Programming
14 messages in this thread
Does anyone have any suggestions as to which Kernel Reference Manual would
be a good choice to use for programing. I would like a memory map, and the
instruction set for the CPU. And of course all the tips I can get my hands
on. This is a new type of machine for me, I would like to learn as much as
possible. Also any other suggested books for the A500 on BASIC, C, or
Assembly would be greatly appreciated. Thanks…
John,
The memory map is the easiest part of learning to program on the Amiga.
It consists of one location, 4, which contains AbsExecBase, a pointer to
the exec.library.
The Rom Kernel manuals ar best obtained as a set, with the hardware
manual being pretty much optional, if you expect to write programs that get
along well in the Amiga environment.
-larry
You forgot custom 🙂
andy
You mean the address of the custom chips is cast in stone now? Well, that's
it! Can't depend on anything any more! I was hoping you'd move them so I
could gloat about my bitfiddling programs still running. 🙂
-larry
If the custom chips move, you'll at least have to recompile your programs
with the new include files.
andy
🙂
Slippery Andy, very slippery indeed. 🙂
-larry
Thank you; I try 🙂
andy
Andy,
I have a quick question. How come the development team at Commodore is
great! but their marketing department isn't? Don't the members of the board
of directors know that the four things you need are 1) a good product, 2) a
good price, 3) good advertising, and 4) good support? Well, 1 and 4 are OK,
but 2 and 3 are lacking.
Thanks,
Darin
P.S.-> Why doesn't Commodore hire an outside firm to do some bang up
advertising?
– via Whap!
I've never been quite sure myself.
C= usually has an outside firm do the adverts; remember the "Stevie"
campaign ? C= just hires and fires the agency, generally.
andy
Oh, well struck, sir. :^)
hee hee hee!
I think you got Andy in the ribs that time.
–Ben
Almost got him in the ribs. He wriggled a lot though, and it was a glancing
blow.
🙂
-larry
I saw that. You gotta watch that guy.
–Ben
Well, there are several suggestions that I might make.
1) If you are used to programming 64's or other non/OS Microprocessors,
forget everything you used to know.
2) Unlike other micros, the Amiga has a real operating system with well
defined operating system interfaces. Plan on using these interfaces to
the hilt if you want the greatest level of compatibility.
3) Be prepared for an initial steep learning curve because of the above two
items.
Now, with that out of the way, you seriously want to get the Rom Kernel
Manuals from Addison Wesley. They cover all the system interfaces and give
you some overview of what the system is like. You will also want to get the
latest AmigaDos technical reference manual from Bantam books. These make up
the official Amiga programming documentation. The other big thing to
consider is C, despite other languages available on the Amiga, C is the
standard (and official) programming language for accessing the system
interfaces.
Feel free to ask questions here, there is a large base of system knowledge
online and we can handle just about any programming question that you can
throw out.
John,
To quote a friend:
Here is the memory map to the Amiga: ExecBase=4
For the CPU, why not contact Motorola and ask them for their book on the
68000. They have one for each member of the 680×0 family, and one that
introduces the overall family of chips. Almost any bookstore should have a
selection of books that cover the instruction set for the 680×0 CPU.
Betty