Programming the 65816: Including the 6502, 65C02 and 65802

Laserbeak43 · Post by **Laserbeak43** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 3:43 pm

this book seems to be a good book for what i want to do, since i've always been fascinated with the SNES as well. i'm reading about the 6502 in this book at the moment, since it talks about the architechure of all the processors and their evolution.

my question is, do you think that this would be a good way to learn about the chips, program for them, then come back when i'm a bit familiar with them and start using their modafied versions to program for NES and SNES?

kyuusaku · Post by **kyuusaku** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 11:01 am

I don't think buying a book will help you learn faster than the free websites that are out there.

If you don't have any background in computers, I can understand why things aren't clicking together, but I know from experience that it's very possible to teach yourself with a lot of perseverance.

That said, there are some building blocks that I think are EXTREMELY important to learn (actually to *know*!) in order to succeed:

-Number systems (decimal vs hexadecimal vs binary)
-Boolean gates (and, or, not, xor)
-Address space and word size
-Pointers (addresses in memory as opposed to data in memory)
-Stacks
-Roughly how an ALU works (especially the flags)
-Signed numbers ("two's complement")

They may seem like really abstract concepts right now but once you get very familiar with them, 6502 should start making more sense.

Post by **tepples** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 11:13 am

kyuusaku wrote:I don't think buying a book will help you learn faster than the free websites that are out there.

A book is cheaper than a laptop computer on which to download and read the free websites that are out there. I didn't really master 6502 until I borrowed a book from the library, which I could read while away from a computer.

kyuusaku · Post by **kyuusaku** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 11:23 am

This is true but I think most libraries won't carry 6502 books. Mine happened to, but I didn't find any of them extremely helpful since they all focused almost entirely on Apple II or C64 algorithms and not generic 6502.

If you don't have internet-access or a printer at home, I would suggest using the library's computers to surf and print 6502 websites if at all possible before purchasing a book.

Laserbeak43 · Post by **Laserbeak43** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 11:49 am

this book is free(the link is in the first post), and i usually print chapters of books at school from day to day. i have a few nes tutorials printed and in binders. but like kyuusaku said, i'm gonna have to master stacks and things like that. i've just started to collaborate with someone on Gobby and we're testing each other and taking notes etc. i think i'm gonna make that list that kyuusaku mentioned a part of our agenda. and we'll go through them one by one. thanks guys

Bregalad · Post by **Bregalad** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 12:36 pm

Reading a really long text on the computer eventually get annoying so you have to print it anyway, so you can read it away. So straight buy a book is more optimal, if you can find the good book. (btw Rodney Zack's 6502 book is really great).

Laserbeak43 · Post by **Laserbeak43** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 2:55 pm

Bregalad wrote:Reading a really long text on the computer eventually get annoying so you have to print it anyway, so you can read it away. So straight buy a book is more optimal, if you can find the good book. (btw Rodney Zack's 6502 book is really great).

so i've heard. i've got tons of books i've printed from school. if i can afford it though i would actually like to buy my own.

NotTheCommonDose · Post by **NotTheCommonDose** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 3:10 pm

I wouldn't waste money on books if you can get them on a PC for free.

Laserbeak43 · Post by **Laserbeak43** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 3:21 pm

holy crap!!!

kyuusaku · Post by **kyuusaku** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 3:24 pm

That has to be a typo for $1.99.

Laserbeak43 · Post by **Laserbeak43** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 3:56 pm

kyuusaku wrote:That has to be a typo for $1.99.

yeah i wish

Laserbeak43 · Post by **Laserbeak43** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 9:00 pm

just ordered rodnay's book for 13 american with shipping!!

i got the 1980 edition, should i cancel the order and go for the 82 edition?
main reason i was so quick to get this one, was cause the seller is in my state so it shouldl ship quickly, but it's 2 dollars cheaper for OR.

and 1982 edition