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--- sd-8516_programmer_s_reference_guide [2026/01/08 17:15] – created appledog
+++ sd-8516_programmer_s_reference_guide [2026/01/08 17:57] (current) – appledog
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 * Memory: 256KB addressable via 4-bank system
 * ~20× performance improvement over legacy 8510 design
+<blockquote>The SD-8516 PROGRAMMER'S REFERENCE GUIDE has been developed as a working tool and reference source for those of you who want to maximize your use of the built-in capabilitiesof your VC-3 Computer System. This manual contains the information you need for your programs, from the simplest example allthe way to the most complex. The PROGRAMMER'S REFERENCE GUIDE is designed so that everyone from the beginning BASIC programmer to the professional experienced in SD-8516 machine language can get information to develop his or her own creative programs. At the same time this book shows you how clever your SD-8516 really is.
+This REFERENCE GUIDE is not designed to teach the BASIC programming language or the SD-8516 machine language. There is, however, an extensive glossary of terms and a "semi-tutorial" approach to many of the sections in the book. If you don't already have a working knowledge of BASIC and how to use it to program, we suggest that you study the SD-8516 USER'S GUIDE that came with your computer. The USER'S GUIDE gives you an easy to read introduction to the BASIC programming language. If you still have difficulty understanding how to use BASIC then turn to the back of this book (or Appendix N in the USER'S GUIDE) and check out the Bibliography.
+The SD-8516 PROGRAMMER'S REFERENCE GUIDE is just that; a reference. Like most reference books, your ability to
+apply the information creatively really depends on how much knowledge you have about the subject. In other words if you are a novice programmer you will not be able to use all the facts and figures in this book until you expand your current programming knowledge.
+What you can do with this book is to find a considerable amount of valuable programming reference information written in easy to read, plain English with the programmer's jargon explained. On the other hand the programming professional will find all the information needed to use the capabilities of the SD-8516 effectively.
+WHAT'S INCLUDED?
+* Our complete "BASIC dictionary" includes Commodore BASIC language commands, statements and functions listed in alphabetical order. We've created a "quick list" which contains all the words and their abbreviations. This is followed by a section containing a more detailed definition of each word along with sample BASIC programs to illustrate how they work.
+* If you need an introduction to using machine language with BASIC programs our layman's overview will get you started.
+* A powerful feature of all VC systems is called the KERNAL. It helps insure that the programs you write today can also be used on the VC-3 system of tomorrow.
+* The Input/Output Programming section gives you the opportunity to use your computer to the limit. It describes how to hook-up and use everything from disk drives, to telecommunication devices called modems.
+* You can explore the world of SPRITES, programmable characters, and high resolution graphics for the most detailed and advanced animated pictures in the microcomputer industry.
+* You can also enter the world of music synthesis and create your own songs and sound effects with the best built-in synthesizer available in any personal computer.
+* If you're an experienced programmer, the soft load language section gives you information about the 64's ability to run C and other high level languages. This is in addition to BASIC.
+Think of your SD-8516 PROGRAMMER'S REFERENCE GUIDE as a useful tool to help you and you will enjoy the hours of programming ahead of you.</blockquote>
 == System Lore
@@ Line 93: / Line 113: @@
 **Bank allocation:**
-* Bank 0: System RAM, program space
+* Bank 0: User Programming Space
-* Bank 1: Audio samples and sound registers
+* Bank 1: KERNAL and Operating System
 * Bank 2: Primary video framebuffer + palette
 * Bank 3: Secondary video buffer (high-resolution modes)
+Banks 2 and 3 are free for use in text mode and bank 3 is usually free in the lower-resolution video modes.
 === System Variables
@@ Line 146: / Line 168: @@
 |= Instruction |= Description |= Flags Affected |
 | ADD | Add | Z, N, C, V |
-| ADDB | Add bytes | Z, N, C, V |
 | SUB | Subtract | Z, N, C, V |
-| SUBB | Subtract bytes | Z, N, C, V |
 | MUL | Multiply (result in AB) | Z, N |
-| MULB | Multiply bytes | Z, N |
 | DIV | Divide (quotient in A, remainder in B) | Z, N |
-| DIVB | Divide bytes | Z, N |
 | MOD | Modulo | Z, N |
-| MODB | Modulo bytes | Z, N |
 | INC | Increment | Z, N |
 | DEC | Decrement | Z, N |
@@ Line 162: / Line 179: @@
 |= Instruction |= Description |= Flags Affected |
 | AND | Bitwise AND | Z, N |
-| ANDB | Bitwise AND (byte) | Z, N |
 | OR | Bitwise OR | Z, N |
-| ORB | Bitwise OR (byte) | Z, N |
 | XOR | Bitwise XOR | Z, N |
-| XORB | Bitwise XOR (byte) | Z, N |
 | NOT | Bitwise NOT | Z, N |
-| NOTB | Bitwise NOT (byte) | Z, N |
 | TEST | Bitwise AND (no write) | Z, N |
-| TESTB | Bitwise AND byte (no write) | Z, N |
 === Shift/Rotate Operations
@@ Line 176: / Line 188: @@
 |= Instruction |= Description |= Flags Affected |
 | SHL | Shift left | Z, N, C |
-| SHLB | Shift left byte | Z, N, C |
 | SHR | Shift right | Z, N, C |
-| SHRB | Shift right byte | Z, N, C |
 | ROL | Rotate left | Z, N, C |
-| ROLB | Rotate left byte | Z, N, C |
 | ROR | Rotate right | Z, N, C |
-| RORB | Rotate right byte | Z, N, C |
 === Comparison & Branching
@@ Line 188: / Line 196: @@
 |= Instruction |= Description |= Flags Affected |
 | CMP | Compare (subtract, discard result) | Z, N, C, V |
-| CMPB | Compare bytes | Z, N, C, V |
 | JMP | Unconditional jump | None |
 | JZ | Jump if zero | None |
@@ Line 194: / Line 201: @@
 | JC | Jump if carry set | None |
 | JNC | Jump if carry clear | None |
-| JN | Jump if negative | None |
-| JNN | Jump if not negative | None |
-| JV | Jump if overflow | None |
-| JNV | Jump if no overflow | None |
-| JL | Jump if less (signed) | None |
-| JNL | Jump if not less | None |
-| JG | Jump if greater (signed) | None |
-| JNG | Jump if not greater | None |
 === Subroutine Operations
@@ Line 212: / Line 211: @@
 | PUSHA | Push all registers |
 | POPA | Pop all registers |
+| INT | Software interrupt |
-=== System Operations
+=== Flag Operations
 |= Instruction |= Description |
-| NOP | No operation |
-| HALT | Halt CPU (set H flag) |
-| INT | Software interrupt |
-| TICK | Performance counter tick |
 | SSI | Enable Sound System Interrupts |
 | CSI | Clear Sound System Interrupts |
@@ Line 230: / Line 226: @@
 | SEV | Set overflow flag |
 | CLV | Clear overflow flag |
+=== System Operations
+|= Instruction |= Description |
+| CART | Cartridge trigger, used for Cartridge BASIC and others. |
+| YIELD | Poll UI, System Clock, Sound Chip, Video Chip, and others |
+| NOP | No operation |
+| HALT | Halt CPU (set H flag) |
 == Sound System (SD-450)
@@ Line 250: / Line 253: @@
 **Voice base addresses:**
-* Voice 0: {{{$ED00}}}
+* Voice 0: {{{$1ED00}}}
-* Voice 1: {{{$ED10}}}
+* Voice 1: {{{$1ED10}}}
-* Voice 2: {{{$ED20}}}
+* Voice 2: {{{$1ED20}}}
-* Voice 3: {{{$ED30}}}
+* Voice 3: {{{$1ED30}}}
 === Waveforms
@@ Line 276: / Line 279: @@
 ; Play middle C on voice 0
 LDA $112B           ; C4 frequency (262 Hz / 0.0596)
-STA [$ED00]         ; FREQ_LO/HI
+STA [$1ED00]         ; FREQ_LO/HI
 LDAL $01            ; Square wave
-STAL [$ED02]        ; GATE
+STAL [$1ED02]        ; GATE
 LDAL $4D            ; ~30% volume
-STAL [$ED03]        ; VOLUME
+STAL [$1ED03]        ; VOLUME
 }}}
@@ Line 484: / Line 487: @@
 **Measured Performance:**
 * Clock speed: 10 MHz base, up to 100 MHz
-* Sustained MIPS: 60 MIPS (i7-12700k)
+* Sustained MIPS: 70 MIPS (i7-12700k)
-* Memory bandwidth: ~280 MB/s
+* Memory bandwidth: ~540 MB/s
 * Sound system overhead: < 5% CPU time
 * Video refresh: 60 Hz (16.67ms frame time)