----------------------------------------------------- VTL-2 for the 6502 (VTL02C) Original Altair 680b version by Frank McCoy and Gary Shannon 1977 2012: Adapted to the 6502 by Michael T. Barry see source code for copyright notice Thanks to sbprojects.com for a very nice assembler! ----------------------------------------------------- The basic concepts of VTL-2 (Very Tiny Language): http://www.altair680kit.com/manuals/Altair_680-VTL-2%20Manual-05-Beta_1-Searchable.pdf The files: Original source code from Mike: VTL02C for the apple II & the sbprojects.com assembler vtl02ca2.asm Modified versions (Syntax, I/O & user RAM size): VTL02C for the Kowalski 6502 simulator http://www.exifpro.com/downloads/6502_1.2.12.zip vtl02ca2.65s VTL02C for my emulator & the Kingswood AS65 assembler vtl02ca2.a65 2015: Revision B included some space optimizations (suggested by dclxvi) and enhancements (suggested by mkl0815 and Klaus2m5): * Bit-wise operators & | ^ (and, or, xor) Example: A=$|128) Get a char and set hi-bit * Absolute addressed 8-bit memory load and store via the {< @} facility: Example: <=P) Point to the I/O port at P @=@&254^128) Clear low-bit & flip hi-bit * Starting with VTL02B, the space character is no longer a valid user variable nor a "valid" binary operator. It's now only significant as a numeric constant terminator and as a place-holder in strings and program listings, where it may be used to improve human readability (at a slight cost in execution speed and memory consumption). Example: * (VTL-2) 1000 A=1) Init loop index 1010 ?=A) Print index 1020 ?="") Newline 1030 A=A+1) Update index 1040 #=A<10*1010) Loop until done * (VTL02B) 1000 A = 1 ) Init loop index 1010 ? = A ) Print index 1020 ? = "" ) Newline 1030 A = A + 1 ) Update index 1040 # = A < 10 * 1010 ) Loop until done 2015: Revision C includes further enhancements (suggested by Klaus2m5): * "THEN" and "ELSE" operators [ ] A[B returns 0 if A is 0, otherwise returns B. A]B returns B if A is 0, otherwise returns 0. * Some effort was made to balance interpreter code density with interpreter performance, while remaining within the 1KB constraint. Structured programming principles remained at low priority.