Klive IDE Project

Quick links:

How You Can Contribute

I run this project for fun (my first computer was a ZX 81, and then I got a ZX Spectrum 48K). I never plan to earn money from this project; however, I am looking for networking opportunities and collaboration with Sinclair computer fans.

Klive is entirely written in TypeScript (using the Electron Shell and React). I'd be happy if you could contribute to the project, whether just mending documentation or other text typos, making small changes, fixing bugs, or even adding new features.

If you're interested, contact me through dotneteer@hotmail.com!

What Klive IDE Is

Klive IDE is a Sinclair retro computer emulator and Integrated Development Environment running on Mac, Linux and Windows.

Klive offers not only the emulators but also debugging views, a multi-pane code editor, interactive commands, and other tools to create your Z80 Assembly and ZX BASIC (Boriel's Basic) programs.

Klive IDE supports dual monitor mode to place the Emulator and IDE on different monitors while working with code.

Supported Emulators

Klive IDE intends to support retro computers with the Z80 family of CPUs. Klive supports these emulators:

ZX Spectrum 48K
ZX Spectrum 128K
ZX Spectrum +2E/+3E
Cambridge Z88
ZX Spectrum Next (in progress)
ZX 80/81 (in the future)

Emulator Features

The emulator can run the selected machine with or without debugging. These modes can be changed without restarting the running machine:

Starting, pausing, continuing to run
Start or continue in debug mode
Setting up breakpoints, step-in, step-over, step-out modes

To examine the state of the emulator, Klive offers several views:

Full CPU view
Full ULA view
Memory view with live refresh
Disassembly view with execution point tracking
Monitoring system variable values
Displaying (and exporting) the current BASIC listing

You can quickly load and play programs (games) from files:

Loading tape files (.tap and .tzx)
Fast load
Loading from disk files (.dsk) with ZX Spectrum +3E
Writing and formatting disk (.dsk) files (in progress)

Other emulator features:

Visual keyboard (ZX Spectrum 48K and ZX Spectrum 128K styles)
Multiplying CPU clock speed (1-24 multiplier)
Setting up the sound level, muting and unmuting sound

Planned features (in the future):

Using custom machine ROMs
Memory read/write breakpoints
I/O read/write breakpoints
Breakpoints with hit count conditions

IDE Features

The IDE allows you to open project folders that keep the files belonging to a particular (development) project together. You can use Z80 Assembly language (with the built-in Klive Z80 Assembler) and ZX BASIC (Boriel's Basic) as your programming language.

Syntax highlighting
Source code debugging (works with the Klive Z80 Assembler)
Exporting the compiled code to tape files (.tap and `.tzx) with BASIC loaders

Klive's unique feature is the one-click start and debugging: With a click of one button, your code is compiled and injected into the selected emulator and immediately starts up. You can start your code with debugging (or pause it and continue with debugging).

Commands: The IDE has an interactive command panel to issue CLI commands executed within the IDE.