#: 8913 S12/OS9/68000 (OSK)
    27-Dec-90  15:13:55
Sb: #8899-#68000 ASM Language
Fm: Ed Gresick 76576,3312
To: Jack Crenshaw 72325,1327 (X)

Hi Jack!

Yeah - You're crazy --- crazy like a fox!!  And you're a rabble rouser, too
:-).

I'm all for your idea of a _new_ approach to designing an assembler and I like
the idea of a high-order language.  I suppose the current mnemonics are a carry
over from the days when memory was scarce and expensive.

So many ideas come to mind - I could easily spec out a monster!  Let me throw
some of these out so you can shoot them down.

Could the new assembler be a combination interpreter/assembler?  In other
words, could an assembler be designed to permit testing the code prior to
assembling?  This, coupled with sensible syntax, could allow concentrating on
the objectives of the program rather than the details of the code. Why not a
generic assembler?  Maybe it could cover the 680x0 series and the xxx86 series
chips.  I've noticed when coverting 86 code to 68 code, certain sequences can
be automatically converted - and if I knew more, I would've set up macros. 
Can't the assembler do this by telling it what chip you're writing for?  Could
the assembler do automatic register selection?  Tell the assembler what
registers are reserved (for system, etc.) and then let the assembler select the
registers - would probably require the assembler to automatically set-up data
areas, but so what.

I can go on but I better shut-up.  In any event I'd certainly be happy to help
you in any way I can (don't know the first thing about writing an assembler -
but I'm a terrific kibitzer)!

Good Luck,

Ed Gresick - DELMAR CO



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