[net.micro.cbm] DON'T GET MAE/Merlin review

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!clt

mzp@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