Date   : Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:11:50 +0000
From   : jgh@... (J.G.Harston)
Subject: Hints'n'Tips: Assembling non-ARM code on ARM BASIC

Rick Murray wrote:
> I was wondering that, as there's been no mention of the OSCLI call to
> actually read what the machine type is...

There isn't an OSCLI call to read what the machine type is, and even if
there was, the *machine* type is not what I need to know, it's the
*language* processor that I need to know.

> But, yes, I think this is overcomplicating things. Why not a setup like
> Boot/ArmBoot where the 6502 and ARM programs are kept apart, and leave
> it to the guy poking the keyboard to apply the necessary logic?

Because it's the *SAME* *PROGRAM*!!!!! It just needs to know that it's
been run on ARM BASIC, and so pass itself to the correct version on
BASIC on RISC OS to assemble the code in itself. It's a convenient
shortcut so that you can run the program on either a Beeb or an Arc
without having to remember - oh, wait, it's Z80 source, so I should
drop to the command line and type Z80 prog; or oh, it's 6502 source
so I should type B6502 prog. The whole *point* of writing computer
programs and storing data in computer systems is to *NOT* be burdened
with having to remember that information yourself and to make the
*COMPUTER* do the brain-dead automative repepetative tasks.

But, I suppose too many people have been brought up with Microsoft
products where hours spent going click, click, ok, click, click, ok
click, click, ok, is the only way of doing things.

-- 
J.G.Harston - jgh@...