08-14-2012, 02:52 AM
Thanks for the compliment, but you did the hardest part, that was making such a great compiler. 
Anyway, about the options, the only reasons I ended up targeting WLA-DX were:
1. Good support for automating the job of separating the code into ROM banks;
2. Automatic support for the standard Sega Master System ROM header;
3. Automatic support for the SDSC ROM header;
4. Automatically generates a .SYM file with symbolic information that can be used for improved debugging on Weka;
5. Lazyness in my part.
Basically, all of the above are good to have, but optional, except for number 2: you don't need ROM banks if your ROM is less than 32k, and the SDSC ROM is not required by the real hardware. It won't be able to run on a real SMS without the standard header, though.
About the hardware info, I'd recommend:
- Maxim's tutorial, has a very nice, simple and easy to understand overview of SMS's hardware but ; on the other hand, it doesn't cover neither joypad input nor sound.
- Richard T.W.'s documentation also gives a very complete and detailed overview of the hardware, joypad and sound included;
- Also, SMSPower's documentation section has very nice documents; the two above should cover almost everything relevant, though.
As far as I know, the only keyboard available for the Master System was an addon for the Japanese Sega Mark III; it's probably pretty rare.
Anyway, about the options, the only reasons I ended up targeting WLA-DX were:
1. Good support for automating the job of separating the code into ROM banks;
2. Automatic support for the standard Sega Master System ROM header;
3. Automatic support for the SDSC ROM header;
4. Automatically generates a .SYM file with symbolic information that can be used for improved debugging on Weka;
5. Lazyness in my part.
Basically, all of the above are good to have, but optional, except for number 2: you don't need ROM banks if your ROM is less than 32k, and the SDSC ROM is not required by the real hardware. It won't be able to run on a real SMS without the standard header, though.
About the hardware info, I'd recommend:
- Maxim's tutorial, has a very nice, simple and easy to understand overview of SMS's hardware but ; on the other hand, it doesn't cover neither joypad input nor sound.
- Richard T.W.'s documentation also gives a very complete and detailed overview of the hardware, joypad and sound included;
- Also, SMSPower's documentation section has very nice documents; the two above should cover almost everything relevant, though.
As far as I know, the only keyboard available for the Master System was an addon for the Japanese Sega Mark III; it's probably pretty rare.