clt@pur-phy.UUCP (Carrick Talmadge) (02/14/84)
This article is a followup of a previous review of the MAE assembler.
In my opinion, the term waste goes together excellently with
MAE's "Software Development System". It is truly a waste of money.
I bought MAE about eight months ago, as it was the only macro assembler
available at the time. The documentation is poor even by Commodore
standards. Several examples do not work, and in some cases are totally
wrong. The macro-assembler itself has a few problems all its own.
It does not allow expasion of macros with labels inside of other macros.
It does not have a way of accessing low and high bytes of labels
(i.e. #<label & #>label). Their so-called customer support is non-existent.
I wrote them twice and got no reply.
What to do? For some time I searched for a macro-assembler that
had all the features I wanted. Merlin-64 more than met my needs.
MERLIN is probably the second best assembler available for a 65XX
micro (ORCA/M is only available for the Apple.). It has the best
documentation I have ever seen for the C64.
FEATURES :
1) The assembler/editor resides behind basic memory allowing
huge amounts of source to be in the editor simultaneously.
2) It allows insertion of external files durring assembly to
allow assembly of files to large for the editor.
3) It has the option of assembling to memory or directly
to disk.
4) The editor has 80 column capability with or without the
80 column card (but cuts down on max source size).
5) Comes with the Sourceror, which enables you to form
source code from object cde. (with labels !!!)
6) Comes with a few utilities to aid in converting old
assembly routines to the Merlin format.
7) Comes with a nice macro library and a few examples.
8) Complaints - the monitor which comes with the assembler
could use some work, and uses some old Apple conventions
but is adequate.
9) I got it for only $50 !!!
It is available from : Southwestern Data Systems
10761-E Woodside Avenue
Santee California 92071
Dane Morrison
Purdue
Mail replys to : pur-physics!cltmzp@uicsg.UUCP (02/18/84)
#R:pur-phy:-119100:uicsg:18200001:000:1622
uicsg!mzp Feb 17 09:27:00 1984
I find your description of Merlin somewhat appealing, although I cannot
understand your avid dislike of MAE. I used MAE for some reasonably-sized
programs (a C-64 graphics package), and found it to be more than adequate.
Its major drawback is in fact that it sits in RAM, thus limiting resident
program space. I take notable exception with several of your charges:
1. I don't know what kind of problems you had using macros, but I have
never experienced any difficulties whatsoever with them. It sounds
like you were trying to do something with macros that would have
more rationally done in some other manner.
2. There ARE operators for low and high byte. Try reading the manual.
3. The manual is not copious with examples, but it contains all the
information that is needed. I was going at full clip within two
days after getting MAE.
4. You imply that MAE does not support include files. It in fact does,
and it more than comfortably handled a densely-commented program
which assembled to about 3K.
Now, I am not going to back MAE unconditionally. It has funny pseudo-ops
and the default colors are bad. But the editor is easy to use and supports
bidirectional scrolling. The included monitor is extremely powerful.
It even comes with a simple text formatter, and it only cost my company
$69. It appears that you never really tried to become accustomed to MAE,
because you wouldn't be complaining so fiercely now if you had. Perhaps
Merlin-64 has its virtues, but do not rule out alternatives with haphazard
claims.
Mark Papamarcos
clt@pur-phy.UUCP (Carrick Talmadge) (02/21/84)
I did not mean to imply that MAE did not have any
of the features I listed for Merlin. It was meant to be
more of a recommendation of Merlin than a comparison of the
two. I listed what I felt were some problems with MAE and
as well the main features of Merlin. I did not want to bore
people with details but if I must...
1. Here are two macros to illustrate MAE's problem.
!!!mvmem .md (from to bytes)
ldx #bytes
...mvmloop lda from-1,x
sta to-1,x
dex
bne ...mvmloop
.me
!!!switch .md
mvmem ($1000 $2000 256)
mvmem ($2100 $1000 256)
.me
The first macro moves a block of length "bytes" from
"from" to "to". The second macro attempts to use mvmem
twice to switch two 256 byte blocks.
When trying to expand the "switch" macro MAE comes
up with a duplicate label error from ...mvmloop being
expanded twice in switch. ("..." is the MAE convention for
labels local to macros. )
I realize this is a simplistic example but I trust
you get the point. There are often times when it is con-
venient to nest the same macro several times within another
macro.
2. I did read the manual. There were operators for
high and low bytes of labels but only to store them into
memory. My version does not have anything like lda #<$8000
which assembles as lda #$80.
3. I did not mean to imply that MAE did not have
include files, I just wanted people to know that this basic
necessity was available. I have a program 114 blocks long
which fits into the Merlin editor all at once. (assembles to
about 7K long) My point was that with Merlin while you do
not have to break up large programs, that option is avail-
able.
MAE may have fixed the problems mentioned in 1 and
2, if so let me know. Even if they have, Merlin is probably
a better buy at $50. I suggest that anyone in the market
for a professional grade macro-assembler test Merlin. The
documentation alone is enough to make jaded C-64 users happy
(it comes in a real three ring binder).
It is important to remember that assemblers are
tools to make programming easier. A programmer should be
able to concentrate on the program not on the assembler.
Dane Morrison
sed@Pucc-k