Mensch Computer
Encyclopedia
The Mensch Computer is a computer system based on the WDC 65C265
microcontroller
(which implements both the 16-bit instruction set
of the W65C816/65816 microprocessor
, as well as the 8-bit instruction set of the 6502
microprocessor) and produced by the Western Design Center
. The computer system is named after Bill Mensch
, designer of the 6502 and subsequent series of microprocessor.
Designed as a computer system for hobbyists and people who enjoy computer programming
, especially programming at the assembly language
level, the Mensch Computer includes a basic set of peripherals which can be expanded by the owner. Much software originally written for other computer systems which use the 65816 or 6502 instruction sets (such as the Nintendo Entertainment System
, Super Nintendo
, or Apple IIgs
, among others) can be run on the Mensch Computer (either directly as binary object code
or through reassembling the software source code
), to the extent that such software does not rely on hardware configurations which differ from the Mensch Computer.
The Mensch Computer includes a ROM
monitor (a type of firmware
), and numerous software routines are available to programmers by calling subroutines in the ROM. Typically, the Mensch Computer runs Mensch Works, a software suite also named after Bill Mensch.
WDC 65C265
The Western Design Center W65C265S microcomputer is a complete fully static 16-bit computer fabricated on a single chip using a Hi-Rel low power CMOS process. The W65C265S complements an established and growing line of 65xx products and has a wide range of microcomputer applications...
microcontroller
Microcontroller
A microcontroller is a small computer on a single integrated circuit containing a processor core, memory, and programmable input/output peripherals. Program memory in the form of NOR flash or OTP ROM is also often included on chip, as well as a typically small amount of RAM...
(which implements both the 16-bit instruction set
Instruction set
An instruction set, or instruction set architecture , is the part of the computer architecture related to programming, including the native data types, instructions, registers, addressing modes, memory architecture, interrupt and exception handling, and external I/O...
of the W65C816/65816 microprocessor
Microprocessor
A microprocessor incorporates the functions of a computer's central processing unit on a single integrated circuit, or at most a few integrated circuits. It is a multipurpose, programmable device that accepts digital data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and...
, as well as the 8-bit instruction set of the 6502
MOS Technology 6502
The MOS Technology 6502 is an 8-bit microprocessor that was designed by Chuck Peddle and Bill Mensch for MOS Technology in 1975. When it was introduced, it was the least expensive full-featured microprocessor on the market by a considerable margin, costing less than one-sixth the price of...
microprocessor) and produced by the Western Design Center
Western Design Center
The Western Design Center , located in Mesa, Arizona, USA, is a company developing and manufacturing MOS 65xx-based microprocessors, microcontrollers , and related support chips...
. The computer system is named after Bill Mensch
Bill Mensch
American engineer William David Mensch, Jr., born 9 February 1945 in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, USA, is the founder, chairman and CEO of the Western Design Center of Mesa, Arizona...
, designer of the 6502 and subsequent series of microprocessor.
Designed as a computer system for hobbyists and people who enjoy computer programming
Computer programming
Computer programming is the process of designing, writing, testing, debugging, and maintaining the source code of computer programs. This source code is written in one or more programming languages. The purpose of programming is to create a program that performs specific operations or exhibits a...
, especially programming at the assembly language
Assembly language
An assembly language is a low-level programming language for computers, microprocessors, microcontrollers, and other programmable devices. It implements a symbolic representation of the machine codes and other constants needed to program a given CPU architecture...
level, the Mensch Computer includes a basic set of peripherals which can be expanded by the owner. Much software originally written for other computer systems which use the 65816 or 6502 instruction sets (such as the Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
, Super Nintendo
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
, or Apple IIgs
Apple IIGS
The Apple , the fifth and most powerful model in the Apple II series of personal computers produced by Apple Computer. The "GS" in the name stands for Graphics and Sound, referring to its enhanced graphics and sound capabilities, both of which greatly surpassed previous models of the line...
, among others) can be run on the Mensch Computer (either directly as binary object code
Object code
Object code, or sometimes object module, is what a computer compiler produces. In a general sense object code is a sequence of statements in a computer language, usually a machine code language....
or through reassembling the software source code
Source code
In computer science, source code is text written using the format and syntax of the programming language that it is being written in. Such a language is specially designed to facilitate the work of computer programmers, who specify the actions to be performed by a computer mostly by writing source...
), to the extent that such software does not rely on hardware configurations which differ from the Mensch Computer.
The Mensch Computer includes a ROM
Read-only memory
Read-only memory is a class of storage medium used in computers and other electronic devices. Data stored in ROM cannot be modified, or can be modified only slowly or with difficulty, so it is mainly used to distribute firmware .In its strictest sense, ROM refers only...
monitor (a type of firmware
Firmware
In electronic systems and computing, firmware is a term often used to denote the fixed, usually rather small, programs and/or data structures that internally control various electronic devices...
), and numerous software routines are available to programmers by calling subroutines in the ROM. Typically, the Mensch Computer runs Mensch Works, a software suite also named after Bill Mensch.