Category: 8bit

Unconventional programming for Z80

autocompleteRecently I needed to create a simple utility for Sorda in assembler, and since Sorda's keyboard is not the best for text input, I thought of a more convenient way to do it.

On the page clrhome.org/asm/ it is possible to write a program in Z80 assembler, then compile it online and save it to disk. This is exactly what I need. Then I use a small utility bin2cas to create a CAS file that I can upload to MESS and test the program. Of course, more complex programs will be better developed directly on Sord in some assembler with debugger, but for simpler programs I can only recommend it.

 

Sample of a simple program in assembler

 


Sord M5 programs library

My collection of programs for Sord, I'll digitize some more in time. They are in CAS format, which is the native format for MESS now MAME.Unlike the WAV format it is in a few kilobytes size. But I have to say that programs requiring 64kB RAM module will not work in old MESS, because in MESS you can't disconnect MONITOR ROM and cartridge programmatically and the program can't handle that. Therefore use the improved version here or newer MAME here

Please note that I am not the author of these programs. If the actual authors would mind me offering them here, please email me and I will remove them from the site.

All programs have been moved here


Můj první počítač

We all started with computers somehow, someone forced someone with enthusiasm. I can say that I fell for them as a boy and since I was born at '80, I started with 8 bits as there was nothing else. My brother and I longed for the ZX Spectrum, but Santa gave us unknown to us at the time Sord M5 původem z Japonska. Přestože se Sord prodával tehdy jen v Tuzexu nebo v bazarech, ukázalo se že nebyl v tehdejším Československu až tak neznámý počítač. Dokonce existoval i klub Sordistů veden pod Svazarmem 602 , který čítal desítky členů. Někteří z nich dokázali vylepšovat Sordíka např. o zvýšení RAMKY na 64kB (v základu měl Sord 4kB), RAMdisk, vytvořili tehdy u 8bitů vzácný řadič 3,5″ floppy mechaniky a převedli spousty  her z příbuzného systému MSX nebo naprogramovali emulátor her ze ZX Spectra. Mimo těchto aktivit vznikal nízkonákladový tištěný klubový skoro mesíčník, zdroj velmi cenných informací. Protože jsem objevil podobný blog I will only publish the missing numbers here. As I do not have permission to publish these documents and therefore, if it would bother the authors, I will remove them immediately. But I think it would be an eternal pity let their efforts fade into the abyss of history. At least for me, the Sord M5 was and remained a matter of the heart, and I doubt I'll ever sell it to anyone.