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I guess it depends how "embedded" the target is, I guess. I'd rather write an xmodem implementation in assembler than I would zmodem. I'm envisioning that you're using xmodem to transfer "brain-stem" type firmware where you're talking to a very constrained system. (I know I've sent firmware to Ethernet switch bootloaders via xmodem over serial. Presumably I was very, very close to the metal in that case.)

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Exactly. I built my first 8-bit computer after watching Ben Eater's 6502 series and the first thing I did after "Hello! World" was look up what bare minimum serial transfer I could implement that would yell if I fucked up the code in some obvious way (cant check if the data is right on the other end if the RAM is volatile and the transfer code itself is unproven). XModem fit the bill (entire spec on Wikipedia and dumb enough that an assembler beginner can do it).

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