Overview ABASM is a modern Z80 assembler created by fragarco and integrated into DevCPC. It provides cross-platform Z80 assembly compilation with support for macros, includes, and various output formats.
Key Features
✅ Z80 instruction set - Full Zilog Z80 support
✅ Macros - Reusable code blocks
✅ Include files - Modular code organization
✅ Multiple outputs - Binary, symbols, listings
✅ Python-based - Cross-platform compatibility
✅ Built-in - No separate installation needed
ABASM is included with DevCPC and automatically used when you run devcpc build.
Usage in DevCPC ABASM is automatically invoked during the build process:
DevCPC runs ABASM with appropriate flags for:
ASM compilation (8BP and pure ASM projects)
Load address configuration
Symbol generation
Listing file creation
Assembly Syntax Basic Structure ; Simple Z80 program org & 4000 ; Origin address start: ld hl, message ; Load address call print ; Call subroutine ret print: ld a, (hl) ; Load character or a ; Check if zero ret z ; Return if end call &BB5A ; Firmware TXT OUTPUT inc hl ; Next character jr print ; Loop message: db "Hello, CPC!", 0
Macros ; Define macro macro PRINT_CHAR char ld a, char call &BB5A ; TXT OUTPUT endm ; Use macro PRINT_CHAR 'A' PRINT_CHAR 'B' PRINT_CHAR 'C'
Include Files include "firmware.asm" include "sprites.asm" org & 4000 call fw_clear_screen call draw_sprite ret
; Firmware routines fw_clear_screen: call &BC14 ; GRA CLEAR WINDOW ret fw_set_ink: call &BC38 ; GRA SET PEN ret
Command Line (Manual) While DevCPC handles ABASM automatically, you can run it manually:
# Compile assembly file python3 ~/.DevCPC/tools/abasm/src/abasm.py -i main.asm -o main.bin # Generate listing python3 ~/.DevCPC/tools/abasm/src/abasm.py -i main.asm -o main.bin -l main.lst # Set load address python3 ~/.DevCPC/tools/abasm/src/abasm.py -i main.asm -o main.bin -a 0x4000
Output Files ABASM generates:
Binary (.bin) Compiled machine code:
8BP0.bin # 8BP level 0 8BP1.bin # 8BP level 1 program.bin # Pure ASM output
Listing (.lst) Detailed compilation output:
0000 org &4000 4000 21 10 40 ld hl, message 4003 CD 20 40 call print 4006 C9 ret
Map (.map) Symbol table:
start = &4000 print = &4020 message = &4010
Integration with 8BP For 8BP projects, ABASM compiles:
; BUILD_LEVEL set by DevCPC ASSEMBLING_OPTION = 0 ; Include 8BP library include "8bitsDePoder_v043_001.asm" ; Your game code include "make_graficos_mygame.asm" include "make_codigo_mygame.asm" include "sprites.asm"
DevCPC automatically:
Sets ASSEMBLING_OPTION based on BUILD_LEVEL
Compiles with appropriate load address
Generates output binaries (8BP0.bin, 8BP1.bin, etc.)
Creates symbol files for debugging
Libraries ABASM includes libraries:
cpcrslib ; Include cpcrslib sprite functions include "lib/cpcrslib/sprite/putsp.asm" ; Use library function ld hl, sprite_data ld de, &C000 call cpc_PutSp
cpctelera ; Include CPCtelera functions include "lib/cpctelera/sprites/cpct_drawSprite.asm" ; Use CPCtelera ld hl, sprite ld de, &C050 call cpct_drawSprite
Directives Supported assembly directives:
org & 4000 ; Set origin address db "text", 0 ; Define bytes dw & 1234 , & 5678 ; Define words ds 100 ; Define space (reserve bytes) equ value = 42 ; Define constant if DEBUG ; Conditional assembly ; debug code endif
Error Messages Common ABASM errors:
Error: Undefined symbol 'mylabel'
Solution: Check spelling and ensure label is defined: mylabel: ; Define label ret
Error: Invalid instruction
Solution: Check Z80 instruction syntax: ld a, 0 ; Correct load a, 0 ; Invalid - use 'ld'
Error: Cannot open file 'sprites.asm'
Solution: Check include path is relative to current file: include "sprites.asm" ; Same directory include "../common.asm" ; Parent directory
Official Documentation
ASM Project Example Complete pure ASM project
Compiling Code Build process details
Credits ABASM created by fragarco ABASM repository