Targets supported by ugBASIC

Thomson MO5 (mo5)

The mo5 target has been supported by ugBASIC since version 1.4. The compiler can produce executable files in "k7" tape format.



How to start

You can use the SANDBOX to try the ugBASIC compiler, without download anything. This tool has been designed to quickly test whether the code you are writing compiles correctly and determines the desired results.

Since the source is compiled thanks to dedicated servers, separate from the browser you are using, some commands are not available: for example, you cannot load external files or resources by using the LOAD command.

If you need to develop a program with a complete tool, we recommend installing the command line executables (see below) or UGBASIC-IDE.

To write the source code you can use a simply text editor. You can save the program in a text file and then to call the compiler, in order to convert it into an form that your Thomson MO5 will be able to execute.


Otherwise you can download and use command line compilers. Here are the direct links to the compilers for the various operating systems. Select the most suitable one for your configuration:

In addition to compiling with the IDE, if you are using Linux or the command line version for Microsoft Windows, you can compile the BASIC source "source.bas" into an executable file using the following command:

ugbc.mo5 -o executable.k7 -O k7 source.bas
ugbc.mo5 -o executable.bin -O bin source.bas

It is therefore possible to run everything with an emulator, such as DCMOTO using the following command:

CLEAR,&H2FFF:LOADM"",,R

or to create a phisical storage, as well.

A good starting point to learn ugBASIC for the mo5 platform is the examples page. The examples provide insight into the syntax and usage of many of the commands and statements available for the language.

Since ugBASIC is an isomorphic language, which does not provide abstractions, it is possible that not all examples work on all targets: those labeled mo5 can be compiled to generate executable files.

If you need help and support, the best place is the official forum, where you can find answers to your questions and receive help.

Games written for Thomson MO5 (more...)



TIC-TAC-TOE (10 liner)

This game is a traditional paper-and-pencil game for two players who take turns marking the spaces in a three-by-three grid with X or O. This game joins the "BASIC10Liner" competition 2023


4GRAVITY!

This game is a "Connect Four" clone. The objective of the game is to be the first to form a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line of four of one's own tokens.

Examples for Thomson MO5 (more...)














Plotting and graphic modes


The ugBASIC language provides access to all documented graphics modes of the Thomson EF936x chipset, that can be selected using the SCREEN # command, and used with graphics primitives. This is the value of the various constants in the various versions:

MODEDESCRIPTIONWIDTHxHEIGHTxCOLORS
0BITMAP MODE 40 COLUMN320x200x16

Blitting images


Blitting operations are supported.

Calling and inlining assembly code

With the mo5 target you can include assembly code for the Motorola 6809 processor. The code will be placed within the code bank.

Supported video standard

The ugBASIC compiler supports both the Thomson MO5 PAL (working frequency: 50 Hz) and NTSC (working frequency: 60 Hz) versions, and automatically detects the working frequency to calibrate the delays. In particular, it defines two constants with the same name, and initializes the constant TICKS PER SECOND.

This is the value of the various constants in the various versions:

VERSIONENTSCPALTICKS PER SECOND
Thomson MO5 PAL0 (FALSE)-1 (TRUE)50
Thomson MO5 NTSC-1 (TRUE)0 (FALSE)60

Audio support

The mo5 target does not supports audio commands.

Joystick and keyboard support

The ugBASIC language supports only the keyboard.