Cambridge Z88

This web space has been created by and for the 'die-hard' users of this ancient computer. The object was initially to streamline the operating system, OZ and to build new applications by replacing the built-in ROM with a larger device. All the software and documents here, is provided for free, ready to be downloaded in source code, or as ready-made binaries - all GPL V2 licensed.

This project started in 1989, when the Z88 was still commercially supported by Cambridge Computer - the manufacturer of the Z88. The idea behind this was to identify low cost tools (ideally for free) to develop applications, in the hope that a broader software base would prolong the life of the portable; tools that could be used by both professionals and enthusiasts. Cambridge Computer supported the software with very expensive compiler tools. This, and the cost of the incomplete 'Z88 Developer Notes,' took software development beyond the reach of the hobbiest. The Z88 project was formed on Sourceforge in 2002, where a goup of people uploaded source code and tools, that had been produced since 1989. After the launch of the public project on Sourceforge, a lot of more work has been achieved from valued contributions made during those years by the community, for the community.

Doing software development on a real Z88 is possible, but it is very cumbersome and inefficient. A Z88 emulator was built (OZvm), so that tools could be used to develop, compile, execute and test the software seamlessly on one computer. A small, dedicated team got together, disassembled the original code and provided a full source listing of the "OZ" v4 ROM. This version was then worked on, improving its operation and fixing bugs. Wilst understanding what the software was doing, the 'Z88 Developer Notes' were expanded and updated. You can now upload the completed version of OZ and use it on your own Z88.

Many ideas and suggestions were expressed by individual users at that time in the only public forum available, "Z88 EPROM", a by-monthly magazine published by Roy Woodward. Many of these ideas from that publication have been implemented in this project.

Years later, long after Cambridge Computer had closed, a small company remained to support the Z88 commercially, Rakewell Ltd - and still does today. The internet has now become a useful way to get support for the Z88.

Project Source Code

Browse or check out your own local copy of the project source code from our Bitbucket Git Repository (fork & write comments - we love feed-back!).

Our software releases

In our software release area you can download the latest Z88 operating system for Flash cards, Z88 emulator, 3rd party applications and desktop tools to upload your files to the Z88.

Latest news

This page shows important updates.
Use the Projects dropdown at the top of this page to browse at all our work and wiki's.
There's an overview of our wiki's and what we're working on at the bottom of this page.

April 2012

OZ Version screen - Garry Lancaster has allowed the OZ compile scripts to include Git tag revision string to be displayed. This identifies which version is running from our control repository.

RomCombiner - Fixed a bug that was reported by Rakewell; blowing data to a UV EPROM didn’t work from V2.08. This is now fixed in V2.10. You can get it from here.

EazyLink client - Work is progressing on all three platforms; Mac, Windows & Linux. We hope to release it sometime in May. We are able to build & test-run the client on all platforms now. Stay tuned for more information soon.

Intuition/OZ - An improved keyboard routine has been implemented. The Intuition command line can now be used without disturbing OZ interrupts while debugging code in OZ!

Rich Mellor recommends the Z88 forum: http://www.rwapservices.co.uk/Z88/forums/

February 2012

Busy month, but now a few updates:

RomUpdate V0.9 has been released which now can handle generic card images and blow them to a user-selected slot.

OZ V4.3 latest release has been uploaded to Sourceforge which now uses RomUpdate V0.9 to blow OZ V4.3 for slot 1. This ZIP file contains updated instructions as well.

Z88 emulator has been improved. It has better breakpoint management and it can now execute debugger commands at breakpoints (requested by Garry Lancaster).

December 2011

RomCombiner V2.08 released - fixing a minor syntax error in a single program line. No functional changes. Get it from Z88 Applications File Area on Sourceforge.

Z88 User Guide Wiki (approx 20% done) and the Z88 Developers Notes Wiki (approx 50% done) is progressing.

OZvm, the Z88 Emulator, is undergoing improvements. These are some minor fixes to the display so that it is shown correctly on Mac OS X, code cleanup and improvements of breakpoint system (when used as a developer tool).

November 2011

Open Source licenses - We have received these to generate cross-platform installer builds for our projects by BitRock. We will soon be able to make installers for:

"Z88 Assembler Workbench" (install complete developer tools on Mac, Linux or Windows, with source code and Git access)

"EazyLink", the new Gui Client (currently under development, implemented in Qt)

"OZvm", so that end-users will be able to install the Z88 emulator individually.

Z88 User Guide - We have received the OCR-scanned material (section 7 onwards, and the appendixes) from Per Svensson. We will complete this in the coming months. Just select "Z88 User Guide" from the Projects dropdown to see more. Ultimately, the User Guide will be integrated completely inside the wiki here, so it will be easier to maintain and improve with more information.

Installer & Bootstrap - Garry Lancaster announced: "As you might have noticed, I have now added these and all the associated paraphernalia. They are currently disabled for OZ v4.1+, but I am working on fixing them up in another branch." So work is ongoing to get these essential tools working on the new OZ ROM that we now provide.

October 2011

We moved project infrastructure from Sourceforge to Atlassian OnDemand (Jira / Confluence / Fisheye) & BitBucket (Git repository). Thank you, Atlassian! We will be adding wiki pages and work projects, little-by-little, to let you know more about what is available here.

OZ V4.3 - Released final binaries, ready to be uploaded & installed in slot 1.

Z88 Emulator V1.0.2 - Released now supporting emulation of latest Rakewell hybrid 512K RAM / 512K FLASH memory cards.

EazyLink - Work has started on a new Client for Linux, Mac & Windows (sponsored by Rakewell). It will be released here for download, once the software has been completed (mid November 2011).

Zip Utilities & ZipUp - Garry Lancaster has fixed an important bug in these suites for Z88, ZipUp release V1.02 / UnZip V1.13. Download here.

Z88 Emulator

If you don't have a Z88 and are curious about what this portable can do, download a copy of the OZvm Java application from our Download area.

Available documentation:

Space:	BBC BASIC (Z80) Reference Guide for Cambridge Z88 The 2nd edition of the original BBC BASIC Reference Guide, updated with many new details.	Browse the "BBCREF" space Add a page to "BBCREF"
Space:	Cambridge Z88 User Guide Z88 User Guide 6th edition. The user guide reflects the OZ ROM V4.5 and later releases, developed by the Z88 Community.	Browse the "UG" space Add a page to "UG"
Space:	CPU Assembler - Mpm This crossassembler command line tool currently supports compilation of Cambridge Z88 ROM (Zilog Z80) source code and Ca…	Browse the "MPM" space Add a page to "MPM"
Space:	EazyLink Client Documentation about the EazyLink Client that runs on a desktop operating system like Linux, Mac OSX or Windows and conne…	Browse the "EAZ" space Add a page to "EAZ"
Space:	EazyLink Client User Guide V1.0 The online User Guide that is accessed through the browser from the EazyLink II Desktop Client	Browse the "EAZUGV10" space Add a page to "EAZUGV10"
Space:	EazyLink Popdown The EazyLink popdown is run on the Z88, and is the server part which listens to commands sent to it through the serial p…	Browse the "ZEP" space Add a page to "ZEP"
Space:	FlashStore (Z88 popdown) Flashstore is a dedicated file manager for Rakewell flash cards and is also able to fetch & store files on EPROM cards. …	Browse the "ZFS" space Add a page to "ZFS"
Space:	OZvm User Guide V1.1 The online user guide that is referred, when clicking the "User Guide" menu.	Browse the "OZVMUG11" space Add a page to "OZVMUG11"
Space:	PC PipeDream	Browse the "PCPD" space Add a page to "PCPD"
Space:	RomCombiner (Z88 BBC BASIC) RomCombiner is a BASIC program which allows you to combine several ROM images onto a single card, thus enabling you to u…	Browse the "ZRC" space Add a page to "ZRC"
Space:	RomUpdate (Z88 application & BBC BASIC)	Browse the "ZRU" space Add a page to "ZRU"
Space:	UnZip (Z88 Application)	Browse the "ZUZ" space Add a page to "ZUZ"
Space:	Welcome This is the Home Page	Browse the "welcome" space Add a page to "welcome"
Space:	Z88 Developers' Notes These notes provides a comprehensive description of the hardware and software of the Z88 portable. The machine has a pow…	Browse the "DN" space Add a page to "DN"
Space:	Z88 Emulator - "OZvm" The "OZ" virtual machine is the hardware emulation of the Cambridge Z88 portable computer and periphial cards, whose mai…	Browse the "OZVM" space Add a page to "OZVM"
Space:	Z88 EPROM Magazines All the Z88 EPROM Club Magazines in PDF format	Browse the "Z88EPR" space Add a page to "Z88EPR"
Space:	Z88 Leaflets, Applications & Projects Z88 Applications need to be written. Projects need to be built. This section is a central resource for them both, to ac…	Browse the "ZP" space Add a page to "ZP"
Space:	Z88MAGIC This book will help all users of the Z88 to reach an understanding of how to use it with the minimum of hassle. Topics c…	Browse the "ZMAGIC" space Add a page to "ZMAGIC"
Space:	Z88 Quick Guide & Help This section is for users who have acquired a Z88 and want to know either how to get it working, or what they need to ge…	Browse the "QG" space Add a page to "QG"
Space:	Z88 ROM All documentation and information about the Z88 ROM development	Browse the "OZ" space Add a page to "OZ"
Space:	Z88 Service Manual The service manual includes a description of the circuit together with test routines. It also describes details of Z88 T…	Browse the "ZSM" space Add a page to "ZSM"
Space:	Z88 User Guide V4.0 The original Z88 User Guide 4th edition as it was supplied with the Z88 computer, edited with updated screenshots and gr…	Browse the "UG40" space Add a page to "UG40"
Space:	ZipUp	Browse the "ZIP" space Add a page to "ZIP"

What we're working on:

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