Targets supported by ugBASIC

Thomson TO8 (to8) beta

The to8 target is supported by ugBASIC since version 1.16.1 and is currently in beta stage. 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 TO8 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.to8 -o executable.k7 -O k7 source.bas

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

LOADM"CASS:",,R

or to create a phisical storage, as well.

A good starting point to learn ugBASIC for the to8 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 to8 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 TO8 (more...)



Creepy Carrots

This is a clone of Manic Miner where you have to collect all the carrots and reach the exit of the level. The game shows the capabilities of ugBASIC: graphics in 160x200x16, switching video pages, managing 3 banks of RAM in addition to the main memory, reading multiple keyboard keys at the same time (if hardware allows it), and inline ASM.


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 TO8 (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 COLUMN320x200x15
2BITMAP MODE BITMAP 4320x200x4
3BITMAP MODE BITMAP 16160x200x16

Blitting images


Blitting operations are supported.

Calling and inlining assembly code

With the to8 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 TO8 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 TO8 PAL0 (FALSE)-1 (TRUE)50
Thomson TO8 NTSC-1 (TRUE)0 (FALSE)60

Audio support

The to8 target does not supports audio commands.

Joystick and keyboard support

The ugBASIC language supports only the keyboard.