Megamax C is aK&R C-based development system originally written for theMac and ported to theAtari ST andApple IIGS computers. Sold by Megamax, Inc., based inRichardson, Texas,[1] the package includes aone-pass compiler, linker, text editor, resource construction kit, and documentation.[1] Megamax C was written by Michael Bunnell with Eric Parker providing the linker and most of the standard library.[citation needed] A circa-1988 version of the compiler was renamedLaser C, while the company remained Megamax.[2]
In the early days of the Atari ST, Megamax C was the primary competitor to the Alcyon C compiler fromDigital Research included in the official developer kit fromAtari Corporation, and the documentation covers Atari-specific features. The company advertised that Megamax C could be used on a 520 ST with a single floppy drive.[3] The ST version includes the executable and assets forMegaroids, a clone of theAsteroids video game, written by Mike Bunnell with sound effects by Mitch Bunnell.[4]
On both the Atari ST and Macintosh, the size of a compiled module is limited to 32K of code, and arrays have the same 32K restriction.[1] The limitation stems from a requirement on the Macintosh which was carried over to the Atari.[5] This is despite theMotorola 68000 CPU in both machines having a 24-bit address range.
According to a review of the Atari ST version inAntic by Mike Fleishman, Megamax C compiled a small benchmark program six times faster than Digital Research's compiler.[1] In a comparison of C compilers for the Atari ST,STart magazine wrote, "For a development compiler, Megamax C is, without question, the best available on the Atari. It will reduce your compile/test turn-around time by at least a factor of five."[5] They also pointed out that the $200 price may be steep for hobbyists and students.
The compiler was used for development byBatteries Included andFTL Games.[3]
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