19. A computer programmed to convert assembly language instructions into object code, the computer comprising: means for receiving invocation of a first macro and a variable as an argument for the first macro; means, coupled to said means for receiving, for automatically identifying a second macro to be invoked to perform, on said variable, an operation identified by the first macro; wherein the first macro and the second macro have different names; and wherein the second macro is defined within said computer to comprise first assembler instructions for use with at least variables of an element type identical to a corresponding type of the variable; means for automatically expanding the second macro, using at least said first assembler instructions to generate second assembler instructions in an assembly language; and means for using an assembler for said assembly language to generate object code, based at least on the second assembler instructions; wherein the second assembler instructions comprise at least one opcode which depends at least on said corresponding type of the variable.
19. A computer programmed to convert assembly language instructions into object code, the computer comprising: means for receiving invocation of a first macro and a variable as an argument for the first macro; means, coupled to said means for receiving, for automatically identifying a second macro to be invoked to perform, on said variable, an operation identified by the first macro; wherein the first macro and the second macro have different names; and wherein the second macro is defined within said computer to comprise first assembler instructions for use with at least variables of an element type identical to a corresponding type of the variable; means for automatically expanding the second macro, using at least said first assembler instructions to generate second assembler instructions in an assembly language; and means for using an assembler for said assembly language to generate object code, based at least on the second assembler instructions; wherein the second assembler instructions comprise at least one opcode which depends at least on said corresponding type of the variable. 31. The computer of claim 19 wherein: said means for automatically expanding the second macro comprises means for using an instruction set related to said operation.