High (Amiga) Assembler

High Assembler (HAS) for Motorola 68000 (Amiga)
Version: 0.8

High Assembler (HAS) is a Python-based compiler designed for developers working with the Motorola 68000 processor, specifically targeting the Amiga platform. This innovative tool translates a high-level assembly language into standard assembly code, offering the flexibility of modern programming constructs while maintaining fine-grained control over the generated output.

Overview

HAS serves as a bridge between high-level programming languages and low-level assembly, providing features that cater to both novice and experienced developers. Key capabilities include:

• High-level Constructs: Incorporates variables, loops, conditionals, and procedures that simplify coding.
• Strong Typing: Supports various data types including byte, word, long integers, pointers, and structs.
• Inline Assembly: Allows embedding of raw 68000 assembly code within high-level structures.
• Macro System: Facilitates the definition of reusable code patterns.
• Python Integration: Enables dynamic code generation during compilation, enhancing flexibility.
• Amiga-Specific Support: Directly interfaces with Amiga hardware registers, graphics libraries, and copper lists.
• Clean Output: Produces standard 68000 assembly compatible with vasm and vlink.

Language Features

Core Features

• Procedures & Functions: Provides forward declarations, external imports, and calling conventions.
• Native Functions: Utilizes zero-overhead assembly functions for performance-critical tasks.
• Control Flow Statements: Includes if/else, loops with various conditions, and control keywords like break and continue.
• Memory Management: Supports automatic alignment and memory section directives for organized code.

Advanced Capabilities

• Macro System: Promotes efficient code reuse through defined patterns.
• Python Execution Directive: Executes Python scripts during compilation to enhance functionality.
• Constants and Pointer Arithmetic: Offers compile-time constant evaluations and efficient member access via arrow operators.

Amiga-Specific Features

HAS provides enhanced interactions with Amiga's unique environment, including:

• Hardware Registers: Direct manipulation of the Amiga chipset for optimized performance.
• Graphics Library Interfaces: Compatibility with copper lists and sprite management for efficient graphics rendering.
• Heap Management: Built-in primitives for dynamic memory allocation tailored for the Amiga architecture.

Getting Started

To create a simple program in HAS, define a program in a .has file as shown below:

code main:
    call main();  
    asm "rts";

    proc main() -> int {
        var result:int = 42;
        return result;
    }

After programming, the code can be compiled and assembled using the command line.

Community Contributions

The HAS project thrives on community collaboration. Contributions are encouraged, including bug fixes, documentation enhancements, feature additions, and more.
See the project's documentation for guidelines on how to contribute effectively.

Resources

A wide array of documentation is available, covering everything from basic installation to advanced features. Explore guides and examples to maximize your use of HAS, and leverage the supportive community for assistance and knowledge sharing.

For more details, navigate to the repository and check the documentation files for comprehensive insights into using High Assembler effectively.