Merge branch 'master' of https://github.com/RevCurtisP/C02

README.md

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+# C02
+
+C02 is a simple C-syntax language designed to generate highly optimized
+code for the 6502 microprocessor. The C02 specification is a highly
+specific subset of the C standard with some modifications and extensions
+
+## Purpose
+
+Why create a whole new language, particularly one with severe restrictions,
+when there are already full-featured C compilers available? It can be
+argued that standard C is a poor fit for processors like the 6502. The C 
+was language designed to translate directly to machine language instructions 
+whenever possible. This works well on 32-bit processors, but requires either 
+a byte-code interpreter or the generation of complex code on a typical
+8-bit processor. C02, on the other hand, has been designed to translate 
+directly to 6502 machine language instructions.
+ 
+The C02 language and compiler were designed with two goals in mind.
+
+The first goal is the ability to target machines with low memory: a few 
+kilobytes of RAM (assuming the generated object code is to be loaded into 
+and ran from RAM), or as little as 128 bytes of RAM and 2 kilobytes of ROM
+(assuming the object code is to be run from a ROM or PROM). 
+
+The compiler is agnostic with regard to system calls and library functions. 
+Calculations and comparisons are done with 8 bit precision. Intermediate 
+results, array indexing, and function calls use the 6502 internal registers.
+While this results in compiled code with virtually no overhead, it severely 
+restricts the syntax of the language.
+
+The second goal is to port the compiler to C02 code so that it may be
+compiled by itself and run on any 6502 based machine with sufficient memory
+and appropriate peripherals. This slightly restricts the implementation of
+code structures.