Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site rochester.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!rochester!sumit
From: sumit@rochester.UUCP (Sumit Bandyopadhyay)
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re:Re:Action!
Message-ID: <3157@rochester.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 30-Sep-83 23:57:17 EDT
Article-I.D.: rocheste.3157
Posted: Fri Sep 30 23:57:17 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 2-Oct-83 14:42:51 EDT
Organization: U. of Rochester, CS Dept.
Lines: 45

Hi there,
	Action! is probably one of the nicest thing that ever  happened
to Atari hackers. The system includes an editor, a compiler and a small
monitor program. The whole thing fits in a 16k bank switched cartridge.
You don't even need a disk drive to run the system.
	The language is like a small subset of C, but FAR better than
things like SmallC etc. Action! generates real machine language code
in one and a half pass! That's right, no assembler and stuff. Neither
does it generate a series of function calls like in SmallC, most of the
code generated is inline. Exceptions are things like division which the 
hardware does not support directly. But the best part of the story is that
the compiler is incredably fast. If you are compiling from memory, for
medium size programs you will hardly be able to time the compilation.
The code that is generated is about 2 to 3 times larger and twice as slow
as assembly code generated by an experienced programmer.
	Few of the differences with respect to some subsets of C:
		. The syntax is different
		. The language does not work on a stack.( which makes sense,
		because the 6502 gives you only 256 bytes of stack). Hence
		no recursion.
		. The language is statement oriented as opposed to expression
		oriented.
		. No semicolons(;) at all.
		. Statements are like IF <boolean> THEN .. ELSE .. FI
				      WHILE <boolean> DO ... OD
				      FOR ..  DO ...  OD
				etc.
		. There is EXIT from the innermost loop.
		. You can put in machine code inside Action! programs.
		. You have the ability to deal with hardware addresses from
		inside of your program.
		. You can include source files.

	Action! also comes with a substantial library of useful functions;
which includes graphic routines and the like.

	The editor you get with the system is quite decent, and fast.

	The Action! system which includes the cartridge and the manual ( the
only average thing in the package ) lists for about $99, but mail order
places sale them for about $65.

	Sorry for the long letter.

		sumit@rochester