[net.micro.cbm] 6502 cross compiler

judah@hou2h.UUCP (J.KAMINETSKY) (05/29/84)

I have read that a 6502 or 6510 C compiler is not realistic?
What about a cross-compiler that runs on UNIX (or CPM) and generates
6502 or 6510 code for download?

hou2h!judah

janney@unm-cvax.UUCP (05/30/84)

> I have read that a 6502 or 6510 C compiler is not realistic?
> What about a cross-compiler that runs on UNIX (or CPM) and generates
> 6502 or 6510 code for download?
> 
> hou2h!judah

Cross compiling will not solve the basic problem, which is the architecture
of the 6502: the lack of a 16-bit index register makes it difficult to
support automatic variables.  Running the compiler on a VAX-class machine
would probably allow better code generation.  There's some interesting things
that might be done to optimise address calculations.

parker@rochester.UUCP (Clint Parker) (06/05/84)

No fan fair, but you might want to check out the ACTION! language/compiler
which is marketed by Optimized Systems Software, 1173-D Saratoga-Sunnyvale Rd.,
San Jose, CA   95129.  It generates fast native 6502 code.

I wish people wouldn't go around saying that it isn't possible to have a good
High Level language for the 6502.  It is, maybe not C or PASCAL, but in general
it is only the automatic variables (recursion) of these languages that cause
problems in generating good code.  Most programmers don't use recursive routines
in the code they write, so giving up a HLL compiler just for this doesn't make
too much sense.  The subset of the ACTION! language implemented on the Atari
and C64 therefore don't support recursion.

Hope that this might help out those looking for a HLL for the 6502.

	- Clint