From: utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!C70:info-cpm Newsgroups: fa.info-cpm Title: 6502 development tools Article-I.D.: ucb.1664 Posted: Sat Jul 31 22:28:08 1982 Received: Sun Aug 1 04:58:06 1982 >From jsweet.uci@Udel-Relay Sat Jul 31 22:27:55 1982 I am aware of (although I haven't used) the following 6502 development tools running unnder CP/M: [1] Microsoft ALDS. The documentation that I have seen on this product appears to be extensive. However, I do not know whether ALDS is available for systems other than the Apple II CP/M implementation. ALDS appears to look like just another release of Microsoft's M80, but it has a '.6502' pseudo-op to cause assembly of the 6502 opcodes. Drawbacks: (please correct me if I'm wrong on this point, someone) M80 produces relocatable code which must be linked with L80, Microsoft's linker. The linker makes it difficult to locate software in certain areas of memory, making it occasionally (if not frequently) unsuitable for development of software for foreign (non-CP/M) environments. Also, both M80 and L80 use a cryptic (DEC-like) command syntax. Advantages: Fairly powerful macro capability, separate code and data segments, good set of pseudo-ops. [2] Sorcim ACT-65. This is an absolute assembler which produces Intel hex-format output. ACT-65 also has macro capability, but from the documentation, does not appear to have very powerful string handling (e.g. an '&' operator, as in M80). Although it does not generate relocatable code (as implied by the adjective "absolute"), there is a file inclusion facility which helps circumvent the problem somewhat. ACT-65 has a fairly robust set of pseudo-ops. [3] Avocet XASM65. Advertised in BYTE. I've never seen a manual, so I can't tell you anything about it, except for what appears in the ad. It appears to be an absolute assembler, a la ACT65. As for getting the softwware onto the target system, I have seen nothing that sells with the packages mentioned above. You'll either have to ROM it, ram it through a serial port, or have some kind of interchange format for diskettes. grins, Jerry Sweet.