SpectNet IDE

Visual Studio 2017/2019 integrated ZX Spectrum IDE for the Community

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Install SpectNetIDE Create a ZX Spectrum 48K Project Use the Keyboard Tool Create a BASIC Program Create a Z80 Program Export a Z80 Program LOAD a Program Fast (Instant) LOAD The ZX Spectrum Emulator Debug Machine Code Display Memory Contents Create Watch Expressions

Tutorials » Create a BASIC Program

In a previous tutorial, you could see how easy is to create a new ZX Spectrum program from scratch.

Here, you will create and run a simple BASIC program. Although you can use the keyboard of the PC to enter a program — provided, the ZX Spectrum Emulator window has the focus — if you’re not familiar with the Spectrum keys and BASIC editor, it may frustrate you while entering the code. To avoid such chaffing, use the ZX Spectrum Keyboard tool window to enter the program.

First, add this line:

10 BORDER 2

To enter this BASIC line, press these keys, in this order: “1”, “0”, “B”, “2”, “Enter” (of course, you do not need to click comma between the keys wrapped in double quotes)

As soon as you’ve added this program line, it appears in the screen listing:

Basic line 1

Now, add these lines to the code:

20 BORDER 5
30 BORDER 6
40 PAUSE 1
50 GOTO 10

Basic line 2

Your first BASIC program is ready to run. Invoke the RUN command (press R, and then Enter) to start this code. As you can see from the listing, it implements an infinite loop while changing the background color:

Basic code runs

To stop the program, press the SPACE and SYM SHIFT keys simultaneously or click the BREAK button in the ZX Spectrum Keyboard window with the right mouse button:

Basic program stopped

Congratulations! It is time to move on and create a Z80 assembly program!