8.1) What programming languages are available for the Atari?

Subject: 8.1) What programming languages are available for the Atari?

This section is by Freddy Offenga.

Revision : 1.9
Date.... : 2004-3-30

==============================================================
The goal is to give information about all available languages
for the Atari 8-bit computer. This information includes:
title, last version, author, date and a short description.
It would also be nice to know how to get it and where to get
more information (like reference cards, reviews and such).

Maintainer: Freddy Offenga
Email : taf.offenga [at] chello.nl (replace " [at] " with "@")
URL : http://members.chello.nl/taf.offenga/atari.htm

==============================================================

There are quite a lot! To get some structure in this section it's
divided into the following categories;

a) ASSEMBLER
b) BASIC
c) C
d) PASCAL
e) LISP
f) FORTH
g) PILOT
h) LOGO
i) All the rest

The following format is used:

- Language titel (medium)
version, year : version, year
author/company : author/company
available..... : where/how to get it
package....... : programs, documentation
features...... : main features
Description.

The question marks (?) indicate that more information is
required about that topic.

Credits
=======
- The Multi-lingual Atari, Analog magazine 45, August 1986
- A bunch of manuals
- Some copy-pasted lines from the Atari 8-bit newsgroup
- umich (University of Michigan Atari archive)
- David Wyn Davies (PL65)
- Kevin Savetz (APX titles)
- Maury Markowitz
- Michael Current
- JT (ValForth)
- Andreas Magenheimer
- Winston Smith
- Carsten Strotmann

Revision history
================

1.9
- X-Assembler updated
- Added "QS FORTH" info from Winston Smith
- Added FORTH section work from Michael Current (thanks to Carsten Strotmann)
(see also: http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForth)
- Several updates in the assembler section

1.8
Thanks to Adreas Magenheimer for these updates:
- Added "Mesa-Forth"
- Added "130XE Assembler 4.32"
- Updated "SynAssembler"

1.7
Thanks to Maury Markowitz for these updates:
- Updated "A BASIC Compiler"
- Added "Der BASIC Compiler", "MMG BASIC Compiler"
- Added "Frost BASIC", "TT-BASIC XL"

1.6
Synchronized with Atari 8-bit FAQ May-2002 :
- Added "X-Assembler"
- Added "CTH Fast Basic"
- Added availability for "Deep Blue C"
- Added availability for "Atari Pascal"
- Ignored changes "Kyan Pascal" (need more info)
- Updated "ValForth"
- Updated "Extended fig-Forth"
- Updated "fun-Forth"
- Added "Extended WSFN"
- Removed e-mail addresses
- Added availability for "A65"
- Updated "PL65"

1.0 .. 1.5
Changes not noted.
Old versions are available on request.

a) ASSEMBLER

- 130XE Makro Assembler (disk)
version, year : 4.32, ?
author/company : Torsten Karwoth
available..... : freeware, ABBUC PD #297
package....... : assembler, editor, menu, monitor,
batch enhancement, linker/packer
features...... : macros
Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated menu, editor
and monitor shell for 128KB RAM Ataris. Source format
is derived from Atmas Makroassembler.

- 130XE+ Makro Assembler (disk)
version, year : 2.2, 1992
author/company : Torsten Karwoth
available..... : freeware, ABBUC PD #368
package....... : assembler, editor, menu, monitor,
batch enhancement, linker/packer
features...... : macros
New version with 128KB - 1088KB RAM support.
Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated menu, editor
and monitor shell. Needs extra RAM banks. Source
format is derived from Atmas Makroassembler.

- A65 (disk)
version, year : ?, 1989
author/company : Charles Marslett, WORDMARK Systems
available..... : abandonware, http://www.wordmark.org/
package....... : assembler, manual
features...... : source include
Two pass 6502 assembler. Source format is based on the
Atari Macro Assembler. Assembler source included.

- Alfasm, Turbo-Assembler/16 (disk)
version, year : 1.0, 1990
author/company : Jeff Williams, DataQue Software
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, docs
features...... : source include
Two pass 6502/65816 assembler.

- Assi (download)
version, year : 0.0.41, 2000
author/company : MacFalkner
available..... : http://members.aol.com/macfalkner/atariindex.htm
package....... : assembler, file linker
features...... : source include, data include, code relocation
Cross assembler for Win32. Source code is highly compatible with
Atmas for the Atari.

- Atari Assembler/Editor (cart)
version, year : ?, 1981
author/company : Atari
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, editor, monitor, manual
features...... : -
Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated editor/monitor

- Atari Macro Assembler (disk)
version, year : 1.0C, 1981
author/company : Atari, APX
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, editor, debugger, manual
features...... : macros, source include
Two pass 6502 assembler.

- ATasm (disk)
version, year : 0.92, 1999
author/company : Mark Schmelzenbach
available..... : umich
package....... : assembler
features...... : macros, source include, optionally target .XFD
disk images and machine state files (Atari800 / Atari800Win),
conditional assembly. Two pass 6502 portable cross assembler.
Highly compatible with MAC/65.

- Atmas Makroassembler (disk)
version, year : 2, 1985
author/company : Peter Finzel, Hofacker
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, editor, monitor, manual
features...... : macros
Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated editor/monitor.

- Bibo Assembler (disk)
version, year : 1.0, 13/12/1986
author/company : E.Reuss, Compy-shop
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, editor, monitor
features...... : source include, data include
Two pass 6502/65c02 assembler with integrated editor/
monitor.

- Datasm/65 assembler (disk)
version, year : 2.0, 1981
author/company : DataSoft Inc.
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, editor, menu, manual
features...... : -
Two pass 6502 assembler.

- EASMD (disk)
version, year : 1.0, 1981
author/company : OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, editor, monitor
features...... : ?
Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated editor/monitor.

- Fast Assembler (disk)
version, year : 1.5, 1995
author/company : MMMG Soft
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, editor, disassembler
features...... : ?

- Kasm65 (disk)
version, year : 2.51, 1997
author/company : Ken Siders
available..... : shareware, umich
package....... : assembler, editor, linker, docs
features...... : macros, relocation, source include,
conditional assembly
Two pass 6502 assembler. Relocatable object files are
compatible with ra65. Source format is derived from
the Atari Macro Assembler.

- MAC/65 Macro Assembler (disk|cart)
version, year : 1.01, 1984
author/company : Stephen D. Lawrow, OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?

- MAC/65 Macro Assembler (disk|cart)
version, year : 2.00, 1982
author/company : Stephen D. Lawrow, OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, editor, monitor, manual
features...... : macros, source include
Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated editor/monitor.
Mac/65 is a direct descendant of the Atari Assembler/
Editor (via EASMD).

- MAC/65 Macro Assembler (disk)
version, year : 4.20, 1994
author/company : Stephen D. Lawrow, Fine Tooned Engineering
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?

- MAC/65 Macro Assembler (disk)
version, year : 4.20 demo version, 1982
author/company : Stephen D. Lawrow, OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?

- MAE (disk)
version, year : .96, 1996
author/company : John Harris
available..... : umich
package....... : assembler, menu, editor, monitor, docs
features...... : macros, source include, data include,
conditional assembly
Two pass 6502/65816 assembler with integrated editor/
monitor. Extra RAM supported.

- NASM65 (disk)
version, year : ?, 1992
author/company : Nat!
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, linker, librarian
features...... : macros, relocation, source include
One pass 6502 portable cross assembler (initially for
the ST). Highly compatible with MAC/65.

- PC-65 (disk)
version, year : 1.0 beta, 1996
author/company : Jan Feenstra & Freddy Offenga
available..... : -
package....... : assembler
features...... : macros, source include, data include,
boundary directive
Two pass 6502 cross assembler for PC/DOS. The source
format is highly compatible with the ST-65 assembler.

- Quick Assembler (disk)
version, year : 1.0, 1990?
author/company : JBW, Avalon?
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, editor, menu, debugger
features...... : source include
Two pass 6502 cross assembler with integrated editor.
Very user friendly menu environment.

- Ra65 (disk)
version, year : 1.0, 1989
author/company : John R. Dunning
available..... : public domain, umich
package....... : assembler, linker, librarian
part of cc65 (c-compiler)
features...... : ?

- Synassembler (disk|cart)
version, year : 4.0, 1982
author/company : Steve Hales, Synapse Soft
available..... : http://www.atariland.com/members/oldatarian/
package....... : assembler, editor, monitor, manual
features...... : source include
Two pass 6502 assembler.
An Adaptation by Steve Hales of the S.C. Assembler II.

- ST-65 (disk)
version, year : ?, 1991
author/company : A. Stauffenberg, F. Offenga
available..... : -
package....... : assembler, menu shell, manual
features...... : macros, conditional assembly,
source include, data include,
boundary directive
Two pass 6502/65c02 cross assembler for the Atari ST
written in 68000 assembly. As far as I know this is
the first assembler with the boundary directive.

- Xasm
version, year : 2.5.2, 2002
author/company : Piotr Fusik
available..... : http://xasm.atari.org
package....... : assembler, docs
features...... : conditional assembly, source include,
binary include, pseudo commands,
pseudo addressing modes
Two pass 6502 cross assembler for PC/DOS. The source
format is backward compatible with Quick Assembler.

b) BASIC

- A BASIC Compiler (?)
version, year : 1.05, 1987
author/company : Monarch Data Systems
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC compiler
features...... : ?

- Advan BASIC (disk)
version, year : ?, ?
author/company : Advan Language Designs
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC compiler
features...... : ?

- Atari 800 Basic (disk)
version, year : 1.0, 1981
author/company : Microsoft
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?

- Atari BASIC (cart)
version, year : Rev.C, 1983
author/company : Atari
available..... : standard ROM in Atari XL/XE
package....... : BASIC interpreter, manual
features...... : pretty plain BASIC implementation

- Atari Microsoft BASIC II (cart)
version, year : ?, 1991
author/company : Atari
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC interpreter
features...... : ?

- BASIC A+ (disk)
version, year : 3.05, 1981
author/company : OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC interpreter
features...... : ?

- BASIC XL (cart)
version, year : ?, ?
author/company : OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC interpreter
features...... : ?

- BASIC XE (cart)
version, year : ?, 1985
author/company : OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC interpreter
features...... : ?

- CTH Fast Basic (disk)
version/year : ?
author/company : Tom Hunt/Closer to Home
avaiable.......: PD, Freeware or Shareware;
package........: language plus several test files
and examples; english docs;
features.......: faster than Atari Basic, not much
slower than TB, does not use Ram under OS;
avaiable at Tom Hunt's homepage or elsewhere...

- Der BASIC Compiler (?)
version, year : ?, 1983
author/company : Datasoft
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC compiler
features...... : ?

- Frost BASIC (?)
version, year : 1.04, 1985
author/company : Frank Ostrowski, Happy Computer
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC interpreter, compiler
features...... : ?
Version of Turbo Basic XL that runs on 48k machines (400/800).

- MMG BASIC Compiler 2.0 (?)
version, year : 2.0, 1984
author/company : Special Software Systems
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC compiler
features...... : ?
It appears that this is a newer version of Der BASIC Compiler,
licensed to some other company.

- TT-BASIC XL (disk)
version, year : 2.11, 1985
author/company : Frank Ostrowski, Happy Computer
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC interpreter, compiler
features...... : ?
Published in the German magazine "Happy Computer".
Appears to be a newer version of Turbo Basic XL.

- Turbo Basic XL (disk)
version, year : 1.5, 1985
author/company : Frank Ostrowski, Happy Computer
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC interpreter, compiler (V1.1)
features...... : ?
Published in the German magazine "Happy Computer".

c) C

- ACE C (disk)
version, year : ?
author/company : John Palevich & Ralph Walden
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
This is a newer version of 'Deep Blue C'.

- C/65 (?)
version, year : ?
author/company : OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
Probably derived from Dr.Dobbs "Small C". Compiles to 6502
code which emulates the 8080 instruction set.

- C65 (?)
version, year : ?
author/company : Keith Ledbetter
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : good macro assembler
This compiler does not support structs.

- CC65 (disk)
version, year : 1989
author/company : John R. Dunning
available..... : umich archive,
http://www.umich.edu/~archive/atari/8bit/Languages/Cc65/
package....... : compiler, linker, assembler, librarian
features...... : ?
Public domain compiler. Also used as cross compiler.
Relocatable object linkage files, and the most thorough
K&R C for the 8-bit. Comes with an relocatable assembler.

- CC8 (disk)
version, year : 2.3
author/company : John Palevich & Steve Kennedy
available..... : ?
package....... : Compiler
features...... : ?
ACE C with more "real" C support (e.g. arrays of pointers
to structs). Requires ACE C runtime libs and linker.

- Deep Blue C (disk)
version, year : 1.2, 1982
author/company : John Palevich, APX
available..... : http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20166
Source code "Deep Blue Secrets" downloadable at
http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20179
package....... : Compiler, Linker
features...... : ?
Deep Blue C was originally an independent product, but it
then became available from APX. It converts C to pseudo-
code and then interprets the pseudo code (8080 instruction
set emulation).
Drawn from Ron Cain's public domain C-compiler (Small-C).

- DVC C (disk)
version, year : 1.05, 1985
author/company : Ralph E. Walden
available..... : ?
package....... : Editor, Compiler, Optimizer, Linker
features...... : Quite user friendly program
The compiler generates special object files (.CCC)
which can be optimized and linked. The package uses a
special DOS called DVC DOS which contains runtime stuff.

- LightSpeed C (disk)
version, year : 1.08, 1986
author/company : Clearstar Softechnology
available..... : ?
package....... : Compiler, Optimizer, Linker
features...... : ?
Runs under CLI DOS's and MENU DOS's.

- Tiny-C
version, year : ?
author/company : OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
First sold C compiler by OSS. This compiler was used to
compile itself! First true language "bootstrap" on any
8-bit machine (it was also available for Apple and CP/M
machines). Derived from Dr.Dobbs "Small C". Compiles to
6502 code which emulates the 8080 instruction set.

d) PASCAL

- Atari Pascal (disk)
version, year : 1.0, 1982
author/company : APX
available..... : APX-20102
Information at http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20102
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
Needs two drives.

- Draper Pascal (disk)
version, year : 2.1, 1989
author/company : Norm Draper
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?

- Kyan Pascal (disk)
version, year : 1986
author/company : Kyan Software, APX
available..... : ?
package....... : editor, compiler, linker, macro-assembler
and manual
features...... : ?
Kyan Pascal would run off a single floppy. The Atari (APX)
version needs two drives. A version which runs entirely in
128k should be available too.

e) LISP

- INTER-LISP/65 (disk)
version, year : 2.1, 1981
author/company : Special Software Systems, DataSoft
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?

- INTER-LISP/65 (disk)
version, year : 2.2, 1982
author/company : Special Software Systems, DataSoft
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?

f) FORTH

- ES-FORTH
version, year : 1.2, 1984
author/company : The English Software Company
available..... :
http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForthESForth
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
Seems to be based on fig-FORTH, but with some unique "Words".
Works with normal DOS.

- Extended fig-FORTH, (disk)
version, year : 11/10/1981
author/company : Patrick Mullarky, APX
available..... : APX-20029
http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20029
package....... : ?
features...... : ?

- Extended fig-Forth (disk)
version, year : 1.1 Rev. 2.0, 01/15/82
author/company : Patrick Mullarky, APX
available..... : APX-20029
http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20029
package....... : ?
features...... : ?

- fig-FORTH
version, year : 1/26/81 and 4/01/82 releases
author/company : Steven R. Calfee "Team FORTH"
available..... :
http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=unknown_fig
package....... : ?
features...... : ?

- fig-FORTH
version, year : 4/10/82
author/company : Peter Lipson / Robin Ziegler "Team FORTH"
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... :
based on 4/1/82 release of fig-FORTH by Steve Calfee

- fig-FORTH
version, year : 5/5/82 - 10/16/82
author/company : Harald Striepe "Team FORTH"
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... :
based on 4/10/82 release of fig-FORTH by Lipson/Ziegler

- fig-FORTH, Antic (disk)
version, year : 1.4S REV.H, 18Jun85
author/company : John Stanley/Antic Magazine "Team FORTH"
available..... :
http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForthAntic
package....... : ?
features...... :
based on 10/16/82 release of fig-FORTH by Striepe

- fun-Forth (disk)
version, year : ?
author/company : Joel Gluck, APX
available..... : APX-20146
http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20146
package....... : ?
features...... : ?

- Grafik-FORTH
version, year : 1990
author/company : RAI Production
available..... :
http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForthGraphicForth
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
based on fig-FORTH 1.4S and TURBO-GRAPHICS-SYSTEM 256

- MesaForth
version, year : 12/03/81
author/company : ?
available..... :
http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForthMesa
package....... : language, source code, documents, examples
features...... :
based on 6502 fig-Forth. The major difference is in the size of the
screen on disk (512 bytes instead of 1024 bytes).
Runs under ATARI DOS 2.0S.

- QS FORTH
version, year : 1.0, 3/27/81
author/company : James Abanese / [QS] Quality Software
available..... : http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForthQS
package....... : Editor, Assembler, I/O routines
Single Density 5.25 Floppy and Manual in Binder
features...... : Editor, Assembler, I/O Routines.
based on fig-FORTH.

- Turbo-4th
version, year : January 1985
author/company : Steven R. Calfee
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... :
compatible with fig-FORTH and Team FORTH. It's fast.
Not threaded, it is a true compiler

- ValForth (disk)
version, year : 1.1, 1982
author/company : Valpar International
available..... : ?
package....... : (8) disks in the set including: 1)master disk,
2)display formatter, 3)text compression and auto text formatting,
4)valDOS-I, 5)valDOS-II, 6)player-missile graphics, character editor and
sound editor, 7)general utilities and video editor, 8) Turtle &
valGraphics and advanced floating point routines.
features...... : ?
based on fig-FORTH

- X-FORTH
version, year : 26 Jan 2003
author/company : Carsten Strotmann
available..... : http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/ProjXForth
package....... : binary, source, disk image with samples & editor
features...... : aims to be compatible with new ANSI standard.
works with normal DOS.

g) PILOT

- Atari PILOT (cart)
version, year : 1980
author/company : Atari
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?

h) LOGO

- Atari LOGO (cart)
version, year : 1983
author/company : LCSI, Atari
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?

i) All the rest

- Action! (cart)
version, year : 1983
author/company : OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : compiler, editor, monitor and library
features...... : fast compiler which generates good code
Needs cartridge for runtime procedures. A PD runtime
library is also available.
All variables are static, so recursive routine calls
are not possible. No floating point type (though a
PD library should make this possible). No arrays of
objects (arrays of POINTERS to objects are possible).

- Extended WSFN, WSFN = Which Stands For Nothing
version, year : ?
author/company : Harry Stewart, APX
available..... : APX-20026
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
Info at http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20026

- Quick (disk)
version, year : 2.0, 1990
author/company : Raindorf Soft
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
This is the "poor man's Action!". Same restrictions as
Action! apply also to Quick. Further restrictions are:
only simple assignment expressions, no records and no
pointers.

- PL65 (disk)
version, year : 1.0, 1987
author/company : Noahsoft
available..... : commercial, Extremely rare.
package....... : compiler, editor, library, sample game
features...... : Similar features to Action with same restrictions.
Highly flexible language that includes inline assembler features and
pointers. Robust and well-engineered editor. Does not require
additional runtime library - automatically generated and included in
the compiled code during compilation.

- Test Computer Language (disk)
version, year : 2.2, 1985-1990
author/company : D.Firth
available..... : public domain, ?
package....... : compiler and editor
features...... : ?

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