Msg: 985 *Conference*

11-24-91 11:43:05

From: RICHARD HANSON

To : FRANK MCJUNKINS

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #984 (M/L PGMING 8085)

Thanks for your order.  Yes, I have plenty--too many in fact--Multiplan ROM
packages left.  Got to get rid of them faster some how.  Henry Ford says "black
only" for the covers.  We're going through the covers okay.  Got to have Jon
Shurtleff make another batch.  Jon press-forms the covers in his home using his
oven and a handmade, wooden form.
 
So, you want to convert BASIC programs into machine language and burn them into
option ROMs.  First:  It "is" a big deal and "no" one is holding the
information from you.  There is only "one" known compiler for the 8085
processor.  It's available from King Computer Services, Inc., 1016 North New
Hampshire, Los Angeles, CA 90029 - 213 661 2063.  You will need to start
learning m/l programming.  The best book is, "8080A-8085 Assembly Language
Programming" by Lance A. Leventhal, Osborne/McGraw-Hill, Berkeley, California,
(c) 1978.
 
If you wish to start programming in m/l you will need a good m/l assembler,
debugger.  The very best for the 8085 is the ROM2/Cleuseau ROM. We manufacture
that ROM, of course.  It comes complete with a manual and quick reference card.
The ROM2/Cleuseau ROM was created by Dr. Thomas Bennett, Stanford University,
Palo Alto, California.  Tom, and his wife Robbin, and kids, run Polar
Engineering, Nikiski, Alaska.
 
Machine language programming can be confusing at first.  However, once the
fundamentals are understood, the sky's the limit.  I assure you that you will
spend LOTS of time practicing, and crashing your computer, until you get the
hang of it.  And again, no one is keeping this information from you.  Every m/l
programmer I ever met was willing, if not enthusiastic, to assist.  To the
beginner, m/l programmers seem to be talking over their heads, attempting, so
they argue, to hold back information, or make it overly complex.  That's
nonsense... rubbish!  Programming is a complex skill and art form, regardless
of the language.
 
I've moved this thread into the conference for collective thoughts about
machine language programming on the 8085 processor.  We've got some very good
m/l programmers here, online.  Perhaps they will read this and comment.
 
-Rick-
 
PS: Thank for the insights about where to place online orders.  I'm currently
working on the whole area, along with the new catalog.