[Feature Request] ORGIN directive

[GSoftwareDevelopment]

It would be nice to be able to specify from the source code level for procedures where they should be compiled. I see my proposal as follows.

1. via the function/procedure modifier Origin xxxx, where xxxx, would be the address in memory.

procedure myProc(); Origin $2000;
Begin
End;

2. via a block directive, i.e. {$ORIGIN xxxx} and {$ENDORIGIN}.

{$ORIGIN $2000}
procedure Init();
begin
end;

procedure doSomethin();
begin
end;

procedure Done();
begin
end;
{$ENDORIGIN}

In a block directive, defined functions would get consecutive addresses, counting from the indicated xxxx. A block directive, applied before the definition of UNIT would allow to specify where the library would be compiled. It might not even be necessary to enclose it - that would be sufficient.

{$ORIGIN $2000}
unit Somethin;

interface

implementation

end.

Recursion of {$ORIGN} directives - this is already a matter for discussion :) but I don't hide that it would be welcome :)

It would be possible to compile a part of the routines, e.g. under ROM, where it is also possible to run it - with restrictions, but still. Possibility to build dynamic libraries - of course, after adjusting the rest of the code accordingly.

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You could also extend the above idea, not just to code: consider variables and the possibility to allocate them in any space in RAM by defining:

{$VARORIGIN $1000}
  var a:byte;
  b:String[40];
...
{$ENDVAR}

I know that a similar situation can be achieved by using the absolute modifier, but this would give a bit more "slack" in the code, and the possibility of assigning a default value, which can't be done now by using absolute.

[GSoftwareDevelopment]

Extended memory banks when allocating using the {$ORIGN} directive.

For the moment, I would be willing to put the fact of taking care of the issue on the shoulders of the programmer/user:

• loading into a bank
• switching that bank
• and restoring it.

It seems to me that everyone can have their own vision of how to do this - as long as they want to :) Maybe, in time, some interesting concept will be worked out, which can be permanently adopted in MAD Pascal :)

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I point out that, I just wanted to raise this topic and I know that it will be (very) difficult to implement. It's an ambitious topic, with a lot of possibilities, but I think that for the time being, it can be somewhat "bypassed"
The fact that when possibly introducing such functionality - to make it easier - it's worth thinking at least a little bit about the suggested {$ORGIN} directive - because why re-write later, although.... it can be different :P ;)