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From: acmfiu@serss0.fiu.edu (ACMFIU)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: which assembler to get
Message-ID: <3630@kluge.fiu.edu>
Date: 23 May 91 00:49:47 GMT
Sender: news@kluge.fiu.edu
Organization: Florida International University, Miami
Lines: 35

the orca/m v merlin debate will go on forever. however, i'd advise you to
get merlin, even if you choose to link in HLL. the downside to merlin are
two things:
	1. pathetic interface (but good editor)
	2. must run separately

apart from this, i think merlin rules. orca/m's macro capability is superb.
this truly makes it stand out. however, i find all the macros i need to
be in merlin (and the only ones i use are the _tool toolbox macros). tim
meekins has created an impressive library of macros for orca/m which truly
show off it's power.

however, there are basically two things i can't stand about orca/m
	1. way way too slow.
	2. it doesn't have :local labels.
		the following is orca/m code:
			foo	start
				bra	loop2
			oof	bra	loop3
				bra	loop4
				end

		the following is the same in merlin code:
			foo	equ	*
				bra	:1
			oof	bra	:2
				bra	:1

now the difference here is you can reuse :<var> variables in the context
of an enclosing <variable> without the ':'. this is unbelievably useful.
this is probably *the* reason i bought merlin. shows you how picky i am,
huh.


albert