page_title: MAC/65
hierarchical_section_title: MAC/65
caption_attribution_description: English: Mac/65 1.02
context_page_description: MAC/65 is a 6502 assembler written by Stephen D. Lawrow and originally sold by Optimized Systems Software for the Atari 8-bit family of microcomputers. MAC/65 was first released on disk in 1982, requiring 16 KB RAM. A bank-switched "SuperCartridge" came later for US$99, only occupying 8 KB RAM.
  MAC/65 is structured similarly to the Atari Assembler Editor cartridge, combining a line editor, assembler, and debugger into a single package. Its reputation was based on being much faster than either the Assembler Editor or the standalone Atari Macro Assembler. Brian Moriarty of Infocom wrote, "No assembler [at the time] on the C64 even comes CLOSE to MAC/65. Take it from someone who looked for one." It was used to write numerous commercial games and applications, and the majority of assembly language listings in ANALOG Computing were written with MAC/65.
  According to Lawrow, MAC/65 was used to compile not only itself, but BASIC XL and BASIC XE.
context_section_description: MAC/65 is a 6502 assembler written by Stephen D. Lawrow and originally sold by Optimized Systems Software for the Atari 8-bit family of microcomputers. MAC/65 was first released on disk in 1982, requiring 16 KB RAM. A bank-switched "SuperCartridge" came later for US$99, only occupying 8 KB RAM.
  MAC/65 is structured similarly to the Atari Assembler Editor cartridge, combining a line editor, assembler, and debugger into a single package. Its reputation was based on being much faster than either the Assembler Editor or the standalone Atari Macro Assembler. Brian Moriarty of Infocom wrote, "No assembler [at the time] on the C64 even comes CLOSE to MAC/65. Take it from someone who looked for one." It was used to write numerous commercial games and applications, and the majority of assembly language listings in ANALOG Computing were written with MAC/65.
  According to Lawrow, MAC/65 was used to compile not only itself, but BASIC XL and BASIC XE.
caption: Screenshot of cartridge version
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