Why Pseudo Code Fails in 6502 Assembly

1 June 2020 · Updated 26 February 2026

A critique of pseudo code practices common in Commodore 64 development circles, outlining five primary objections. This perspective reflects personal experience rather than universal truth—developers who find pseudo code beneficial should continue using approaches that work for them.

Concerns About Pseudo Code

Readability issues — The syntax can appear cryptic and impenetrable to those unfamiliar with the conventions. What proponents consider “readable” often requires learning an additional layer of abstraction beyond 6502 assembly itself
Inefficient output — Combined with macros, the resulting code often becomes bloated and requires optimization. The abstraction encourages patterns that map poorly to efficient 6502 idioms, requiring cleanup that negates productivity gains
Excessive abstraction — Inserts an unnecessary barrier between programmers and direct 6502 machine code. Understanding what the processor actually executes becomes a translation exercise rather than direct comprehension
Artificial complexity — Appears designed to make 6502 resemble higher-level languages like JavaScript or C, importing assumptions that do not apply to 8-bit development. The 6502’s elegance lies in its simplicity, not in pretending it is something else
Formatting preferences — The convention of lowercase mnemonics conflicts with traditional assembly style established across decades of 6502 programming. This purely aesthetic concern nonetheless affects readability for those accustomed to uppercase conventions

These observations represent stylistic preferences rather than criticism of developers who successfully employ pseudo code. Many impressive demos and games utilize these techniques effectively. The underlying argument favors direct, unobscured 6502 assembly for maximum clarity and approachability, particularly for newcomers who benefit from seeing exactly what the processor executes.

Learning 6502 assembly directly, without intermediate abstractions, builds understanding that transfers across all development scenarios. Pseudo code skills, by contrast, apply only within specific toolchains.