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MBASIC Compiler Setup

Requirements

1. z88dk Installation (Required)

The MBASIC compiler generates C code that must be compiled with z88dk to create CP/M executables for Z80.

Important: z88dk.zcc must be in your PATH for the compiler to work.

tnylpo is a CP/M emulator for testing compiled programs. While not required for compilation, it's needed to run and test the generated .COM files.

Important: tnylpo must be in your PATH for test scripts to work.

Installation Options

Option 1: Snap (Ubuntu/Debian)

sudo snap install z88dk

# Add snap binaries to PATH (add to ~/.bashrc or ~/.profile)
export PATH="$PATH:/snap/bin"

Option 2: Build from Source

git clone https://github.com/z88dk/z88dk.git
cd z88dk
./build.sh
export PATH="$PATH:$HOME/z88dk/bin"

Option 3: Docker

docker pull z88dk/z88dk
# Create wrapper script in PATH
echo '#!/bin/bash
docker run --rm -v "$PWD":/src -w /src z88dk/z88dk z88dk.zcc "$@"' > ~/bin/z88dk.zcc
chmod +x ~/bin/z88dk.zcc

Verify Installation

Check z88dk

# Check that z88dk.zcc is in PATH
which z88dk.zcc

# Test with our utility
python3 utils/check_z88dk.py

# Test compilation
z88dk.zcc --version

Check tnylpo (if installed)

# Check that tnylpo is in PATH
which tnylpo

# Test with our utility
python3 utils/check_tnylpo.py

tnylpo Installation

See docs/dev/TNYLPO_SETUP.md for detailed tnylpo installation instructions.

Quick install: 

# Clone and build
git clone https://github.com/agn453/tnylpo.git
cd tnylpo
make
sudo make install  # Or copy to ~/bin and add to PATH

Compiling BASIC Programs

Step 1: Generate C Code

python3 test_compile.py program.bas
# Creates program.c

Step 2: Compile to CP/M Executable

# For programs without strings
z88dk.zcc +cpm program.c -create-app -lm -o program

# For programs with strings (need mb25_string runtime)
z88dk.zcc +cpm program.c runtime/strings/mb25_string.c -create-app -lm -o program

This creates PROGRAM.COM that can run on CP/M systems.

String Runtime Library

Programs that use strings require the mb25_string runtime library:

  1. Copy runtime/strings/mb25_string.h and runtime/strings/mb25_string.c to your build directory
  2. Include both files when compiling: 
    z88dk.zcc +cpm program.c mb25_string.c -create-app -lm -o program

Troubleshooting

"z88dk.zcc: command not found"

  • z88dk is not installed or not in PATH
  • Run echo $PATH to check your PATH
  • Run find / -name z88dk.zcc 2>/dev/null to locate the binary
  • Add the directory containing z88dk.zcc to your PATH

Compilation Errors

  • Check that you're using the correct z88dk target: +cpm for CP/M
  • For floating point, ensure -lm is included
  • For strings, ensure mb25_string.c is included in compilation

Compiler Implementation Note

The compiler uses /usr/bin/env z88dk.zcc to find the z88dk compiler in PATH. This approach is portable across different installation methods (snap, source build, docker, etc.) as long as z88dk.zcc is accessible in PATH.

See src/codegen_backend.py:get_compiler_command() for the implementation.