OVERVIEW OF MALLARD DEVELOPMENT
===============================

This document assumes you are familiar with compiling ASM programs for the TI-83 Plus.

To compile a program save it as program.asm and type "duck program" in a DOS prompt. You will need TASM in the same directory as program.asm, duck.bat, asm73.exe, and devpac83.com.

In general, Mallard programs are similar to those on the 83+. A program returns to the Mallard shell with 'ret' when it is done running.

If you need TI Flash Debugger images in order to run and debug Mallard and your Mallard programs on an emulator, please visit: http://www.michaelv.org/programs/calcs/mallard/

PROGRAM HEADER
==============

.nolist
#include "mallard.inc
.list
.org userMem
	.db $D9,$00,"Duck"
	.dw Start
	.db "Example Program",0
Start:
	;program code begins here

LIBRARIES 
=========

Mallard has the same basic libraries as Ion for the 83+. You can find the applicable Ion documentation here: http://joewing.calc.org/code/asm/ti83/ion/libs.shtml

These libraries are defined at the bottom of mallard.inc:

Version
Random
PutSprite
LargeSprite
GetPixel
Decompress
FastCopy
LevelDetect

The ION-style names (ionRandom, et cetera) have also been equated to make porting from the 83+ easier. Note that LevelDetect equates to ionDetect.


SAFERAM AREAS
=============

saferam1 - 768 bytes (appbackupscreen)
saferam2 - 768 bytes (savesscreen, APD RAM)
saferam3 - ~232 bytes (tempswaparea)
saferam4 - ~66 bytes (OP1-OP6)
saferam5 - ~10 bytes (imathptr1)

You may also be able to use textshadow.

These saferam areas have been chosen to be as large or larger than their 83+ ION equivalents, to allow for easy porting of programs.