Basic compiler for A-//e

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BillO's picture
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Basic compiler for A-//e

A question for all you good Apple fans.

Does anyone know of a compiler that will work on an enhanced Apple IIe to compile Applsoft code?

I tried TASC, but it makes assumptions about the enhanced IIe ROM that NOT correct.

BTW, I am still using DOS 3.3 for nostalgia purposes.

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Re: Basic compiler for A-//e

TASC was distributed and designed in APPLE II+ days.....
for enhanced Apple IIe Z-Basic or TML Basic is more favorable......
but both are used with proDOS.
speedyG

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Re: Basic compiler for A-//e

What about Beagle Compiler? I recall reading the manual one time and it mentioned prodos. So that means it's from the //e or later time. I never really used this, so cannot say if it is what you need or not.

ADDED:
There is also the Einstein Compiler. Something else to try.

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Re: Basic compiler for A-//e

The Beagle compiler will work with the IIe, however you have to convert a dos 3.3 applesoft program to prodos before you can compile it. The Beagle compiler will also chock on large applesoft programs( to large to fit in memory or trying to run a program at too high an address)and some commands are not compatible...they are listed in the manual. Most other compilers have similar limitations. Overall, like most Beagle Bros software, it is pretty decent at what it is designed to do.

Jim

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Re: Basic compiler for A-//e

Thanks again guy's. I guess I'll be better off if I bring a little ProDOS into my life anyway.

I'll try out your suggestions.

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Re: Basic compiler for A-//e

Z-Basic was reclassified as freeware, it's quite good and I strongly recommend it.

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Re: Basic compiler for A-//e

My study on this so far:

Z-Basic - nice IDE but it will not import Applesoft programs. I guess it will be good for new stuff. Need more info.

Einstein - Does not seem to work at all with an enhanced IIe.

TML is for the Apple IIgs. Could not find any indication there was a IIe version, but I could be wrong.

Beagle Compiler is the only one I've not tried yet. I'll see if I can download it and try it tonight. I have a feeling it does not produce binaries though, so maybe of limited use. Again, I could be wrong.

One of you should tell me I need an Apple II+. I may be able to use that 'advice' to get around some 'filters' in my home.

UPDATE:
Well, it seems the Beagle Compiler is out too. It will not create stand-alone binary files. There is really no excuse for this, is there? Oh well.

I'll do a little more experimenting and reading on Z-Basic. Perhaps I can use my PC to convert Applesoft programs to text files so that Z-Basic will read them. First I need to see if it can create stand-alone BIN files. Seems like a circuitous approach that would not have been available in 1979. I had no idea there were such issues back in the day. It's strange that the II+ had a real compiler, but the later machines did not.

I've only had previous experience with the II+ and TASC. Things were rosy in the garden in those days.

Next.... looking for a 'C' compiler...

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Re: Basic compiler for A-//e

Have you tried ASCOMP? I forget it's limitations, but I quite liked it.

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Re: Basic compiler for A-//e

I cant get a hold of a copy of ASCOMP to try it. It seems like it did not survive. However, I think like TASC, it also used routines from the Applesoft BASIC ROMs as well as the monitor to keep the size of the binaries small. This is why TASC can't work on a IIe. The routines are in different places. I suspect, but am not 100% sure, that ASCOMP would suffer the same way. Love to get a copy to try though.

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Re: Basic compiler for A-//e

I don't know about the particulars. All I know is that I first used ASCOMP on a //c, which would have had similar ROM's to an enhanced //e. Let me see if my copy of ASCOMP is still viable, if so I can send you a copy (by physical mail). I don't yet have an ADT-Pro setup.

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Re: Basic compiler for A-//e

Hello mutant pie,
just a reminder:
maybe it´s a good idea whenever making a image from a disk, to examine short at asimov if there is a
image availiable... - if not - it´s probably a good idea for longterm presevation uploading a copy of
the image to asimov too.... up till now it seems that any copy uploaded to asimov will be also availiable
in 20 years or more - far after a disk aged to more than 50 years will be reliable...

- at least i handle all such similar tasks that way, as preservaton habit...
just my 5 cents....
speedyG

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Re: Basic compiler for A-//e

@mutant_pie That would be great!!

If you are into electronics and/or micro-controllers at all I could repay you with some hardware. Whatever suits your fancy.

I'd be happy to make a .DSK image of it to share for posterity.

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Re: Basic compiler for A-//e

A question for all you good Apple fans.
Does anyone know of a compiler that will work on an enhanced Apple IIe to compile Applsoft code?
I tried TASC, but it makes assumptions about the enhanced IIe ROM that NOT correct.

BTW, I am still using DOS 3.3 for nostalgia purposes.

Just a remark to this:

in fact the TASC compiler replaces the ROM code by the Libary that must be loaded
during execution of the .obj files - which contains a kind of "mini coded ROM Routines"... quite similar to the later
used programming techniques while integrating "ready to use libraries"...
thats the reason the compiled files are named .obj instead of .bin or something similar

If the final result after compiling is loaded in the memory after this libary has been loaded -
both together can be saved to disk as one true binary file that may be BRUN
from the prompt without extra primary loading of the libary because
that has been saved with the code previously together...

If intending to use TASC with the advanced IIe - it would request to make a
new own library
with coded "mini routines" representing the IIe ROM coding...
the creators of TASC didn´t update TASC with such IIe Libary... otherwise they
would have been forced to make a library to each model where the code should
be intended to run at..
( IIe, IIe enhanced, IIGS ROM1 , IIGS ROM 3, etc. )

that´s also the reason the programs crash at other models...

speedyG

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Re: Basic compiler for A-//e

At the following link are step-by-step instructions on creating a 6502 program by using
a compiler.

cc compiler

For this to work, you'll have use a BASIC to C translator.

bcxbasic

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Re: Basic compiler for A-//e

I found ASCOMP. I tested it on an enhanced Apple //e. It seems to work fine. (I compiled the HELLO program on the disk and saved it as COMPILED HELLO, and then ran it. It ran very much faster than the original, as planned). I will PM the original poster.

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Re: Basic compiler for A-//e

Hello mutant_pie,

it would be nice to put here a link to the source of download if possible.

besides the question of this posting is unfortunatly not answered by yout post...

the problem is not just compiling a simple "Hello" program and putting it to a disk....

the question was if the compiler also supports the "enhanced IIe"
in other words, does the compiler support coding the advanced comannds and graphic
capabilities of the enhanced IIe ?

This would require to make a program using for example
the mouse symbols added to the enhanced IIe or using the added features in the double hires pages
and then to check out, if that enhanced features get compiled correct
and the compiler makes a code not resulting to a crash...

a simple "hello" programm does not check this features...
just resticting the program to the use of standard non enhanced applesoft
you can use nearly every compiler at the enhanced IIe....

of course such program should contain at the beginning also a code to detect the machine ID byte and
have a routine that displays message like "sorry this code may only be used at a enhanced IIe" if the
ID byte turns out to be from another computer model that is not enhanced...

sincerely speedyG

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