KSquiggle’s Atari 8-bit Programming Shrine
This is Kevin Chase’s little corner of the internet,
sometimes known as ksquiggle, due to my illegible signature.
I’m currently an engineer working at Microsoft, but I spent my academic career working in physics,
studying fragmentation distributions (among other things). Back in 1996, I applied some of that
knowledge to a little Java applet that produced percolation lattices. No one does that anymore (Java applets, that is)
so I’ve reproduced it in JavaScript.
In the 1980s, I learned to program on an Atari 800, and like some I never lost my love of that old machine.
To revisit those days, here’s a growing collection of programming resources for the Atari 8-bit computers.
My goal here is to make as much source code from that era easily readable in modern HTML browsers so that more
people can learn about how software then was constructed. Enjoy!
Atari Assembly Language Programming / Atari Reference
- Mapping the Atari, by Ian Chadwick, COMPUTE! Books, 1985
- Assembly Language Programming for the Atari Computers, by Mark Chasin, McGraw-Hill, 1984
- Machine Language for Beginners, by Richard Mansfield, COMPUTE! Books, 1983
- The Second Book of Machine Language, by Richard Mansfield, COMPUTE! Books, 1984
- Assembler/Editor Non-Tutorial, by Charles Bachand, from A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing, Issues 2-7, 1981-1982
- Boot Camp, by Tom Hudson and Karl Wiegers, from A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing, 1983-1989
- Assembly Language, a tutorial by Chris Crawford, ANTIC Online, 1985
- The Assembler/Editor Reference, by Matthew J.W. Ratcliff, from A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing #78/79 (November-December 1989)
- HBUG, by Tom Hudson, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #18 (May 1984)
- BOFFO, by Tom Hudson, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #24 (November 1984)
- Operating System User’s Manual, from Atari, Inc., 1982
Forth / LISP / LOGO / PILOT Programming
- Ask Sally/Mr. Forth, from A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing, 1983-1985
- Forth Factory, from ANTIC, 1982-1984
- Strolling Forth, from Hi-Res Magazine, 1983-1984
- fig-FORTH 6502 Assembly Language Listing, from the Forth Interest Group, August 1980
- LISP review/tutorial, from A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing, 1982-1983
- PILOT Your Atari, from ANTIC, 1982-1984
- LOGO column, from ANTIC, 1983-1984
Action! Programming
- Introduction to Action!, by Clinton Parker, from A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing #17/18 (March/April 1984)
- Stars 3-D in Action!, by Donald E. Glover, from A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing #20 (July 1984)
- Bounce in Action!, by David Plotkin, from A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing #20 (July 1984)
- PuLse in Action!, by Joel Gluck, from A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing #26 (January 1985)
- More Fun with Bounce, by Joel Gluck, from A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing #27 (February 1985)
- Demon Birds, by Dan Bullok, from A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing #28 (March 1985)
- Amazing, by David Plotkin, from ANTIC v.4 #1 (May 1985)
- R.O.T.O., by Mike Stortz, from A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing #31 (June 1985)
- Color the Shapes, by Sol Guber, from A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing #32 (July 1985)
- On-Line, by Russ Wetmore, from A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing #32/35 (July/October 1985)
- Sneak Attack, by David Plotkin, from A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing #36 (November 1985)
- Air Hockey, by Chris Page, from A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing #38 (January 1986)
- Killer Chess, Frog and Reardoor, by Greg Knauss, from ANTIC v.6 #10 (February 1988)
100% Machine Language Games with Assembly Source Code from Magazines / Books
- SHOOT, by John H. Palevich, from COMPUTE! #16 (September 1981)
- Maniac!, by Rick Messner, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #6 (May 1982?), no source code
- Chiseler, by John Scarborough, from COMPUTE!’s First Book of Atari Games, © 1983
- Harvey Wallbanger, by Charles Bachand, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #9 (January 1983?)
- Fill ’Er Up, by Tom Hudson, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #10 (March 1983?)
- Maxter Mind, by Bob Polin, from ANTIC v.2 #7 (April 1983)
- Livewire!, by Tom Hudson, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #12 (July 1983)
- Roundup, by Richard Loken, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #13 (September 1983)
- Retrofire, by Tom Hudson, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #14 (November 1983)
- Bricklayer’s Nightmare, by Gordon Robson, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #15 (January 1984)
- Shooting Stars, by Dennis Fox, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #16 (February 1984)
- Planetary Defense, by Charles Bachand and Tom Hudson, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #17 (March 1984)
- Crash Dive!, by Brian Moriarty, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #18 (May 1984)
- Battle in the B-Ring, by Lew Thomits, Jr., from A.N.A.L.O.G. #19 (June 1984)
- Bacterion!, by Kyle Peacock and Tom Hudson, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #20 (July 1984)
- Avalanche, by Tommy Bennett, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #21 (August 1984)
- Money Hungry, by Donald P. Murphy, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #22 (September 1984)
- Fire Bug, by Kyle Peacock and Tom Hudson, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #23 (October 1984)
- Race in Space, by Charles Bachand, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #24 (November 1984)
- Popcorn!, by Mark and Cathy Sloatman, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #26 (January 1985)
- TwoGun, by Conrad Tatge, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #28 (March 1985)
- Boulder Bombers, by Mark Price, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #30 (May 1985)
- Amazed, by Patrick Steele, from M.A.C.E. Journal v.5 no. 6 (June 1985)
- Cosmic Defender, by Phill Roey, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #32 (July 1985)
- Syntron, by Jon Snyder, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #33 (August 1985)
- Elevator Repairman, by Fred Caprilli, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #34 (September 1985)
- Bonk, by James Hague, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #35 (October 1985)
- Maze War, by Mark Price, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #36 (November 1985)
- Speedski, by Bill Richardson, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #37 (December 1985)
- Incoming!, by Conrad Tatge, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #38 (January 1986)
- Super Pong, by Gary S. Domrow, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #39 (February 1986)
- The Clash of Kings, by Bryan Schappel and Barry Kolbe, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #40 (March 1986)
- One for the Road, by Clayton Walnum, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #41 (April 1986)
- Electroids, by James Hague, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #43 (June 1986), source code missing
- Blast!, by Steven Grimm, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #44 (July 1986)
- Troll War, by Scott Langston, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #45 (August 1986)
- Deathzone, by Steven Hiller, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #47 (October 1986)
- Cosmic Glob, by Rich B. Enns, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #48 (November 1986), source code missing
- Krazy Katerpillars, by David Huff, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #50 (January 1987)
- Slither, by Steven E. Pearson and Paul Kohut, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #51 (February 1987)
- Rambug II, by Matthew J.W. Ratcliff, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #52 (March 1987)
- Floyd the Droid Goes Blastin’, by Paul Lay, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #53 (April 1987), source code missing
- Rocks!, by Douglas Engel, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #54 (May 1987)
- Life in the Fast Lane, by James Hague, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #55 (June 1987)
- Troll War II, by Scott Langston, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #57/58 (September/October 1987)
- The ROBOX Incident, by Barry Kolbe and Bryan Schappel, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #58 (October 1987)
- Labyrinths, by Steven Lashower, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #59 (November 1987)
- Snowplow, and
Snowplow Editor, by Barry Kolbe and Bryan Schappel, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #64/65 (August/September 1988)
- DungeonLords, by Brian Bradley, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #67 (December 1988)
- Stellar Arena, by John Ortiz, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #68 (January 1989)
- Star Rider, by Paul Lay, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #69 (February 1989)
- Krazy Mazes, by Barry Kolbe, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #71 (April 1989)
- Crazy Clown Jumper, by Brad Timmons, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #72 (May 1989)
- Secret Agent: Mission 1, by Barry Kolbe, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #73 (June 1989)
- Mazerunner, by Matt Fruin, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #74 (July 1989)
- Exwall, by Andy Barton, from ANTIC v.8 #3 (July 1989)
- Capital!, by Barry Kolbe and Bryan Schappel, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #75 (August 1989)
- Skeet Shoot, by Tracy Jacobs, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #76 (September 1989)
Assembly Language Demos/Utilites/Applications with Source Code from Magazines
- STOPWATCH, by Craig Patchett, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #5 (January 1982?)
- Graphic Violence, by Tom Hudson, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #8 (November 1982?)
- The Atari Wedge, by Charles Brannon, from COMPUTE! #30 (November 1982)
- Moving Players/Missiles in BASIC, by Tom Hudson, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #10 and #11 (March/May 1983)
- Graphics 7+, by Tom Hudson, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #11 (May 1983?)
- Music Synthesizer, by Ken Collier, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #15 (January 1984)
- Stars 3-D, by Craig Patchett, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #16 (February 1984)
- MacroDOS, by Jerry Allen, from COMPUTE! #49/50 (June/July 1984)
- G: A printing device, by Charles F. Johnson, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #35 (October 1985)
- Debug+, by Bryan Schappel, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #39 (February 1986)
- T:EDIT, by Bryan Schappel, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #54 (May 1987)
- ANTIC Spelling Checker, by Bryan Schappel and Barry Kolbe, from ANTIC v.6 #6 (October 1987)
- BCALC, by Barry Kolbe and Bryan Schappel, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #63 (August 1988)
- Super Command Processor, by Bryan Schappel, from A.N.A.L.O.G. #72/73 (May/June 1989)
BASIC Programs with Assembly Language Subroutine listings
Commented Assembly Language Source Code Listings
- Operating System Source Listing (800 Rev. A), from Atari, Inc., 1981
- Operating System Source Listing (800 Rev. B), from Atari, Inc., 1982
- Star Raiders, by Doug Neubauer, June 1979
- Atari PILOT and Atari PILOT II / Super PILOT, by Harry Stewart
- WSFN, by Harry Stewart
- Atari 810™ DOS Utilities Source Listing (DOS II), from Atari, Inc., 1981
- Atari 800 Checkers Display,
Colleen Floating Point Routines and
Colleen Calculator, by Carol Shaw
Published Assembly Language Source Code Books
Atari Magazine Columns
- From Here to Atari, the Micro Magazine Atari column, by James Capparell and Paul Swanson, 1981-1984
- Ian’s Quest, the ST-LOG/ANALOG column by Ian Chadwick, 1986-1989
- INSIGHT: Atari!, the long running COMPUTE! Atari column by Bill Wilkinson.
1981,
1982,
1983,
1984,
1985,
1986,
1987,
1988.
- Insight: ST, the COMPUTE! ST column by Bill Wilkinson, 1986
- Outpost: Atari, the Atari column in Creative Computing, written largely by George Blank, David and Sandy Small, John Anderson and Arthur Leyenberger.
1980,
1981,
1982,
1983,
1984,
1985.
- Applying the Atari, the Atari column in Computer Shopper, by Jeff Brenner, 1984-1989
- Note and Point, the Atari column in Computer Shopper, by John Nagy, 1988-1989
- Battle Bytes, an Atari 8-bit computer wargaming column in Current Notes, by M. Evan Brooks, 1984-1987.
Atari Miscellany