If we just had this kind of development tool back in the 80s, the computer world might be different today? While most IDEs are aimed mostly at developing software for modern PCs and make it hard to set up for developing games and apps for vintage computers and consoles, Phoenix is preconfigured for many vintage systems and has many cross assemblers and file processors built in for vintage game authors.

Easy on the eyes, less mouse movement, and friendly. The docking panes can become floating windows that you can move to another monitor if you like. Just drag them where you want them, redock them to another location, and configure your layout how you like.

One of the screen shots shows the OS-9 Level II RMA assembler crunching out an object file in a fraction of a second. The readout window was moved to the right side of the screen and all the other panels have been neatly organized on the left sidebar, all using simple drag and drop. You decide how you want the IDE to look.

For discussions about the Phoenix IDE, check out CoCo3.com - The Tandy Color Computer SuperSite or The CoCo Forums.

The Phoenix IDE is a Multi-Target Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2000, ME, 98, and 95, and LINUX via the Wine system.

Target CPUs: 8048, 8041A, 8022, 8021, 6502, R65C02, R65C00/21, 6805, M146805, HC05C4, Z80, HD64180, 6800, 6801, 6803, 68HC11, 8051, 8080, TMS32010, TMS320C25, TMS320C26 , TMS7000, 6809, 6309, and more, utilizing the TASM cross assembler, the AS-series cross assemblers, CCASM, OS-9 ASM, and more. Also, add your own cross assembler or compilers.

• Build software for the CoCo, Dragon, Vectrex, Atari, Commodore, Apple, and hundreds more systems
• Build virtual floppy disks and ROM images
• Create or load assembly source code, BASIC programs, text files, binary files and more
• Multiple document interface (MDI) with multi-row tab option
• Full search and replace, cut/copy/paste, undo/redo capabilities for text *and* hex editors!
• Split-window option while editing
• Nice HEX editor for binary files
• Optional line numbers, tab widths, and more editor settings.
• Insert code snippets and assets into your project (keyboard scanner, video modes, CoCo system definitions, and more)
• One-step build process, with large Build button
• Built software can be run on an emulator that your software is designed for
• Set various M.E.S.S. configurations from within the IDE, like video effects, custom options, full-screen/window, throttle, and more
• Checkbox-enabled assembler options for generating assembler listings, symbol dumps, quiet mode, debug mode, and error reporting
• User-selectable fonts for the assembler, text, binary, and readout windows
• Docking/floating panels layout is restored on next start
  
• Bonus and MS Office style skins added
• Many source code editor settings and language schemes
• Borland C++ Builder and syntax
• CCASM 6809/6309 cross assembler and syntax
• CoCo BASIC program tokenizer and syntax
• Text and image printing
• Collapsable GUI and panels for compact or full size workspace
• Go seamlessly straight from source code to game/app emulation
• Add your own builders and use many built-in builders (assemblers, etc.)
• Any project source file can have it's own builder
  
• Source code editor
  
• Sprite and Tile Map editing
• Bitmap font editing
• Image viewer
  
• Hex editor and hex viewer
  
• Text editor
  
• HTML/PDF Viewer
  
• Full-feature docking and auto-hide panels!
  
• Can launch the M.E.S.S. emulator, CoCo VCC emulator, and other emulators after a build
• Many NICE skins/themes to choose from in just one click
• All your settings are remembered the next time to launch the IDE
• Drop-in cross-assembler support with these included: CCASM, CASM, TASM, OS-9 Level II 6809/6309 RMA/RLink, OS-9 ASM 6809/6309 Assembler, TASM multi-CPU cross assembler (6502, 6800, 8048, Z80, and many more).

• WYSIWYG ability means your source code can build directly into an emulated image (requires a supported emulator)...
• Built-in support for the M.E.S.S. emulator system!
• Coming eventually, VCC Color Computer 3 emulator support.
• See your projects run immediately (requires the appropriate ROM sets for the desired emulated system).
• Instantly launches and runs your software or you can just boot into the emulated systems.

Vintage assembly programming is easier than ever using Rainbow, an easy-to-use IDE (Integrated Development Environment) for Windows XP, 98, ME, 2000, and 95. This system assumes most of the work and lets you control most features using simple options from the side panels.

Your projects may consist of many separate source components that are automatically compiled using any of the available assemblers - in a smooth and streamlined build process.

You have full control over how your source code is assembled and what target image it ends up on, whether it's 1k-256k ROMs or umlimited number of floppy disk images per project. You can also build directly to PC files and manually export your software.

One of the key features of Rainbow is the ability to run and test your software immediately after building using the automatic M.E.S.S. emulator launcher. This part of the system works seamlessly with the M.E.S.S. emulator to automatically mount your project image and even run it right away if it's a ROM/cartridge image. Also, any created floppy disk images will be mounted automatically in the emulator and ready to use as if you had inserted them into a real floppy disk drive.

Once a project is set up and saved, you only need to reload it later, edit your source code, and rebuild with one click. It's a very smooth operation.

With the Rainbow Integrated Development Environment you can design software for all kinds of 8-bit vintage computers and game consoles from Windows XP, 98, ME, 2000, or 95.The user-friendly interface takes you from the editor to running in seconds by calling on your favorite M.E.S.S. emulator system in a pop-up window. You can Edit assembly source code, raw binary files, and text files or ASCII BASIC programs, and have many files open at once for each project.

Send the output over to virtual floppy disks ready to emulate or write to real floppies later, or to ROM images that are automatically mounted and run if you like.

The Phoenix IDE requires the .NET framework 3.5 or above (Windows). If you want to play around with the IDE as it stands before the 1.0 release, choose a version below:

Try It Out

• (09-20-11) PhoenixAlpha092011.zip
• (05-18-11) PhoenixAlpha051811.zip
  

Add an Emulator

• VCC CoCo 3 emulator 1.41
• MESS. ROM Archive
  Collection of M.E.S.S. BIOS ROMs for a smoother experience. Unzip into your 'MESS\BIOS' or 'MESS\ROMS' directory.
• MESS .104b emulator
• MESS .125 emulator
• MESS Support Site

Secure a copy of the Phoenix IDE™

• $29 - single station
  
• $199 - unlimited
  

Sample Projects

• Check back here later for a collection of ready-to-build CoCo projects!