CVBasic compiler v0.9.1

(c) Copyright 2024-2026 Óscar Toledo Gutiérrez https://nanochess.org/

CVBasic is a BASIC language cross-compiler with a syntax alike to QBasic. It supports the Tatung Einstein alongside a number of other retro platforms that share the same TMS9128/9129 video processor family: Colecovision, Sega SG-1000/SC-3000, MSX 1/2, Texas Instruments TI-99/4A, Spectravideo SVI-318/328, Sord M5, Memotech MTX, Vtech Creativision, Casio PV2000, Hanimex/Soundic Pencil II, NABU PC, Sega Master System, and NES/Famicom.

Compiling for the Tatung Einstein

cvbasic --einstein game.bas game.asm
gasm80 game.asm -o game.com

This produces a Tatung Einstein .COM file. Gasm80, the Z80 assembler CVBasic hands its output to, is available from github.com/nanochess/gasm80 (this assembler serves for all the platforms, including the 6502-based Creativision).

Einstein-specific limits

The Tatung Einstein can only use binaries up to 32 kb. The keyboard is handled as controller 1 (the joystick is not used), and it can also emulate the Colecovision keypad (CONT1.KEY only) using the keys 0-9, Del/Ins and Enter.

Everything else

CVBasic's full language reference, installation instructions, and documentation for every other supported platform live in the upstream README rather than being reproduced here — see the CVBasic repository on GitHub.