QL Macro Assembler

QL Macro Assembler (or Q-Mac) was an update version of QL Assembler. Both programs were written by GST Computer Systems and published on the Sinclair Research Ltd label.

The program is a standard 68008 motorola assembler with extensive macro assembler commands (although conditional assembly can only be used inside the macros).

Again, the editor supplied is that provided with the Metacomco Assembler!

The assembler generates binary files from a single source (like the standard assembler) and supports INCLUDE directives (for example to make use of the standard library routines included on the microdrive).

The package also includes a separate linker to combine pre-assembled files in SROFF (Sinclair Relocatable Object File Format) format (the standard linker format, also i.e. on Atari ST) to a complete binary file.

This program has become more the standard across QLs - mainly because it was the first assembler to be able to compile the source codes for SMSQe - even today only QL Macro Assembler and the public domain GWASS assembler can compile these huge sources.

Updated versions appear in the Quanta library (with bug fixes and improvements).

The latest version of the software was also released as freeware in 2012.

Unfortunately, though it was one of the first packages of that kind which generates the usual SROFF linker format, not all other companies, which lauched compilers and assemblers go straight ahead with this format, instead uses their own ways, making it somewhat hard for the programmer to combine code from different compilers and assemblers.

Title: QL Macro Assembler
Language: 68000 Machine Code
Author: Unknown
Publisher: GST Computer Systems
Year of Publication: 1985
Platforms Suitable for: All Sinclair QLs and emulators
Commercial Status: Freeware
Price as at May 1986: £59.95
Reviews: Your Sinclair May 1986
Sources Available from: n/a
Latest Version available from: Sinclair QL Homepage