CompuServe Messages

Yours is one of two typical reactions to assembler. I happen to also fall into your group: "I feel like I'm more in touch with the machine, somehow closer to the chips and electricity… you have such power, such control over the machine!" This is absolutely and completely true, and there in nothing strange sounding about it. Assembly is programming on the "bare metal"; you are dealing directly with the architecture of the target system, allowing you to write the tightest, most optimized code for your application. You do not have to "code around" limitations of the language in which you are working… the only thing you have to deal with are the limitations of the system's architecture. The other reaction, of course, is the "I hate assembly because it's too hard/niddly/involved <pick one>. I want to PROGRAM; I don't want to be bothered with all those picky details like keeping memory maps and variable charts and whether I want to branch unsigned or arithmetic. Phooey. Give me a high level language that handles all the grunt work so I can get on with the actual code writing." Of course neither group is right nor wrong; it's all a matter of personal preference and style. But, it seems to me that those who like Assembly also tend to prefer C over BASIC or Pascal, because C is "closer" to assembly language and the machine. People who cut their teeth on HLLs, instead, seem to dislike C because of it's "inconsistencies" and all the things it DOESN'T do for you. Forgive the spelling if it's wrong, but… "Vive' la Difference!" Rick