Path: utzoo!utdoe!generic!pnet91!mhill
From: mhill@pnet91.cts.com (Martin Hill)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: Which assembler?
Message-ID: <721@generic.UUCP>
Date: 13 May 91 10:00:03 GMT
Sender: root@generic.UUCP
Organization: People-Net [pnet91], Etobicoke, ON
Lines: 21

> Well, I guess I've had enough practice programming the GS from the
> mini-assembler and now I'm thinking of getting a full-size assembler.
> If I'm going to write GS specific applications, should I get the Merlin
> 8/16 or the Orca/M package?

If you're planning to do pure assembly programming, then I recommend Merlin.
It's much quicker, stores source files more efficiently, has better macros,
has built-in utilities accessible just by hitting U at the main menu, and
everything is at your fingertips at all times. It's so much faster than ORCA/M
you wouldn't believe it. It's much easier and faster to assemble and link,
test the program out, quit, and then return to the editor with Merlin.

On the other hand, if you plan to integrate high level languages with
assembly, which I feel is the only way to go, then you'll need ORCA. That's
really the only thing in its favour, but it's an important consideration. When
I started using ORCA/M after using Merlin for a long time I found the whole
process clumsy and slow. That was when I really appreciated Merlin's great
editor. But I need to combine C and assembly, so ORCA is what I use.

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