprocessor and the actual assembler.



So there’s usually a MACRO statement, which you follow with assembly code, like this:

name    .macro
        jsr print
        .null "Hello @1!";first parameter
        .endm

Source:  http://tass64.sourceforge.net/#macro 



Then you will invoke the macro, which replaces the macro call with the actual assembly:



#name “Tom”



Now you can use that anywhere in your code as a shorthand for a larger procedure. While this is obviously a trivial example, it’s very useful for doing repetitive tasks, like setting up KERNAL calls or 16-bit math. For example:



Add16 (adds two 16 bit numbers and stores the result in the specified address)

Print (takes the address of a null-terminated string and prints that to the screen using CHROUT)

Open and Close (for file I/O)



While Add16 seems trivial, it’s much easier to write something like Add16 Addr, 23 than to repeatedly write out the the several lines of code needed for a simple 16 bit add. 



Another reason macros are useful over copypasta is that you can fix a bugged macro much more easily than dozens or hundreds of places in a program where you repeat a piece of code. If it turns out you forgot to clear the Carry flag before an add, and you pasted that 130 times, you’d have to fix 130 instances of your error. But if you make an Add16 macro, you can do it in the macro, then just re-assemble the program.



 

On 10/4/2021 at 6:49 PM, Ed Minchau said:

The problem for me is that I'm using the META/L editor, which is just a fancy monitor program with labels. There is no re-assembling the program, because all commands are converted into machine language as I type them. So, no macros.

On 10/4/2021 at 3:49 PM, Ed Minchau said:

The problem for me is that I'm using the META/L editor, which is just a fancy monitor program with labels. There is no re-assembling the program, because all commands are converted into machine language as I type them. So, no macros.

On 10/5/2021 at 1:16 AM, TomXP411 said:

Ah. I think there's an assembler that runs on the Commander.... if there's not, I think it's high time we build one. 



 

On 10/5/2021 at 12:16 AM, TomXP411 said:

Ah. I think there's an assembler that runs on the Commander.... if there's not, I think it's high time we build one. 



 

On 10/5/2021 at 9:14 AM, Scott Robison said:

I've started one several times but just don't have the free hours to put into it.

On 10/4/2021 at 5:28 PM, BruceMcF said:

If the clarification is that it's a fancy monitor with labels, that might be a better way to classify it ... the META/L monitor w/labels.



 

On 10/5/2021 at 12:59 PM, TomXP411 said:

I have written an 8080 assembler in c#... so I know I can write a simple assembler in c. The issue is, as you said, I've only got so many hours a day. Right now, I'm learning a new musical instrument, starting to arrange songs for a brass band, and working 50 hours a week... so I don't have a huge amount of free time either. ?



Still, I might see how hard it is to do... maybe the solution is to port over something like Turbo Assembler, which already runs on the Commodore 64. 



 

On 10/5/2021 at 1:56 PM, Edmond D said:

Perhaps a community-based group approach? I like many don't have a ton of free time, but there are many talented programmers here that perhaps could spend 2-3 hours a week on a group project. 



My other suggestion is to extend  the X16 Assembly Environment to support macros as an addition, rather than building a whole new tool or porting another design.