[net.micro] "Re: Atari software inquiry

reg@ihlpf.UUCP (07/23/83)

#R:vaxine:-25300:ihlpf:23200008:  0:1598
ihlpf!jbaldo    Jul 22 15:52:00 1983

1. a >good< C compiler (not one of the tiny Cs floating around),

I believe you can get the Aztec C compiler for the Atari now, that is
if you can believe their ads. I know you can get C/65 from Optimized
Systems Software. C/65 has ints, chars, and pointers, but no floats.
You also need MAC/65 from the same company to run C/65.
C/65 compiles to macros that MAC/65, a macro assembler, which
translates the macros and assembles the code into 6502 executable
code. (OSS also sells a tiny C interpreter, by the way.)

2. a better DOS (possibly allowing sub-directories and a hierarchy,
	  though I don't hold out much hope for this),

How about OS/A+ from Optimized Systems Software? (I don't work for
them or own stock, despite the fact that this reply is going to look
like a commercial for them.) OS/A+ is a command driven DOS, as opposed
to the menu driven variety. It used to be available separately, but
now it only comes with one of OSS's other products. It is included
with bith C/65 and MAC/65.

3. a good screen editor.  The screen editor that comes with the
	  Atari Macro Assembler isn't too bad, but...

MAC/65 has a text mode that you can use to edit files. Whether it fits
your criteria for "good" or not you will have to judge for yourself.

4. Also, has anyone heard of a hard disk available for the 800?  I
suspect that there is one lying around somewhere, but haven't heard of
it.

Check the ads in COMPUTE!, Creative Computing, and BYTE.


OSS is run by Bill Wilkinson, who writes the "Insight: Atari" column in
COMPUTE! magazine.


				Dave Carl
				Bell Labs
				Naperville, IL