Beside the Ophis assembler (be sure to check the "handbook) I'm using the py65mon for local debugging. You can write your assembler code and test it with this 6502/65C02/65Org16 emulator. It's perfect for debugging including breakpoints, step by step execution, etc.)
If you like a gui "emulator" then try "symon". It has similar features and emulates a 6850 ACIA or a 6545 CRT chip. The latest alpha version supports now also the 65C02 opcodes (at least the Rockwell ones).
For my MOUSE project these tools helped me a lot to get the software side done. Converting other assembler programs to the ophis syntax is painful sometimes, but you automatically get a deeper look into the software you convert. I've done this for the assembler/disassembler from Jeff Tranter, the VTL02 language from Mike and the famous microchess from Peter Jennings.
And this forum is always a place to ask for help or just get a shoulder to cry on
Mario.