The ZX COMPILER is a program, written in basic and machine code that will change a program in ‘BASIC’ into machine code. This can be used to create programs or sub routines that can run up to twenty or thirty times faster than normal BASIC! Because the ZX81 only has a capacity of 16K ram the compiler works in an integer-only, sub-set of BASIC. To save even more space commands have been left out that are not needed, for example REM:- which is not needed in compiled programs any way and INPUT:- which can be made by a routine using gets and if…..then statements. Once your program to be compiled is written, you run the compiler. After a period of fast mode, the program ‘NEWS’ itself and leaves you with a single rem statement containing the machine code (it looks like random junk). Once written you may either call the code from within a program or directly from the keyboard using LET X = USR 16595.
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