ZX Spectrum - Revision history

Superogue at 12:09, 15 December 2025

2025-12-15T12:09:07Z

Superogue at 12:08, 15 December 2025

2025-12-15T12:08:29Z

Superogue at 12:05, 15 December 2025

2025-12-15T12:05:40Z

Superogue at 08:53, 15 April 2024

2024-04-15T08:53:27Z

Superogue at 18:36, 16 February 2024

2024-02-16T18:36:16Z

Superogue: /* Overlaying simple graphics */

2024-02-16T18:33:06Z

‎Overlaying simple graphics

Superogue: /* Start values */

2024-02-16T18:32:25Z

‎Start values

Superogue at 18:30, 16 February 2024

2024-02-16T18:30:36Z

Ped7g: adding Rasm to the list

2023-02-13T00:36:57Z

adding Rasm to the list

Superogue: Created page with "== ZX Spectrum == The ZX Spectrum consists of a Z80A @ 3.5 MHz CPU with either 16k, 48k or 128K of RAM. Most demos are targeted at the Spectrum 128 because it includes more m..."

2022-03-10T13:04:33Z

Created page with "== ZX Spectrum == The ZX Spectrum consists of a Z80A @ 3.5 MHz CPU with either 16k, 48k or 128K of RAM. Most demos are targeted at the Spectrum 128 because it includes more m..."

New page

== ZX Spectrum ==
The ZX Spectrum consists of a Z80A @ 3.5 MHz CPU with either 16k, 48k or 128K of RAM. Most demos are targeted at the Spectrum 128 because it includes more memory, a shadow screen buffer and an AY soundchip. The different models have slightly different timings - this will cause issues if you are doing cycle-exact effects like multi-color.

=== Setting up ===
Setting up your development platform for the ZX Spectrum is quite easy, first get the following tools:

* [https://github.com/z00m128/sjasmplus/releases/latest SjASMPlus (z00m's fork)] - cross-platform open source assembler with nice macros for creating Binaries, TAP, TRD and SNA snapshot files out of the box, embedded Lua scripting and support for similar CPUs (Z80/R800/Z80N/i8080/LR35902).
* Pasmo - for the .TAP create. Available at : http://pasmo.speccy.org
* Emulator(s): I Found [https://www.zophar.net/sinclair/zx-spin.html ZX Sping], [https://sourceforge.net/projects/fuse-emulator/ FUSE], [https://sourceforge.net/projects/unrealspeccyp/ UnrealSpeccy] and [https://www.aptanet.org/eightyone/ EightyOne] to work best for my usecase. Most emulators can read TAP, SNA and TRD files out of the box.

=== Start values ===
Upon startup (when called from basic), the following values can assumed:

* The alternate HL register is set to 0x2758
* BC = start address
* A = C

=== Video display ===
Video display on the ZX Spectrum is mostly CPU based with little hardware features. No hardware sprites, no specific text or video modes, only a 256x192 byte screenbuffer with 1bit pixeldata located at $4000 in memory.
It is ordened a bit strange in 3 sections of 256x64 pixels, then character rows, then subrows.

Address = 010RRLLL RRRCCCCC

* where RRRRR is the row number (0..23)
* CCCCC is the column number (0..31)
* LLL is the line number within the cell (0..7)

Calculating a screen address from XY coordinates is complicated due to the weird screen layout. In a larger demo you would generate a lookup table - it's usually best to avoid such calculations in small demos, but it can be done in under 30 bytes, eg: http://www.breakintoprogram.co.uk/computers/zx-spectrum/screen-memory-layout

==== Adding Color ====
The ZX Spectrum has a 32x24 colormap located at $5800 where you can write color information for each 8x8 tile.
It has has 8 colors (INK and PAPER) with 2 brightness settings that can be set like this.

color = brightness(64) | (PAPER<<3) | INK

Because updating pixel memory can be slow, especially when you are grasping for bytes, some of the tiny intros on the zx spectrum prefer to use the colorram for the effect, sometimes in combination with an overlaying pattern.

==== Border Color ====
You can set the border color to any of the 8 colors with:

<syntaxhighlight lang="z80">
ld a,0 ; bottom three bits of a contain the color
out (254),a
</syntaxhighlight>

=== Memory Configuration ===
128K separated to 8 pages (16384 bytes size)
Default configuration is:

: page 5: $4000-$7fff
: page 2: $8000-$Bfff
: page 0: $C000-$Ffff

There are two screens - page 7 and page 5.
port $7FFD allow to control memory and screens:
: bits 0-2 - page number mapped to memory at $C0000
: bit 3 - Select page 5(0) or page 7(1) to be displayed.
: bit 4 - ROM Select. 0-128K,1-48K

Example of use
<syntaxhighlight lang="z80">
loop: ei
halt
pg: ld a,$17
ld bc,$7ffd
out (c),a
xor $0A
ld (pg+1),a
... do something with $C000-$DB00
jp loop
</syntaxhighlight>

$17 is use 48K, map page 7
After xor $0A we'll get value $1D(use 48K ROM, display screen at page 7 and map page5 at $C000).This is so-called "double buffering".
See also : https://worldofspectrum.org/faq/reference/128kreference.htm

==== Getting something on screen ====
Now to get something on screen, lets fill our colorram with a simple AND pattern, like so:
<syntaxhighlight lang="z80">
ld de,5800h
ld b,24
yloop:
ld c,32
xloop:
ld a,c
and b
and 7 ; make sure range is 0..7
ld (de),a
inc de
dec c
jr nz,xloop
djnz yloop
</syntaxhighlight>

==== Using a Backbuffer ====
While the above code will run fine, you might want to consider using a backbuffer for more complex stuff. You can then simply write to another adress define by BACKBUFFER (for example A000) and copy the buffer to colorram like so:

<syntaxhighlight lang="z80">
halt ; synchronize
ld hl,BACKBUFFER
ld de,5800h
ld bc,768
ldir
</syntaxhighlight>

Another alternative method is to use the 128's memory paging, which provides a second screen buffer. This buffer is located at a different memeory location, but otherwise it is the same:
<syntaxhighlight lang="z80">
; main loop starts here
ld a,00010111b ; set up memory banks and screen here
mainloop
halt ; sync
xor 00001010b ; flip screens
out ($fd),a
push af

; render code goes here
; screen buffer is location at 0xC000 instead of 0x4000

pop af
jr mainloop
</syntaxhighlight>

==== Overlaying simple graphics ====
If you don't want to use a solid color/tile for.
You could copy a single tile across the screen at startup for some flair.
<syntaxhighlight lang="z80">
ld a,0x55 ; 01010101 pattern
ld bc,0x1800
copyloop:
ld (de),a
inc de
dec c
jr nz,copyloop
djnz copyloop
</syntaxhighlight>

Alternatively you could generate a pattern using logic operations or random noise/data.
==== Useful routines ====

<syntaxhighlight lang="z80">
;calculate address of next line,HL=address
down_hl:
INC h
LD A,h
AND 7
RET NZ
LD A,L
ADD A,#20
LD L,A
RET C
LD A,H
SUB 8
LD H,A
RET
</syntaxhighlight>

<syntaxhighlight lang="z80">
;move up at screen, HL=address
up_hl
LD A,H
DEC H
AND 7
ret nz
LD A,L
SUB 32
LD L,A
ret c
LD A,H
ADD A,8
LD H,A
ret
</syntaxhighlight>

<syntaxhighlight lang="z80">
;write pixel
CALL 8933 ; C=X(0..255),B=Y(0..175),5C7D=COORDS
</syntaxhighlight>

<syntaxhighlight lang="z80">
;Calculate vertical line screen Address, IN : A=Y coordinate, OUT : HL=address
py2saddr:
ld l,a
; ld a,l
and $07
ld h,a
ld a,l
and $c0
rra
inc a
rrca
rrca
or h
ld h,a
ld a,l
add a
add a
and $e0
ld l,a
</syntaxhighlight>

<syntaxhighlight lang="z80">
;Calculate Attribute address, IB: reg D=Y,reg E=X, OUT: HL=address, destroys DE
ld l,d
add hl,hl
add hl,hl
ld h,$11
add hl,hl
add hl,hl
add hl,hl
ld d,0
add hl,de
</syntaxhighlight>

or alter version
<syntaxhighlight lang="z80">
;H=Y coordinate,L=X coordinate
ld a,h
rrca
rrca
rrca
push af
and 3
add a,$58
ld h,a
pop af
and %11100000
add a,l
ld l,a
</syntaxhighlight>

calculate Pixel coordinate
<syntaxhighlight lang="z80">
;IN: A=X coordinate,C=L=Y coordinate
;OUT: HL=screen address,A=bit value
call #22B0
</syntaxhighlight>

=== Sound ===
The original Spectrum has only a 1 bit sound capability (BEEP) through its internal speaker.
Later models included the AY-3-8910 Soundchip which provides 3 channels of PSG sound.

==== Make some noise - Beeper ====
Setting/toggling bit 4 of port 254 will enable the beeper speaker.

<syntaxhighlight lang="z80">
ld a,$10 ;Bit 4 set
beeploop: xor $10 ;toggle Bit 4
out (254),a
ld b,90 ;wait
djnz $
jp beeploop
</syntaxhighlight>
Note that the bottom three bits of port 254 also set the border color (see above).

==== Make some noise - AY ====
You can access the AY soundchip by outputting to the following ports:

<syntaxhighlight lang="z80">
ld bc,0xfffd
ld a, ay register number
out (c),a
ld b,0xbf
ld a, data byte
out (c),a
</syntaxhighlight>

For more information about the soundchip, check out:
https://www.atarimagazines.com/v4n7/stsound.html

=== Additional Resources ===
I found resources on ZX Spectrum sizecoding to be sparse.
* All kinds of Z80 Information http://www.z80.info/index.htm
* Another source for good Z80 Information http://z80-heaven.wikidot.com
* Assembler subforum on world of spectrum https://worldofspectrum.org/forums/categories/assembler
* Development subforum on Spectrum Computing https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/forums/viewforum.php?f=6
* Blogpost on ZX Spectrum coding from a X86 coder's perspective on superogue's sizecdoing blog http://marquee.revival-studios.com/blog/blog_fluxus.html
* Easy to read list of all Z80 instructions (including undocumented ones) with size and timing information https://clrhome.org/table/
* Detailed information on the screen layout http://www.overtakenbyevents.com/lets-talk-about-the-zx-specrum-screen-layout/ http://www.overtakenbyevents.com/lets-talk-about-the-zx-specrum-screen-layout-part-two/ and http://www.overtakenbyevents.com/lets-talk-about-the-zx-specrum-screen-layout-part-three/

=== Small demos with documented source code ===
* Ceci N'est Pas Un Cube by Ate Bit https://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=29691
* Zxwister by Ate Bit https://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=44123
* Muse by Ate Bit https://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=62880
* Starlet Guitarlet by HOOY-PROGRAM https://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=52553
* Clangers On The Dancefloor by HOOY-PROGRAM https://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=29696
* Chessington World Of Adventure by HOOY-PROGRAM https://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=76074
* Roll Me Gently by Joker https://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=86338

@@ Line 161: / Line 161: @@
 Alternatively you can use the built-in, but very slow, ROM routines to plot pixels and some other primitives:
-Calculate Pixel coordinate:
+==== Calculate Pixel coordinate: ====
 <syntaxhighlight lang="z80">
 ;IN: A=X coordinate,C=L=Y coordinate
@@ Line 168: / Line 168: @@
 </syntaxhighlight>
-Plot Pixel:
+==== Plot Pixel: ====
 <syntaxhighlight lang="z80">
 ;write pixel

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:53, 15 April 2024
Line 158:		Line 158:
	</syntaxhighlight>		</syntaxhighlight>

−	~~=== Sinus Generator Routines ===~~

	=== Other Useful routines ===		=== Other Useful routines ===

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 * BC = start address
 * A = C
 === Memory Configuration ===
@@ Line 80: / Line 52: @@
 === Graphics ===
-==== Getting something on screen ====
+==== Getting something on screen using the COLORRAM====
 Now to get something on screen, lets fill our colorram with a simple AND pattern, like so:
 <syntaxhighlight lang="z80">
@@ Line 127: / Line 126: @@
 </syntaxhighlight>
-==== Overlaying simple graphics ====
+==== Overlaying simple character/pixel graphics ====
 If you don't want to use a solid color/tile for.
 You could copy a single tile across the screen at startup for some flair.
@@ Line 142: / Line 141: @@
 Alternatively you could generate a pattern using predefined data, logic operations or random noise/data.
 === ROM Routines ===
-calculate Pixel coordinate
+Calculate Pixel coordinate
 <syntaxhighlight lang="z80">
 ;IN: A=X coordinate,C=L=Y coordinate

@@ Line 78: / Line 78: @@
 After xor $0A we'll get value $1D(use 48K ROM, display screen at page 7 and map page5 at $C000).This is so-called "double buffering".
 See also : https://worldofspectrum.org/faq/reference/128kreference.htm
 ==== Getting something on screen ====
@@ Line 141: / Line 143: @@
 Alternatively you could generate a pattern using predefined data, logic operations or random noise/data.
-==== Useful routines ====
+=== ROM Routines ===
 <syntaxhighlight lang="z80">
@@ Line 175: / Line 194: @@
       LD H,A
   ret
 </syntaxhighlight>
@@ Line 234: / Line 248: @@
 </syntaxhighlight>
 === Sound ===

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 * The alternate HL register is set to 0x2758
 * BC = start address
 * A = C

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 * Pasmo - for the .TAP create. Available at : http://pasmo.speccy.org
 * Emulator(s): I Found [https://www.zophar.net/sinclair/zx-spin.html ZX Sping], [https://sourceforge.net/projects/fuse-emulator/ FUSE], [https://sourceforge.net/projects/unrealspeccyp/ UnrealSpeccy] and [https://www.aptanet.org/eightyone/ EightyOne] to work best for my usecase. Most emulators can read TAP, SNA and TRD files out of the box.
 === Start values ===