Deep Blue C Explained

Deep Blue C is a compiler for a subset of the C programming language for Atari 8-bit computers distributed by the Atari Program Exchange (APX). The compiler is a version of Ron Cain's public domain Small-C modified by John Howard Palevich to run on the Atari computer hardware. Palevich also wrote the Atari 8-bit game Dandy for APX.^[1] The syntax supported by Deep Blue C is close to that of ANSI C with significant limitations. The compiler creates binary code for Intel 8080 processor which is then executed by an 8080 virtual machine.

The source code to the compiler was sold separately by APX as Deep Blue Secrets.^[2]

Limitations

The following language constructs are not supported:

• structs
• unions
• multidimensional arrays
• floating point numbers
• sizeof operator
• type casting
• functions returning types other than integer

Other non-standard properties of Deep Blue C:

• The last part of [[Switch_statement|switch]] clause must end with: break, continue, or return.
• The maximum length of a source code line has to be less than 80 characters.
• The number of arguments for functions cannot exceed 126.
• $( and $) are used instead of { and }, because the Atari keyboard and standard character set does not include braces.

Sample program

This program prints "Hello World!":

main $(printf("Hello World!"); $)

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers . Hague . James.
2. Book: Palevich. John Howard. Deep Blue Secrets Manual. 1982 . Atari Program Exchange. secrets.