This walkthrough will show you how to create, edit, compile and debug assembly programs for the ZX81.
If it is not yet the case, install the ZX81-Debugger extension in Visual Studio Code. In Visual Studio Code, click on the Extensions icons on the Activity Bar on the side and search for "ZX81-Debugger" (andrivet.zx81-debugger). Click on Install.
If the Welcome screen is not visible, click on Welcome in the Help menu.
A list of Walkthroughs is displayed on the right. Click on More to see all the available Walkthroughs.
Choose Get Started with ZX81 Debugger.
The ZX81 Debugger Walkthrough appears with its first step.
In this first step, you will create a new ZX81 Assembly file. Click on the Create a ZX81 assembler file button. In the list of types of files, choose ZX81 Assembly File.
The new file appears on the right.
Click on the next step. In this step, you will enter some assembly code. Click on the Paste Example code button to paste some code in the new file. This code will display HELLO WORLD on the first line of the screen.
Click on the next step. In this step, you will save the file. Click on the Save the ZX81 file button.
Give a name to the file such as hello-world.zx81 and choose a location to save it. It is important to use the .zx81 extension to avoid conflicts with other extensions you may have installed.
Click on the next step. We are now ready to debug. Click on the Show Run and Debug button.
This opens the Run and Debug panel on the left. Then click on the Run and Debug button.
Note: There is no need to create a launch.json file set define a debug configuration. The ZX81 Debugger will use a suitable one automatically.
The ZX81 Simulator appears on the right and the debugger stops on the first line of the code with a Z80 instruction.
Note: The file is compiled automatically using a built-in Z80 assembler. There is no need to use an external tool.
To have more space, you can close the Welcome panel.
To learn how to debug this example program, look at Debug Hello-World Program - A Step-by-Step Guide.