MLX is a series of

machine language In computer programming, machine code is computer code consisting of machine language instructions, which are used to control a computer's central processing unit (CPU). For conventional binary computers, machine code is the binaryOn nonb ...

entry utilities published by the magazines ''

COMPUTE! ''Compute!'' (), often stylized as ''COMPUTE!'', is an American home computer magazine that was published from 1979 to 1994. Its origins can be traced to 1978 in Len Lindsay's ''PET Gazette'', one of the first magazines for the Commodore PET. ...

'' and '' COMPUTE!'s Gazette'', as well as books from COMPUTE! Publications. These programs are designed to allow relatively easy entry of the type-in machine language listings often included in these publications. Versions are available for the

Commodore 64 The Commodore 64, also known as the C64, is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer introduced in January 1982 by Commodore International (first shown at the Consumer Electronics Show, January 7–10, 1982, in Las Vegas). It has been listed in ...

VIC-20 The VIC-20 (known as the VC-20 in Germany and the VIC-1001 in Japan) is an 8-bit entry level home computer that was sold by Commodore International, Commodore Business Machines. The VIC-20 was announced in 1980, roughly three years after Commod ...

Atari 8-bit computers The Atari 8-bit computers, formally launched as the Atari Home Computer System, are a series of home computers introduced by Atari, Inc., in 1979 with the Atari 400 and Atari 800. The architecture is designed around the 8-bit MOS Technology 650 ...

, and

Apple II Apple II ("apple Roman numerals, two", stylized as Apple ][) is a series of microcomputers manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc. from 1977 to 1993. The Apple II (original), original Apple II model, which gave the series its name, was designed ...

. MLX listings were reserved for programs written entirely in assembly, without combining Basic, like SpeedScript, a word processor.

First version

MLX was introduced in the December 1983 issue of ''COMPUTE!'' for the

and

Charles Brannon
"MLX: Machine Language Entry Program For Atari And Commodore 64"
''COMPUTE!'', December 1983, p. 216 alongside the December 1983 ''COMPUTE!'s Gazette'' for the Commodore 64. This was followed by a version for the

with 8 K expansion, in the January 1984 issue of ''COMPUTE!'s Gazette'' and by Tiny MLX, in the March 1984 ''Gazette'' issue for the unexpanded VIC-20 to type in the game ''CUT-OFF!''. These use a format consisting of six data bytes in

decimal The decimal numeral system (also called the base-ten positional numeral system and denary or decanary) is the standard system for denoting integer and non-integer numbers. It is the extension to non-integer numbers (''decimal fractions'') of th ...

format, and a seventh as a

checksum A checksum is a small-sized block of data derived from another block of digital data for the purpose of detecting errors that may have been introduced during its transmission or storage. By themselves, checksums are often used to verify dat ...

. The program auto-increments the address and prints the comma delimiters every three characters. Invalid keystrokes are automatically deleted, and if the last three characters are invalid, the entire line has to be typed again. Tiny MLX was written for use on unexpanded VIC machines, although a consequence of this is that the user can't save and continue typing at another time, they have to type the entire listing in one sitting. The program is written in Basic and when it is started the user types in the starting and ending memory addresses of the assembly programs specified in the magazine that the user wants to type in. In the Commodore 64 version, beginning in the May 1984 issue of ''COMPUTE!'', several keyboard keys were redefined to create a makeshift

numeric keypad A numeric keypad, number pad, numpad, or ten key, is the calculator-style group of ten numeric keys accompanied by other keys, usually on the far right side of computer keyboard. This grouping allows quick number entry with right hand, ...

and this keypad was added to the ''Gazette'' version in July 1984.

Improved version

A new version of MLX was introduced for the

in the June 1985 issue. This version uses an 8-byte-per-line hexadecimal format. A more sophisticated algorithm was implemented to catch errors overlooked by the original. The improved features were then backported to the Commodore 64. The new version, known on the title screen as "MLX II", but otherwise simply as "the new MLX", appeared in the December 1985 issue of ''COMPUTE!'' It was printed in '' COMPUTE!'s Gazette'' the following month. This version of MLX was used until '' COMPUTE!'s Gazette'' switched to a disk-only format in December 1993. MLX listings from this date onwards requires this new version of MLX. MLX 128 arrived in the August 1986 ''Gazette'' and the March 1987 ''Compute!'', using ths same hex format as the new Apple II version.Ottis R. Cowper
"MLX Machine Language Entry Program For Commodore 64 and 128"
''

'', March 1987, p. 126

References

{{reflist

External links

Machine Language Editor for Atari and Commodore
Apple II software VIC-20 software Atari 8-bit computer software Commodore 64 software Machine code

First version

Improved version

See also

References

External links