Editing Action! (programming language) (section)

{{Short description|Atari 8-bit computer programming language}}
{{about|the programming language|other uses|Action (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Action!
| logo  = <!-- Image name is enough -->
| logo caption = 
| logo size = 
| logo alt = 
| screenshot = actionscr.png
| caption = Fullscreen editor
| screenshot alt = Action! fullscreen editor
| author = Clinton Parker
| developer = [[Optimized Systems Software]]
| discontinued = yes
| released  = {{Start date and age|1983|08|}}
| latest release version = v3.6
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|1983|11|04}}
| platform = [[Atari 8-bit computers]]
| size = 16K bank-switched cartridge
}}

'''Action!''' is a procedural [[programming language]] and [[integrated development environment]] written by Clinton Parker for the [[Atari 8-bit computers]]. The language, which is similar to [[ALGOL]], compiles to high-performance code for the [[MOS Technology 6502]] of the Atari computers. Action! was distributed on [[ROM cartridge]] by [[Optimized Systems Software]] starting in 1983. It was one of the company's first [[bank switching|bank-switched]] 16&nbsp;kB "Super Cartridges". The runtime library is stored in the cartridge; to make a standalone application requires the '''Action! Toolkit''' which was sold separately by OSS.

Parker, working with [[Henry Baker (computer scientist)|Henry Baker]], had previously developed Micro-SPL, a [[systems programming language]] for the [[Xerox Alto]]. Action! is largely a port of Micro-SPL concepts to the Atari with changes to support the 6502 processor and the addition of an integrated fullscreen editor and debugger.

Action! was used to develop at least two commercial products—the ''[[HomePak]]'' productivity suite and ''[[Games Computers Play]]'' client program—and numerous programs in ''[[ANALOG Computing]]'' and ''[[Antic (magazine)|Antic]]'' magazines. The editor inspired the [[PaperClip]] [[word processor]]. The language was not ported to other platforms.

The assembly language source code for Action! was made available under the [[GNU General Public License]] by the author in 2015.<ref>[http://atariage.com/forums/topic/217770-action-source-code/?p=3168885 Action! Source Code - Page 2],  Alfred (Chopper Commander) Posted Mon Feb 2, 2015 1:38 PM, AtariAge Forums, ''This is the original Action! source as I received it from ICD. It uses the ICD cross assembler which is not included in the zip. It can be easily converted to other formats''</ref>