Learning how to Program the Amiga

[Super TWiT]

I want to program the amiga in assembly and learn how to take advantage of the custom chip features. What should I get as far as learning material and software (the cheaper the better!) I have an amiga 500.

[Karlos]

I want to program the amiga in assembly and learn how to take advantage of the custom chip features. What should I get as far as learning material and software (the cheaper the better!) I have an amiga 500.

PhxAss is free. To use the latest version, you'll need OS2.04 at least.

For using the OS, the required LVO definitions are usually present in the NDK.

From a literature perspective, you can't beat the RKM.

If you buy the DevCD 2.1, it includes these as HTML (as well as the OS3.5NDK), which you can read on a spare PC if your A500 isn't up to the task.

[Super TWiT]

I only have workbench 1.3. Where can I find DevCD 2.1?

[Karlos]

I only have workbench 1.3.

PhxAss 3.95 will run on OS 1.x and is available on the same page.

[Karlos]

I tell a lie, all the links on his page seem to be broken

The 4.x versions are here: http://aminet.net/search?query=phxass

Will need to try and find a working link for 3.95

[Super TWiT]

Where could I find that devcd? Who makes it?

[Karlos]

Where could I find that devcd? Who makes it?

Software Hut still sell it: See here

You could try asking amigakit too.

I should point out that it's aimed at OS3.5+ development but it does include the old 1.3-3.1 NDK too.

[Karlos]

Note that Software Hut also sell DevPac 3, which is a full commercial assembler development suite. Alas, not cheap.

[Piru]

I only have workbench 1.3. Where can I find DevCD 2.1?

I would seriously suggest that you get hold of amiga forever and use UAE. Else you will have tons of pain.

[Super TWiT]

Yeah, I have amiga forever. I think I will buy that devcd as it includes everything which acutally is cheaper in the longrun than buying the books seperately. Thanks for the info!

[Super TWiT]

Is there any other free assembler that will run on wb 1.3?

[Cammy]

I think it's great that you want to learn to program in Assembly for the Amiga! If you want more help and advice you should also check out these Amiga coding/development sites:

http://ada.untergrund.net/forum/

http://utilitybase.com/

Good luck!

[guest7146]

Hi Super TWiT,

Do you have any experience with Assembly and, in particular, Assembly with the 68000 series? If not, I can recommend the following book:

68000 Family Assembly Language, by Alan Clements ISBN: 0-534-93275-4

It's not Amiga specific (it's 68000 specific) but you're going to need familiarity with Assembly for the 68000 series before you can put it to use on the Amiga platform anyway.

I'd also second the recommendations made by others.

[Arkhan]

You need a 68000 book as reference.   Charts/index/examples are vital stuff!

I recently got one called "Programming the 68000" by Steve Williams.

It's pretty solid.

Without a good 68000 reference, and an understanding of how ASM pieces together, you are in for a long haul!

next, you should figure out what it is you want to do with your programming...

do you want to make a game?
music software?
Officestuff?

whatever it is, break it up into tiny little pieces and get them all to work.

For example if you want to make a game, figure out what your planned game is...

then get a character moving around via keyboard or joystick input, animate him, etc.

then work on getting backgrounds/levels up and scrolling, etc.


Don't try to just dive in head first!  Little baby steps.  You'll hone your skills, get an understanding of the hardware, and be able to piece it all together.

[guest7146]

I recently got one called "Programming the 68000" by Steve Williams.

It's pretty solid.

I've never seen that book, I'll have to check it out!  The book I offered has the advantage that it includes the entire 680xx series, but I think it's quite expensive so not so good on that front.

If I'm honest, I probably wouldn't recommend the Assembly language to a new starter these days.  C Compilers have improved over the years to the point where Assembly is now rarely needed.  Even in Embedded applications (which is my forte), Assembly is rarely used.  C is the language of choice for embedded systems these days.  Assembly is only used in very specific situations.

Assembly can be a useful skill, no doubt about that, but it's a lot of effort for little gain these days I reckon.  If you learn C you can apply your skill in lots of areas and on lots of platforms.  You might even get yourself a job doing it if you're good.  But not many people would employ an Assembly programmer these days if that was his/her only skill?

It depends what the op wants to do with Assembly I guess.