8-bit Assembly: Where to Start?

[jericho_21]

Hello, everybody:

 

I am wanting to learn about assembly language programming on the Atari 8-bit computer. To start off learning, would I have to go to learn BASIC first, or just delve into assembly code directly? I am completely novice at this, but I am quite interested in learn to code for the Atari. Also, is there any way I can get tutorials from certain individuals who know more about programming than I do? I appreciate any advice. Thanks!

[Grevle]

Probably best to start with Basic, Basic is direct, so when you type in a program you can run it by typing run, and if anything is wrong you get the basic error codes, these codes are explained in The Atari Basic Manual.

 

Also when programming Atari its vital to learn someting about the memory map of the Atar 8-bit, and the various adresses.

Im new to assembler myself but is a different way of programming, takes more code to do something and program must be assembled to run it.,For pure speed Assembler is Fastest.

 

Turbo Basix XL is about 3 times faster than Atari basic and have more commands than Atari Basic. Turbo Basic XL is a disc based Basic and should be easy to find on the net somewhere.Its also compitable With Atari basic so the Manual for Atari Basic also apply to Turbo basic.

 

Its also possible to use assembler routines within A Basic program.

[jericho_21]

Thanks for the reply. I thought it was BASIC I needed to start off with. Then that is how I will approach it. Thanks, again.

[sack-c0s]

I grew up on the C64, so the only difference between assembler and BASIC was the speed it ran at, so this one bit of advice is based on my experiences there.

 

If you go the basic route pay particular attention to the PEEK and POKE instructions, as once you know how they work and can control things that way transitioning to assembler will be a lot easier because that's the closest to how you will be working in 6502 (or any assembly language for that matter)

Edited December 5, 2012 by sack-c0s

[jericho_21]

Thanks again. I will definitely keep that in mind for sure. Your advice is helpful.

[JonnyBritish]

On the Atari you you have other languages to choose from including Action! from OSS Software

 

However if assembler is where you want to go check out this tutorial on 6502 coding. It is not Atari specific but may be helpful

 

http://skilldrick.gi...6502/index.html

[jericho_21]

I have seen that tutorial before. In fact, I do have a bookmark to it. I will check it out. Thanks!

Edited December 5, 2012 by jericho_21

[AtariMagic!]

can good looking games be achieved with Turbo Basic ?

[+MrFish]

can good looking games be achieved with Turbo Basic ?

 

KE-Soft (Kemal Ezcan) from Germany did a lot of decent stuff using TB.

[Synthpopalooza]

Don't forget there is also a compiler for TB which can dramatically improve the speed of the program.

[AtariMagic!]

Don't forget there is also a compiler for TB which can dramatically improve the speed of the program.

 

which is the compiler?

[Synthpopalooza]

There is a program called COMPILER.COM which will have the compiler. It compiles to a .CTB file which can then be run from another program called RUNTIME.COM ... you can also use a linker to make it into a standalone executable.

 

http://www.page6.org/pd_lib/special/pd_ds006.htm this one contains TB plus the compiler

 

This post has the Turbo BASIC linker: http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/205312-turbo-basic-programming-for-compiler/#entry2640798

[AtariMagic!]

There is a program called COMPILER.COM which will have the compiler. It compiles to a .CTB file which can then be run from another program called RUNTIME.COM ... you can also use a linker to make it into a standalone executable.

 

http://www.page6.org...al/pd_ds006.htm this one contains TB plus the compiler

 

This post has the Turbo BASIC linker: http://www.atariage....r/#entry2640798

 

thank you very much sir!

 

what about 5200 conversions?

[Synthpopalooza]

Unfortunately, none of the BASIC languages on the Atari XL can be used to generate running code natively on the 5200. There was a 5200 BASIC developed awhile back, and I think you can get it in this thread:

 

http://www.atariage....basic-compiler/

 

This runs natively on a PC, and takes BASIC code, and compiles it into a 5200 executable.

Edited December 29, 2012 by Synthpopalooza

[bob_er]

can good looking games be achieved with Turbo Basic ?

Check this: http://atari.fandal.cz/detail.php?files_id=4267

[+therealbountybob]

Hi jericho_21,

how are you getting on?

 

I've just started looking at assembler again (about my 5th attempt) but have programmed lots of Atari BASIC games over the years and one Turbo BASIC game (Gwobby Strikes Back!) check them out on the Gwobby Web Site. Other atariage members have created Turbo BASIC games see Grelve's Web Site and Synthpopalooza's Tetricize

 

A good way of getting started in BASIC (or assembler) would be to work through some of the Atari Computer manuals, books (atariarchives.org) or magazines (many on atariage.com)

[yell0w_lantern]

What kind of cross-development resources are there for A8's?

[snicklin]

What kind of cross-development resources are there for A8's?

 

Personally, I use MADS or CC65 for cross-development.

 

There's no way I could go back to coding on the actual Atari.