home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- --
- -- A cross-assembler for the Z8-Basic controller.
- -- The z8 is alive and well..
- --
- -- Bob Bush 22-Apr-1989
- -- Cpu 73105,1332
- -- Update: 24-Apr-1990 .. see doc file for latest updates
-
-
- What? A public domain cross assembler for the Z8? Yes, but does anyone
- still use the z8? I can't answer that one but I couldn't resist picking
- up one of these chips the other day while browsing thru the local
- electronics store. For a mere $6.95 you get Tiny Basic in rom, a full
- duplex serial port, I/O ports, internal timers, priority interrupts,
- capability for memory expansion etc. and the price was right. It seemed
- like the proper time for a z8 revival.
-
- With a few support ICs, an 8k static ram, and a roll of Kynar wire I
- proceeded to throw together a z8-basic micro-controller in just a couple
- of hours. Didn't even bother with a schematic.. You see, I tend to lean
- toward instant gratification and schematics don't fit into that catagory.
- After about four hours debugging the circuit (Murphy collecting his dues)
- I was looking at the familiar ':' z8-basic prompt..
-
- Well, there I was, plunking away Basic programs (I don't even like Basic
- let alone 'tiny' Basic). The darn thing worked, but... The lure of assembly
- language loomed heavily...
-
- I started to scour the available resources in search of a PD z8 assembler.
- No luck. Not even the highly regarded 'Circuit Cellar' bbs had such a beast.
- Time for my true calling in life to enter the picture. I began to program
- a z8 cross assembler in one of my favorite languages, 'C', on my favorite
- pc the Commodore AMIGA.
-
- Here it is, for better or worse, my version of a Z8 assembler. I haven't
- completed any exhaustive validation on the assembler and I'm pretty sure
- that it doesn't conform to the syntax of any existing z8 assemblers. I
- really didn't have much to go on, just an old Zilog components data book.
-
- The 'C' code is not pretty (that old tendancy for instant gratification)
- but compiles on an IBM compatible. A seperate arc file for IBM use exists.
- 'Pc' version compiled with Microsoft 'C' ver. 5.1 (compact memory model)
-
- Included in the ARC file should be the following:
-
- z8ca1 --- z8 cross assembler (executable) compiled for the Amiga.
- z8ca1.c --- 'C' Source code for above.
- optab.h --- Table of z8 opcodes.
- z8ca.doc --- Documentation for z8ca operation.
- amiga.doc --- Additional notes on use with the amiga.
- serial.asm --- Example z8 assembly language program.
- index.asm --- Example program for indexed addressing
- download.bas --- Example Basic program for downloading machine code.
- read.me --- Your looking at it..
-
- Best of luck progamming in z8 assembly,
- Bob Bush
-
-