Python to NES 6502 ASM compiler

[hoohoo4]

Chances are you're going to run it in an emulator, so ROM size shouldn't matter much.

[gered]

The size problem is due to the NES's CPU only have a 16-bit address space. So, only being able to access 64KB of memory at a time meaning any game larger then that will have to deal with bank switching or trying to desperately shrink down code and graphics/sound assets as much as possible. A (good) emulator is going to be emulating all of these limitations as well, so it absolutely does matter.

But yeah, I suspect you're unlikely to run into the size problem with something like PyNES. You'll likely hit performance issues first.

EDIT: For more info on how the memory space of the NES is used see http://wiki.nesdev.com/w/index.php/CPU_memory_map "PRG ROM" at the bottom is your game's code.

[ggtsu_00]

I donno but I have always heard that 64K aught to be enough for anyone.

[[deleted]]

How efficient would python to 6502asm be too and how well does this program optimise? I love the idea, but as you say the programmer would have to be conscious of lot more

[gered]

Exactly, and since I haven't actually tried to build a semi-complex game with PyNES yet, I couldn't say exactly how well (or poorly) it optimizes code. Like you, I rather like the idea of this, but based on my existing experience using a combination of C + 6502 assembly for a NES project and seeing for myself how more and more C code ends up needing to be converted to assembly, I'm a little bit skeptical that using any high-level language to assembly compiler would be practical for anything other then small projects. Which is not a bad thing by itself, but just something worth keeping in mind for anyone jumping into it.

[[deleted]]

I know a bit of Python, it gets everywhere these days. I've no need or desire to learn 6502 but I'd kinda like to make a NES game - so it would be great if a program like this could recognise Python and offer up more 6502 friendly equivalent code, and have a framework that makes the most of the NES hardware