Cross Assembler

Cross assembler IDE Relaunch64.

A cross assembler is an assembler, which runs on a host platform such as MS-DOS, Windows or Linux and generates machine code for another destination platform (a C64, for example). This process is called also cross development.

Below is an overview of selected cross assemblers for the C64:

• ACME: Free cross assembler for the platforms AmigaOS, DOS, Windows, Linux/Unix and RISC OS.
• cc65: An open source C-compiler for the C64, VC20, Atari, etc. including a macro assembler.
• DASM: Developed by Matt Dillon. Cross 6502 macro assembler for Linux, macOS, Windows and also Raspberry Pi OS.
• K2X-Tools: An open source cross assembler and more; last version in 2004 (compiler for Linux and Windows).
• KickAssembler (also short known as "KickAss"): Java based cross assembler by Camelot, runs under all Java based OS like Windows, Linux, OS X, etc.
• Relaunch64: A Java IDE specifically designed for C64 assembler coding. Although not a cross assembler in itself, it offers many features that make coding faster and easier, and supports many relevant cross assemblers.
• 64Tass/6502Tass: Another native "Turbo Assembler", developed for DOS (6502Tass), later also for Unix, Linux and Windows32 (64Tass).
• vasm (vbcc): A cross assembler for MOS 6502 compatible CPUs.
• xa: A multi pass cross assembler for 8-bit CPUs of the 6502 series (6502, 65C02, 6504, 6507, 6510, 7501, 8500, 8501 and 8502), also Rockwell R65C02, and 16-bit 65816 CPU.
• WLA DX: A macro cross assembler for GB-Z80/Z80/6502/65C02/6510/65816/HUC6280/SPC-700 and platforms AmigaOS 1-3 (680x0), AmigaOS 4 (PPC), Linux, Unix, MS-DOS, Windows, developed by Ville Helin.

Links

• 6502 Cross-Development Languages and Tools List by Daniel Fandrich
• ACME
• Kick Assembler (Java 8)
• K2X Tools
• 64Tass
• vasm
• xa
• WLA DX