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Top Document: Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions
Previous Document: 7.8) What should I know about modem device handlers?
Next Document: 8.2) What cartridges were released for the Right Slot of the 800?
8.1) What programming languages are available for the Atari?
This section is by Freddy Offenga, reproduced here by permission from: http://members.chello.nl/taf.offenga/atari_dev.htm MC's additions: 2006.01.16 Xasm 3.0.0, 2005 from Piotr Fusik Revision : 2.0 Date.... : 2005-2-20 ============================================================== The goal is to give information about all available languages for the Atari 8-bit computer. This information includes: title, last version, author, date and a short description. It would also be nice to know how to get it and where to get more information (like reference cards, reviews and such). Maintainer: Freddy Offenga Email : taf.offenga [at] chello.nl (replace " [at] " with "@") URL : http://members.chello.nl/taf.offenga/atari.htm ============================================================== There are quite a lot! To get some structure in this section it's divided into the following categories; a) ASSEMBLER b) BASIC c) C d) PASCAL e) LISP f) FORTH g) PILOT h) LOGO i) All the rest The following format is used: - Language titel (medium) version, year : version, year author/company : author/company available..... : where/how to get it package....... : programs, documentation features...... : main features Description. The question marks (?) indicate that more information is required about that topic. Credits ======= - The Multi-lingual Atari, Analog magazine 45, August 1986 - A bunch of manuals - Some copy-pasted lines from the Atari 8-bit newsgroup - umich (University of Michigan Atari archive) - David Wyn Davies (PL65) - Kevin Savetz (APX titles) - Maury Markowitz - Michael Current - JT (ValForth) - Andreas Koch - Winston Smith - Carsten Strotmann - Brad Arnold Revision history ================ 2.0 - Added Atari Pilot info from Brad Arnold 1.9 - X-Assembler updated - Added "QS FORTH" info from Winston Smith - Added FORTH section work from Michael Current (thanks to Carsten Strotmann) (see also: http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForth) - Several updates in the assembler section 1.8 Thanks to Andreas Koch for these updates: - Added "Mesa-Forth" - Added "130XE Assembler 4.32" - Updated "SynAssembler" 1.7 Thanks to Maury Markowitz for these updates: - Updated "A BASIC Compiler" - Added "Der BASIC Compiler", "MMG BASIC Compiler" - Added "Frost BASIC", "TT-BASIC XL" 1.6 Synchronized with Atari 8-bit FAQ May-2002 : - Added "X-Assembler" - Added "CTH Fast Basic" - Added availability for "Deep Blue C" - Added availability for "Atari Pascal" - Ignored changes "Kyan Pascal" (need more info) - Updated "ValForth" - Updated "Extended fig-Forth" - Updated "fun-Forth" - Added "Extended WSFN" - Removed e-mail addresses - Added availability for "A65" - Updated "PL65" 1.0 .. 1.5 Changes not noted. Old versions are available on request. a) ASSEMBLER - 130XE Makro Assembler (disk) version, year : 4.32, ? author/company : Torsten Karwoth available..... : freeware, ABBUC PD #297 package....... : assembler, editor, menu, monitor, batch enhancement, linker/packer features...... : macros Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated menu, editor and monitor shell for 128KB RAM Ataris. Source format is derived from Atmas Makroassembler. - 130XE+ Makro Assembler (disk) version, year : 2.2, 1992 author/company : Torsten Karwoth available..... : freeware, ABBUC PD #368 package....... : assembler, editor, menu, monitor, batch enhancement, linker/packer features...... : macros New version with 128KB - 1088KB RAM support. Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated menu, editor and monitor shell. Needs extra RAM banks. Source format is derived from Atmas Makroassembler. - A65 (disk) version, year : ?, 1989 author/company : Charles Marslett, WORDMARK Systems available..... : abandonware, http://www.wordmark.org/ package....... : assembler, manual features...... : source include Two pass 6502 assembler. Source format is based on the Atari Macro Assembler. Assembler source included. - Alfasm, Turbo-Assembler/16 (disk) version, year : 1.0, 1990 author/company : Jeff Williams, DataQue Software available..... : ? package....... : assembler, docs features...... : source include Two pass 6502/65816 assembler. - Assi (download) version, year : 0.0.41, 2000 author/company : MacFalkner available..... : http://members.aol.com/macfalkner/atariindex.htm package....... : assembler, file linker features...... : source include, data include, code relocation Cross assembler for Win32. Source code is highly compatible with Atmas for the Atari. - Atari Assembler/Editor (cart) version, year : ?, 1981 author/company : Atari available..... : ? package....... : assembler, editor, monitor, manual features...... : - Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated editor/monitor - Atari Macro Assembler (disk) version, year : 1.0C, 1981 author/company : Atari, APX available..... : ? package....... : assembler, editor, debugger, manual features...... : macros, source include Two pass 6502 assembler. - ATasm (disk) version, year : 0.92, 1999 author/company : Mark Schmelzenbach available..... : umich package....... : assembler features...... : macros, source include, optionally target .XFD disk images and machine state files (Atari800 / Atari800Win), conditional assembly. Two pass 6502 portable cross assembler. Highly compatible with MAC/65. - Atmas Makroassembler (disk) version, year : 2, 1985 author/company : Peter Finzel, Hofacker available..... : ? package....... : assembler, editor, monitor, manual features...... : macros Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated editor/monitor. - Bibo Assembler (disk) version, year : 1.0, 13/12/1986 author/company : E.Reuss, Compy-Shop available..... : ? package....... : assembler, editor, monitor features...... : source include, data include Two pass 6502/65c02 assembler with integrated editor/ monitor. - Datasm/65 assembler (disk) version, year : 2.0, 1981 author/company : DataSoft Inc. available..... : ? package....... : assembler, editor, menu, manual features...... : - Two pass 6502 assembler. - EASMD (disk) version, year : 1.0, 1981 author/company : OSS available..... : ? package....... : assembler, editor, monitor features...... : - Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated editor/monitor. - Fast Assembler (disk) version, year : 1.5, 1995 author/company : MMMG Soft available..... : ? package....... : assembler, editor, disassembler features...... : - - Kasm65 (disk) version, year : 2.51, 1997 author/company : Ken Siders available..... : shareware, umich package....... : assembler, editor, linker, docs features...... : macros, relocation, source include, conditional assembly Two pass 6502 assembler. Relocatable object files are compatible with ra65. Source format is derived from the Atari Macro Assembler. - MAC/65 Macro Assembler (disk|cart) version, year : 1.01, 1984 author/company : Stephen D. Lawrow, OSS available..... : ? package....... : ? features...... : - - MAC/65 Macro Assembler (disk|cart) version, year : 2.00, 1982 author/company : Stephen D. Lawrow, OSS available..... : ? package....... : assembler, editor, monitor, manual features...... : macros, source include Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated editor/monitor. Mac/65 is a direct descendant of the Atari Assembler/ Editor (via EASMD). - MAC/65 Macro Assembler (disk) version, year : 4.20, 1994 author/company : Stephen D. Lawrow, Fine Tooned Engineering available..... : ? package....... : ? features...... : - - MAC/65 Macro Assembler (disk) version, year : 4.20 demo version, 1982 author/company : Stephen D. Lawrow, OSS available..... : ? package....... : ? features...... : - - MAE (disk) version, year : .96, 1996 author/company : John Harris available..... : umich package....... : assembler, menu, editor, monitor, docs features...... : macros, source include, data include, conditional assembly Two pass 6502/65816 assembler with integrated editor/ monitor. Extra RAM supported. - NASM65 (disk) version, year : ?, 1992 author/company : Nat! available..... : ? package....... : assembler, linker, librarian features...... : macros, relocation, source include One pass 6502 portable cross assembler (initially for the ST). Highly compatible with MAC/65. - PC-65 (disk) version, year : 1.0 beta, 1996 author/company : Jan Feenstra & Freddy Offenga available..... : - package....... : assembler features...... : macros, source include, data include, boundary directive Two pass 6502 cross assembler for PC/DOS. The source format is highly compatible with the ST-65 assembler. - Quick Assembler (disk) version, year : 1.0, 1990? author/company : JBW, Avalon? available..... : ? package....... : assembler, editor, menu, debugger features...... : source include Two pass 6502 cross assembler with integrated editor. Very user friendly menu environment. - Ra65 (disk) version, year : 1.0, 1989 author/company : John R. Dunning available..... : public domain, umich package....... : assembler, linker, librarian part of cc65 (c-compiler) features...... : - - Synassembler (disk|cart) version, year : 4.0, 1982 author/company : Steve Hales, Synapse Soft available..... : http://www.atariland.com/members/oldatarian/ package....... : assembler, editor, monitor, manual features...... : source include Two pass 6502 assembler. An Adaptation by Steve Hales of the S.C. Assembler II. - ST-65 (disk) version, year : ?, 1991 author/company : A. Stauffenberg, F. Offenga available..... : - package....... : assembler, menu shell, manual features...... : macros, conditional assembly, source include, data include, boundary directive Two pass 6502/65c02 cross assembler for the Atari ST written in 68000 assembly. As far as I know this is the first assembler with the boundary directive. - Xasm version, year : 2.5.2, 2002 author/company : Piotr Fusik available..... : http://xasm.atari.org package....... : assembler, docs features...... : conditional assembly, source include, binary include, pseudo commands, pseudo addressing modes Two pass 6502 cross assembler for PC/DOS. The source format is backward compatible with Quick Assembler. - Xasm version, year : 3.0.0, 2005 author/company : Piotr Fusik available..... : http://xasm.atari.org package....... : assembler, docs features...... : conditional assembly, source include, binary include, pseudo commands, pseudo addressing modes Two pass 6502 cross assembler for PC/DOS. The source format is backward compatible with Quick Assembler. b) BASIC - A BASIC Compiler (?) version, year : 1.05, 1987 author/company : Monarch Data Systems available..... : ? package....... : BASIC compiler features...... : - - Advan BASIC (disk) version, year : ?, ? author/company : Advan Language Designs available..... : ? package....... : BASIC compiler features...... : - - Atari 800 Basic (disk) version, year : 1.0, 1981 author/company : Microsoft available..... : ? package....... : ? features...... : - - Atari BASIC (cart) version, year : Rev.C, 1983 author/company : Atari available..... : standard ROM in Atari XL/XE package....... : BASIC interpreter, manual features...... : pretty plain BASIC implementation - Atari Microsoft BASIC II (cart) version, year : ?, 1991 author/company : Atari available..... : ? package....... : BASIC interpreter features...... : - - BASIC A+ (disk) version, year : 3.05, 1981 author/company : OSS available..... : ? package....... : BASIC interpreter features...... : - - BASIC XL (cart) version, year : ?, ? author/company : OSS available..... : ? package....... : BASIC interpreter features...... : - - BASIC XE (cart) version, year : ?, 1985 author/company : OSS available..... : ? package....... : BASIC interpreter features...... : - - CTH Fast Basic (disk) version/year : ? author/company : Tom Hunt/Closer to Home avaiable.......: PD, Freeware or Shareware; package........: language plus several test files and examples; english docs; features.......: faster than Atari Basic, not much slower than TB, does not use Ram under OS; available at Tom Hunt's homepage or elsewhere... - Der BASIC Compiler (?) version, year : ?, 1983 author/company : Datasoft available..... : ? package....... : BASIC compiler features...... : - - Frost BASIC (?) version, year : 1.04, 1985 author/company : Frank Ostrowski, Happy Computer available..... : ? package....... : BASIC interpreter, compiler features...... : - Version of Turbo Basic XL that runs on 48k machines (400/800). - MMG BASIC Compiler 2.0 (?) version, year : 2.0, 1984 author/company : Special Software Systems available..... : ? package....... : BASIC compiler features...... : - It appears that this is a newer version of Der BASIC Compiler, licensed to some other company. - TT-BASIC XL (disk) version, year : 2.11, 1985 author/company : Frank Ostrowski, Happy Computer available..... : ? package....... : BASIC interpreter, compiler features...... : - Published in the German magazine "Happy Computer". Appears to be a newer version of Turbo Basic XL. - Turbo Basic XL (disk) version, year : 1.5, 1985 author/company : Frank Ostrowski, Happy Computer available..... : ? package....... : BASIC interpreter, compiler (V1.1) features...... : - Published in the German magazine "Happy Computer". c) C - ACE C (disk) version, year : ? author/company : John Palevich & Ralph Walden available..... : ? package....... : ? features...... : - This is a newer version of 'Deep Blue C'. - C/65 (?) version, year : ? author/company : OSS available..... : ? package....... : ? features...... : - Probably derived from Dr.Dobbs "Small C". Compiles to 6502 code which emulates the 8080 instruction set. - C65 (?) version, year : ? author/company : Keith Ledbetter available..... : ? package....... : ? features...... : good macro assembler This compiler does not support structs. - CC65 (disk) version, year : 1989 author/company : John R. Dunning available..... : umich archive, http://www.umich.edu/~archive/atari/8bit/Languages/Cc65/ package....... : compiler, linker, assembler, librarian features...... : - Public domain compiler. Also used as cross compiler. Relocatable object linkage files, and the most thorough K&R C for the 8-bit. Comes with an relocatable assembler. - CC8 (disk) version, year : 2.3 author/company : John Palevich & Steve Kennedy available..... : ? package....... : Compiler features...... : - ACE C with more "real" C support (e.g. arrays of pointers to structs). Requires ACE C runtime libs and linker. - Deep Blue C (disk) version, year : 1.2, 1982 author/company : John Palevich, APX available..... : http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20166 Source code "Deep Blue Secrets" downloadable at http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20179 package....... : Compiler, Linker features...... : - Deep Blue C was originally an independent product, but it then became available from APX. It converts C to pseudo- code and then interprets the pseudo code (8080 instruction set emulation). Drawn from Ron Cain's public domain C-compiler (Small-C). - DVC C (disk) version, year : 1.05, 1985 author/company : Ralph E. Walden available..... : ? package....... : Editor, Compiler, Optimizer, Linker features...... : Quite user friendly program The compiler generates special object files (.CCC) which can be optimized and linked. The package uses a special DOS called DVC DOS which contains runtime stuff. - LightSpeed C (disk) version, year : 1.08, 1986 author/company : Clearstar Softechnology available..... : ? package....... : Compiler, Optimizer, Linker features...... : - Runs under CLI DOS's and MENU DOS's. - Tiny-C version, year : ? author/company : OSS available..... : ? package....... : ? features...... : - First sold C compiler by OSS. This compiler was used to compile itself! First true language "bootstrap" on any 8-bit machine (it was also available for Apple and CP/M machines). Derived from Dr.Dobbs "Small C". Compiles to 6502 code which emulates the 8080 instruction set. d) PASCAL - Atari Pascal (disk) version, year : 1.0, 1982 author/company : APX available..... : APX-20102 Information at http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20102 package....... : ? features...... : - Needs two drives. - Draper Pascal (disk) version, year : 2.1, 1989 author/company : Norm Draper available..... : ? package....... : ? features...... : - - Kyan Pascal (disk) version, year : 1986 author/company : Kyan Software, APX available..... : ? package....... : editor, compiler, linker, macro-assembler and manual features...... : - Kyan Pascal would run off a single floppy. The Atari (APX) version needs two drives. A version which runs entirely in 128k should be available too. e) LISP - INTER-LISP/65 (disk) version, year : 2.1, 1981 author/company : Special Software Systems, DataSoft available..... : ? package....... : ? features...... : - - INTER-LISP/65 (disk) version, year : 2.2, 1982 author/company : Special Software Systems, DataSoft available..... : ? package....... : ? features...... : - f) FORTH - ES-FORTH version, year : 1.2, 1984 author/company : The English Software Company available..... : http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForthESForth package....... : ? features...... : - Seems to be based on fig-FORTH, but with some unique "Words". Works with normal DOS. - Extended fig-FORTH, (disk) version, year : 11/10/1981 author/company : Patrick Mullarky, APX available..... : APX-20029 http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20029 package....... : ? features...... : - - Extended fig-Forth (disk) version, year : 1.1 Rev. 2.0, 01/15/82 author/company : Patrick Mullarky, APX available..... : APX-20029 http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20029 package....... : ? features...... : - - fig-FORTH version, year : 1/26/81 and 4/01/82 releases author/company : Steven R. Calfee "Team FORTH" available..... : http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=unknown_fig package....... : ? features...... : - - fig-FORTH version, year : 4/10/82 author/company : Peter Lipson / Robin Ziegler "Team FORTH" available..... : ? package....... : ? features...... : - based on 4/1/82 release of fig-FORTH by Steve Calfee - fig-FORTH version, year : 5/5/82 - 10/16/82 author/company : Harald Striepe "Team FORTH" available..... : ? package....... : ? features...... : - based on 4/10/82 release of fig-FORTH by Lipson/Ziegler - fig-FORTH, Antic (disk) version, year : 1.4S REV.H, 18Jun85 author/company : John Stanley/Antic Magazine "Team FORTH" available..... : http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForthAntic package....... : ? features...... : - based on 10/16/82 release of fig-FORTH by Striepe - fun-Forth (disk) version, year : ? author/company : Joel Gluck, APX available..... : APX-20146 http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20146 package....... : ? features...... : - - Grafik-FORTH version, year : 1990 author/company : RAI Production available..... : http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForthGraphicForth package....... : ? features...... : - based on fig-FORTH 1.4S and TURBO-GRAPHICS-SYSTEM 256 - MesaForth version, year : 12/03/81 author/company : ? available..... : http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForthMesa package....... : language, source code, documents, examples features...... : - based on 6502 fig-Forth. The major difference is in the size of the screen on disk (512 bytes instead of 1024 bytes). Runs under ATARI DOS 2.0S. - QS FORTH version, year : 1.0, 3/27/81 author/company : James Abanese / [QS] Quality Software available..... : http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForthQS package....... : Editor, Assembler, I/O routines Single Density 5.25 Floppy and Manual in Binder features...... : Editor, Assembler, I/O Routines. based on fig-FORTH. - Turbo-4th version, year : January 1985 author/company : Steven R. Calfee available..... : ? package....... : ? features...... : - compatible with fig-FORTH and Team FORTH. It's fast. Not threaded, it is a true compiler - ValForth (disk) version, year : 1.1, 1982 author/company : Valpar International available..... : ? package....... : (8) disks in the set including: 1)master disk, 2)display formatter, 3)text compression and auto text formatting, 4)valDOS-I, 5)valDOS-II, 6)player-missile graphics, character editor and sound editor, 7)general utilities and video editor, 8) Turtle & valGraphics and advanced floating point routines. features...... : - based on fig-FORTH - X-FORTH version, year : 26 Jan 2003 author/company : Carsten Strotmann available..... : http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/ProjXForth package....... : binary, source, disk image with samples & editor features...... : aims to be compatible with new ANSI standard. works with normal DOS. g) PILOT - Programming Language Pilot Educators Package, Pilot with "Turtle" Graphics (CX405) (cart, tape) version, year : 1980, 1981, 1982 author/company : Atari available..... : ? package....... : * Pilot Cartridge (CXL4018) * Two demonstration program cassettes (CX4113A/B) * Pocket Reference Card C017812 Rev2 - Program (c)1980, Manual (c)1981 * Pilot Demonstration Programs Users Guide C017810 Rev1 - Program (c)1980, Manual (c)1981 * Pilot Primer: The Pilot Programming Language Instruction Manual C017809 Rev2 - Program(c)1980 Atari, Manual (c)1980 Dymax * Student Pilot: Reference Guide C017811 Rev1 - Program (c)1980, Manual (c)1981. features...... : - h) LOGO - Atari LOGO (cart) version, year : 1983 author/company : LCSI, Atari available..... : ? package....... : ? features...... : - i) All the rest - Action! (cart) version, year : 1983 author/company : OSS available..... : ? package....... : compiler, editor, monitor and library features...... : fast compiler which generates good code Needs cartridge for runtime procedures. A PD runtime library is also available. All variables are static, so recursive routine calls are not possible. No floating point type (though a PD library should make this possible). No arrays of objects (arrays of POINTERS to objects are possible). - Extended WSFN, WSFN = Which Stands For Nothing version, year : ? author/company : Harry Stewart, APX available..... : APX-20026 package....... : ? features...... : - Info at http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20026 - Quick (disk) version, year : 2.0, 1990 author/company : Raindorf Soft available..... : ? package....... : ? features...... : - This is the "poor man's Action!". Same restrictions as Action! apply also to Quick. Further restrictions are: only simple assignment expressions, no records and no pointers. - PL65 (disk) version, year : 1.0, 1987 author/company : Noahsoft available..... : commercial, Extremely rare. package....... : compiler, editor, library, sample game features...... : Similar features to Action with same restrictions. Highly flexible language that includes inline assembler features and pointers. Robust and well-engineered editor. Does not require additional runtime library - automatically generated and included in the compiled code during compilation. - Test Computer Language (disk) version, year : 2.2, 1985-1990 author/company : D.Firth available..... : public domain, ? package....... : compiler and editor features...... : -
Top Document: Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions
Previous Document: 7.8) What should I know about modem device handlers?
Next Document: 8.2) What cartridges were released for the Right Slot of the 800?
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