Deep Blue C

Deep Blue C is a compiler for a subset of the C programming language for the Atari 8-bit family distributed by the Atari Program Exchange. The compiler is a version of Ron Cain's public domain Small-C[1] modified by John Howard Palevich to run on the Atari computer hardware. Palevich also wrote the Atari 8-bit game Dandy.[2] The syntax supported by Deep Blue C is close to that of ANSI C with significant limitations.

The source code to the compiler was sold as Deep Blue Secrets, also from APX.[1]

Limitations

The following language constructs are not supported:[3]

Other non-standard properties of Deep Blue C:

Sample program

The exemplary program writes the "Hello World!" message on the user screen.[4]

 main()
 $(
   printf("Hello World!");
 $)

Performance

The Deep Blue C compiler does not create the native executable for 6502 processor but intermediate code called C-code. The C-code is then executed by C-code interpreter.[3] According to Atari 8-bit FAQ the compiler creates binary code for Intel 8080 processor and then executed by 8080 virtual machine.[5] This is the main cause of low performance of generated code.

References

  1. 1 2 Palevich, John Howard. Deep Blue Secrets Manual. Atari Program Exchange.
  2. "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers".
  3. 1 2 Deep Blue C documentation at Atari Archives
  4. W. Zientara, "Jezyki programowania Atari cz.2", SOETO, Warsaw, 1989
  5. Atari 8-bit FAQ
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