Metacomco
£49.95
Since I first reviewed the Metacomco Macro Assembler,
it has not changed drastically in its basic functionality, but
overall it is now streets ahead. The first version included only an
editor, the GST linker, and the assembler. In the new version, the
linker has not changed at all but the editor is a GEM based editor
(as discussed in my C review), and the assembler is much faster in
operation. What really improves the new package, however, are the
included program development tools now standard in Metacomco
languages: MENU+ the GEM based 'shell' (for managing the programming
cycle); MAKE the large program management and maintenance utility (a
true UNIX style MAKE); DEBUG + the symbolic link-loading debugger;
and Kumas' Resource editor — for editing GEM resource files. Also
included is a GEM library to link with for access to GEM functions.
The assembler is a full macro assembler, suitable for
writing large stand-alone applications or for interfacing with
high-level languages. In use, it is a standard 'big system'
assembler, reading a source file and outputting an object file —
there is no interactive mode where you edit/assemble/run in memory —
but for serious programming work this is acceptable. As well as
small pure 68000 programs, I have used the assembler to write
special 68000 code for both the Lattice C compiler and the Prospero
Fortran, and have had no problems linking.
The assembler has a full range of options, and can
produce full listings and cross references. It can output object
code suitable for either the GST linker or the LINK68 linker (not
supplied).
The manual is three quarters of an inch thick, and
covers each program supplied. The adverts describe the manual as
'with tutorials', but this does not include all parts, and sadly the
assembler is one that lacks a tutorial. I have always found
assembler manuals to be very unforthcoming — they may tell you
everything but they are very `concise', so if you have no idea as to
WHY you would want to do something, knowing how to do it does not
help. Such a tutorial may border on 68000 code, but I would have
liked more information on such subjects as 'which instructions and
psuedo-ops cannot be used in order to produce position-independent
code rather than relocatable?'. Why can't this be included — and why
not say what the difference is for those not familiar (me first!).
This is not unique to Metacomco though — most (if not all) assembler
manuals are like this and general books do not help because they
tend to say 'refer to your manual for detail'.
If you need an assembler then the extras provided
with this one (which all work with other languages too) make it a
very good buy. The assembler is very suitable for professional use
(despite a slightly archaic command line format) and I can certainly
recommend it.
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