Home Computing Weekly


Machine Code For Beginners

Categories: Review: Software
Author: D.M.
Publisher: Dream
Machine: Spectrum 16K/48K

 
Published in Home Computing Weekly #67

Another excellent package from Dream. Most programs which say they are for "absolute beginners" to machine code turn out to be anything but! You flounder around in hexadecimal and registers, and you end up lost.

This is different. It's a simulation of a simple microprocessor with just four registers and a limited instruction set. The whole of the CPU is displayed on the screen. The accompanying manual takes you gently through each instruction, together with the processes which take place within your micro. If you don't like hex, you can do it in decimal. After considering the action of the instruction, you can enter it in a simple program and watch the CPU at work. The graphics are very clever, and a real aid to understanding.

By following the manual, you can build up the necessary information to understand the real thing, like a Z80, later The manual itself is so well-written it's almost worth the package price. Even though this is a simulation, the mnemonices are very like those of the Z80. First class for the student or enthusiast.

D.M.

Other Spectrum 16K/48K Game Reviews By D.M.


  • Look Sharp Front Cover
    Look Sharp
  • Base Invaders Front Cover
    Base Invaders
  • Quick Thinking Front Cover
    Quick Thinking
  • Projector 1 Front Cover
    Projector 1
  • Havoc Front Cover
    Havoc
  • The Ring Of Darkness Front Cover
    The Ring Of Darkness
  • The Solar System Front Cover
    The Solar System
  • Strontium Dog: The Killing Front Cover
    Strontium Dog: The Killing
  • Alphabet Games Front Cover
    Alphabet Games
  • Centimunch Front Cover
    Centimunch