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Why Was a Cross Assembler Necessary for Programming on a Z80?
Creating a cross assembler and understanding why it was necessary for programming on a Z80 with limited memory involves diving into the constraints of early computing environments and the tools needed to overcome them. Let’s break this down step by step, covering what a cross assembler is, how one might be created, and why it was essential for systems like those based on the Z80 microprocessor, a popular 8-bit CPU used in machines like the TRS-80, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, and CP/M systems during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
What Is a Cross Assembler?
A cross assembler is a software tool that runs on one computer system (the host) to generate machine code for a different computer system (the target). Unlike a native assembler, which runs on the same system it generates code for, a cross assembler allows developers to write and assemble code on a more powerful or convenient machine, producing executable binaries for a less capable or resource-constrained target system — like the Z80-based computers with limited memory and processing power.
Why Was a Cross Assembler Necessary for Programming on a Z80?
The Z80, introduced by Zilog in 1976, was an 8-bit microprocessor with a 64KB address space, often paired with…
