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The notes assumes the reader is reasonably familiar with the Z88, and that the User Guide supplied with it has been read and is available for reference. Further, some basic knowledge of Z80 assembly language programming has to be assumed, for while it would be perfectly possible to develop software for the Z88 using a high level language compiler such as the z88dk compiler. The information here, therefore, is from the point of view of an application writer developing in assembly language. Of course, this means that there is more than enough information for customising a compiler if this is the preferred route.
We would anticipate that most developers would recommend to use a Z80 assembler running on a different machine, and would blow EPROM's from that machine to test in the Z88. Alternatively EPROM's can be blown from the Z88 itselfdesktop computer, upload the executable files to the Z88 to be blown into EPROM's or FLASH cards. There is a simple development environment, which is the BASIC language which comes with the machine and includes an in-line Z80 assembler. How to use BASIC as a development environment is detailed in the "BBC BASIC and the Assembler" section of these notes.
Recommended tools for building Z88 Applications
The Z88 Development Project supplies the Z88 Assembler Workbench software which is a complete developers package that has all the necessary facilities for programming applications on the Z88 (native), and contains a modular Z80 assembler, debugger, EPROM programming software and on-line help, all as resident applications on a 128K ROM. In addition, a Z80 Cross Assembler that can be compiled on most C compilers on various operating systems to compile Z80 Assembler source files on ordinary workstation computers, supplied with a Z88 emulator that can run the compiled applications.
All the assembler examples in these notes have been written in the format used by the Z80 Cross Assembler Mpm, which is used as the standard tool for OZ development.
The latest addition to Z88 software development is the project both OZ operating system development and application programming for the Cambridge Z88. It contains a Z80 macro assembler, card builder tool and emulator, found at http://cambridgez88.jira.com, which takes the Z88 to another level; the development team have developed new tools (cross assembler & Z88 emulator / debugger), better system documentation and have release . The team has released a new, much improved OZ operating system, V4.5, easily insertable inserted in slot 1 of the Z88. The good part is that all All source code is publicly available and under GPL V2 license, built using the Z88 Assembler Workbench tools. You can browse the repository online clicking on this link.
Dominic Morris has over the years worked on a Alternatively, the z88dk project has developed Z88 Development Kit for desktop computers which consists of Small C+ pre-processor, compiler, optimizer, libraries, examples and more. This package is regularly updated with new features, including the capability of producing full-blown Z88 applications. This C development system now runs on several Z80 based systems, including Sinclair Spectrum clones. For the latest release, point your browser to http://www.z88dk.org/
An Yet another alternative high-level development environment is Z88 CamelForth by Garry Lancaster. This also allows for full application development. You can find the latest version at http://www.worldofspectrum.org/z88forever/camelforth/rom-camel.html.
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Gunther Strube, Spain, email gstrube@gmail.com
Thierry Peycru, France, email elpekos@gmail.com
Dennis Gröning, Sweden, homepage www.algonet.se/~dennisgr/z88.html
Finally, many thanks to Vic Gerhardi, Rakewell Ltd, for his early support of these notes. Many details have come to light because of those VERY old system printouts he had received from the birth of the OZ operating system in the early days.
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