We had a discussion a couple weeks ago about whether the assembler could
possibly notice and warn about the most common syntax error made by new
(and experienced) 2600 programmers - writing LDA 5 when you mean LDA #5.
As I was coding for the 2600 today, the solution hit me: have DASM throw a
warning for any read from a zeropage location between 0 and $7F that uses
a number rather than a constant reference. In common coding practice, we
never refer to any of the TIA registers numerically - we always use the
constant names like CXM1FB.
LDA 5 ;warning, almost certainly a mistake!
LDA #5 ;good - never warn if the # is used
LDA CXM1FB ;good - a constant name is used
LDA $85 ;don't warn - RAM access, which is often done numerically
Of course, there's the usual debate over whether something like this
should go into an ostensibly general-purpose assembler, but I think it's
worthwhile implementing as an option. I might even have a go myself once
DASM moves to open source.
Anyone have any opinions?
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