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Atari Assembler Editor

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[{TableOfContents }]
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Atari hired Shepardson Microsystems to write [Atari Basic|Atari BASIC] for the 8-bit line. Shepardson developed it using a cross-compiler, but took the opportunity to begin writing their own assembler for the Atari platform as well. This was released by Atari in ROM cartridge form in 1980.
Atari hired Shepardson Microsystems to write [Atari BASIC] for the 8-bit line. Shepardson developed it using a cross-compiler, but took the opportunity to begin writing their own assembler for the Atari platform as well. This was released by Atari in ROM cartridge form in 1980.
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The system ran entirely in RAM, meaning that both the source code and resulting machine code had to be able to fit in memory at the same time. This could be a significant limitation in many situations. Additionally, it did not include the ability to link multiple files together into a single larger program, which put further limits on the sort of programs that could be developed with it. [Eastern Front 1941] required six modules, which had to be linked together by hand using DOS. Significant effort was needed to ensure that the memory locations in the six files were correct.
The system ran entirely in RAM, meaning that both the source code and resulting machine code had to be able to fit in memory at the same time. This could be a significant limitation in many situations. Additionally, it did not include the ability to link multiple files together into a single larger program, which put further limits on the sort of programs that could be developed with it. [Eastern Front 1941], which was about 12 to 16k of machine code, required the source to be broken into six modules and then linked together by hand using DOS. Significant effort was needed to ensure that the memory references in the six files were correct, as they referred to code in other modules who's position changed as they were recompiled.
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For larger programs, Atari also sold [Atari Macro Assembler|Atari Macro Assembler and Program-Text Editor CX8121], which used a separate full-screen editor, saved files to disk, and included a linker. This was, however, both slow and expensive. As a result, many programmers were left wanting something more powerful than Assembler Editor (notably with macro support, which it lacked) but faster and less expensive than Macro Assembler. This led to a thriving market for 3rd party assemblers on the Atari platform.
For larger programs, Atari also sold the [Atari Macro Assembler and Program-Text Editor CX8121|Atari Macro Assembler], which used a separate full-screen editor, saved files to disk, and included a linker. This was, however, both slow and expensive. As a result, many programmers were left wanting something more powerful than Assembler Editor (notably with macro support, which it lacked) but faster and less expensive than Macro Assembler. This led to a thriving market for 3rd party assemblers on the Atari platform.
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[{TableOfContents }]\\
\\
[{Image src='Der Atari Assembler Cover.jpg' width=300 height=400 }]
Atari Assembler Editor Box Cover\\
\\
The Atari Assembler Editor cartridge was a program used to edit, compile and debug assembly language programs for the Atari 8-bit computers. It was programmed by Kathleen Ann O'Brien of Shepardson Microsystems, Inc., later founding member of OSS, Inc.. It was the first commercially available assembler for the Atari 8-bit computers ever. And yes, it was programmed by a woman. Showing once more, how far ahead of time SMI and OSS were. The program was a two-pass 6502 assembler, in an 8 KB cartridge. With the command __SIZE__, the user gets the info, how much space is free and the command __DOS__, exits the cartridge and jumps into the Disk Operationg System (DOS). There are rumors of a __LOMEM__ command, but AtariWiki couldn't verify this.
The Atari Assembler Editor cartridge was a program used to edit, compile and debug assembly language programs for the Atari 8-bit computers. It was programmed by Kathleen Ann O'Brien of Shepardson Microsystems, Inc., later founding member of OSS, Inc.. It was the first commercially available assembler for the Atari 8-bit computers ever. And yes, it was programmed by a woman. Showing once more, how far ahead of time SMI and OSS were. The program was a two-pass 6502 assembler, in an 8 KB cartridge. With the command __SIZE__, the user gets the info, how much space is free and the command __DOS__, exits the cartridge and jumps into the Disk Operating System (DOS).
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* [ATARI Assembler Editor User's Manual Errata|Atari_Assembler_Editor_cartridge_manual_errata.pdf] ; size: 238 KB
* [ATARI Assembler Editor User's Manual Errata 1|Atari_Assembler_Editor_User_s_Manual_Errata.pdf] ; size: 20.6 MB ; Many thanks to Atarimania!
* [ATARI Assembler Editor User's Manual Errata 2|Atari_Assembler_Editor_cartridge_manual_errata.pdf] ; size: 238 KB
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!!Hint
If the user intends to resize the used memory, the command: 'LOMEM xxxx' must be the very first command after booting. Please see page 7 in the manual for further info. Otherwise the user will get an error:\\
[{Image src='LOMEM-SIZE-2.png' width=606 height=317 }]
LOMEM command - correct use\\
\\
[{Image src='LOMEM-SIZE-1.png' width=611 height=296 }]
LOMEM command - incorrect use\\
\\
Thanks to Sijmen Schouten for the hint. :-)
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!!Instruction Set (Operation Codes)
[{Image src='Instruction Set (Operation Codes)-1.png' width=1089 height=824 }]
[{Image src='Instruction Set (Operation Codes)-2.png' width=1134 height=686 }]
Instruction Set (Operation Codes)