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). By default, input comes from stdin, and output goes to ‘out.tap’.
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.
Special Characters
Ryan Gray has made two excellent reference sheets to the ZX81/TS1000 and TS2068 character sets. These sheets include the special character strings necessary to enter those characters when entering programs in a text editor and compiling them with Zmakebas.