zmakebas converts a Spectrum Basic program written as a text file into an actual speccy Basic file (as a .TAP file, or optionally a raw headerless file).
Using zmakebas rather than (say) writing the Basic in an emulator
means you can write using a nicer editor, and can use tools which work
on text files, etc. Also, with the -l option you can write without
line numbers, using labels in their place where necessary.
The program was originally intended to be used simply to make little loader programs, so they wouldn't have to be sourceless binaries. However, I went to a fair amount of effort to make sure it'd work for bigger, more serious programs too, so you can also use it for that kind of thing.
While I think zmakebas should be fairly portable, I've only ever
compiled it on Linux and MS-DOS. Things should be ok for Linux as-is -
just do make then (as root) make install.
See the man page for details of how to use zmakebas.
There's a short demo file showing the use of escape sequences for UDGs
and block graphics characters etc. here, named demo.bas. You can use
zmakebas demo.bas to generate an out.tap file from it. A version
using labels is in demolbl.bas, which can be converted with
zmakebas -l demolbl.bas.
You can email me at russell.marks@ntlworld.com.
Share and enjoy!
-Rus.