BJ's VIC-20 Software: 1982-1984: UPL.
[Compiler] [Sorcery Role-Playing Game] [Arcade Games] [Adventure Games] [Download]To run this software on a modern PC you'll need a VIC-20 Emulator.
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Compiler.
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Description:
Be afraid. Be very afraid. In Mid-1983 I implemented a
pseudo-Pascal compiler for the VIC implementing a language I dubbed UPL;
"Utility Programming Language." It generated full-blown 6502 machine code.
The compiler itself was slow and it had the unfortunate limitation
of byte variables. But it had access to the whole machine and
the code it produced was very fast. UPL arrived on the scene
too late to be marketed commercially, but it was subsequently ported
to the Apple ][ where I got a Unix-like editor and a substantial speed-up thanks
to the Einstein Apple BASIC Compiler. Comments: Yes; It really works. Unfortunately most VIC emulators don't support files, so you have to type your programs in from scratch. Once done you can save the emulator state and with a bit of work even save the executable under eg. DOS. Of course for serious development you'd be better off using a cross-compiler running under your host operating system. But could anyone still be developing for the VIC? You'd think not, but then the name of the VIC-20's still-running newsletter is "Denial." :-)
Author: Brendan Jones |
![[Screenshot]](upl.gif)