xdt99: TI 99 Cross-Development Tools

The TI 99 Cross-Development Tools (xdt99) are a suite of programs that facilitate the development of programs for the 9900 family of home computers on modern computer systems. The suite comprises these tools:

• xas99: A TMS 9900 and related cross-assembler
• xga99: A GPL cross-assembler
• xbas99: A TI BASIC and TI Extended BASIC lister and encoder
• xda99: A TMS 9900 disassembler
• xdg99: A GPL disassembler
• xdm99: A disk manager for sector-based TI disk images
• xhm99: A manager for HFE images used by HxC floppy emulators
• xvm99: A volume manager for nanoPEB/CF7+ Compact Flash cards
• xdt99-mode: A major mode for the GNU Emacs text editor
• xdt99 IDEA: A plugin for the IntelliJ IDEA development environment

The xas99 cross-assembler supports all documented TMS9900 opcodes and should assemble any existing assembly code for the TI 99 without modification. Object code generated by xas99 is identical to compressed or uncompressed object code produced by the original TI Editor/Assembler package. Modern extensions such as local labels and macro support simplify the writing of assembly programs on modern hardware. The F18A GPU instruction set is also supported.

The xga99 GPL cross-assembler generates GROM image files for TI's proprietary Graphics Programming Language (GPL). The GPL assembler is a quick way to translate self-written GPL programs into RPK cartridge files that can be run with the MESS emulator.

The xbas99 BASIC tool encodes TI BASIC and TI Extended BASIC programs into their internal format that can be loaded by the BASIC interpreter using the OLD command. Conversely, the tool also lists BASIC program files similarly to the LIST command.

The xda99 and xdg99 disassembler generate source code from machine code or GPL bytecode files, respectively. In addition to regular top-down disassembly, both disassemblers also support a run mode that follows the program flow statically.

The xdm99 disk manager works with sector-based TI disk images used by most emulators, including MESS. xdm99 also supports disk-less files in TIFiles and V9T9 format. The xvm99 volume manager extends the xdm99 functionality to CF cards used by the nanoPEB/CF7+ devices. Similarly, xhm99 extends xdm99 to HFE images used by the HxC floppy emulators.

The xdt99-mode and xdt99 IDEA plugins provide editor support for writing assembly and TI Extended BASIC programs using the GNU Emacs and the IntelliJ IDEA development environments, respectively. Plugin features include syntax highlighting, navigation, and semantic renaming, among others.

For additional information, please refer to the xdt99 homepage or the xdt99 manual. Windows users unfamiliar with working with the command line will find some platform-specific information in the Windows tutorial.

Latest version: 3.6.2

The latest binary distribution of xdt99 is available on the project releases page on GitHub. xdt99 requires Python 3.8 or higher and runs on any platform that Python supports, including Linux, Windows, and macOS.

xdt99 is released under the GNU GPLv3. All sources are available on GitHub.

Download and Installation

Download the latest binary release from GitHub. Alternatively, clone the entire xdt99 GitHub repository.

Because of dependencies between invividual tools, all xdt99 files should be placed into the same directory somewhere in your $PATH or wherever your Python installation will find them.

The xdt99-mode and xdt99 IDEA plugins provide editor support for creating or editing assembly, GPL, or TI (Extended) BASIC programs. The plugins can be used independenly of the other xdt99 tools.

First-time xdt99 users running Windows will find additional information about installation and getting started in the Windows tutorial. Users of other platforms who are unfamiliar with the command line may also benefit from that guide.

Basic Usage: xas99

This is just a brief overview of the most common usages for xas99. For detailed information, please refer to the xdt99 homepage or the manual included with xdt99.

Generate object code for the Editor/Assembler cartridge, option 3:

$ xas99.py [-R] [-C] <source file>

Generate program image for the Editor/Assembler cartridge, option 5:

$ xas99.py -i [-R] <source file>

Generate cartridge file for the MESS emulator:

$ xas99.py -c [-R] <source file>

Generate program image embedded in Extended BASIC loader:

$ xas99.py --embed-xb <source file>

Generate raw binary data files:

$ xbas99.py -b [--base <addr>] <source file>

Generate C-style text file with byte values of resulting binary:

$ xbas99.py -t c2 <source file>

Generate list file showing assigned addresses and generated data:

$ xas99.py <source file> -L <list file>

For a complete overview of the available command-line options, see xas99.py -h.

xas99 offers many language extensions and new features compared to the original Editor/Assembler cartridge:

• Relaxed syntax (e.g., labels, comments, whitespace, case insensitivity)
• Improved expressions (e.g., Boolean operators, binary numbers, parentheses)
• Label continuations and local labels (e.g., ! dec r0; jne -!)
• New directives (e.g., BCOPY, XORG, SAVE, FLOA)
• Pseudo-addressing modes (e.g., s#, w#)
• Conditional assembly (e.g., .ifdef)
• Macros (.defm)
• Warnings about usage, optimizations, gotchas
• Linker for object code files and other formats

Please refer to the xdt99 manual for a detailed description of these features.

Basic Usage: xga99

This is just a brief overview of the most common usages for xga99. For detailed information, please refer to the xdt99 homepage or the manual included with xdt99.

Assemble GPL source file into GPL byte code:

$ xga99.py <source file>

Generate image file for GROM/GRAM device:

$ xga99.py -i <source file>

Generate cartridge file for the MESS emulator:

$ xga99.py -c <source file>

Assemble source file using "RAG GPL Assembler" syntax style:

$ xga99.py <source file> -s rag

For a complete overview of the available command-line options, see xga99.py -h.

xga99 offers various language extensions similar to xas99:

• Relaxed syntax (e.g., labels, comments, whitespace, case insensitivity)
• Label continuations and local labels (:, !)
• New directives (e.g., BCOPY, FLOAT)
• Conditional assembly (e.g., .ifdef)
• Macros (.defm)

Please refer to the xdt99 manual for a detailed description of these features.

Basic Usage: xbas99

This is just a brief overview of the most common usages for xbas99. For detailed information, please refer to the xdt99 homepage or the manual included with xdt99.

Print TI BASIC or TI Extended BASIC program on screen:

$ xbas99.py -p <program file>

Decode BASIC program to source format (i.e., list to file):

$ xbas99.py -d <program file> [-o <output file>]

Create BASIC program for interpreter from source listing:

$ xbas99.py [-c] <source file> [-o <output file>]

Create BASIC program from source listing with labels instead of line numbers:

$ xbas99.py [-c] -l <source file> [-o <output file>]

List BASIC program stored on disk image (advanced use):

$ xdm99.py <disk image> -p <prog name> | xbas99.py -l -

For a complete overview of the available command-line options, see xbas99.py -h.

xbas99 also offers some advances features:

• Automatically joining split lines (i.e., "type-in listing mode")
• Using labels instead of line numbers

Please refer to the xdt99 manual for a detailed description of these features.

Basic Usage: xda99

Since xda99 and xdg99 are very similar, this short description applies to both tools.

This is just a brief overview of the most common usages for xda99. For detailed information, please refer to the xdt99 homepage or the manual included with xdt99.

Disassemble binary top-down:

$ xda99.py <binary file> -d -a <bin addr> [-f <from addr>]

Disassemble with run simulation:

$ xda99.py <binary file> -a <bin addr> [-f <from addr>]

Disassemble with run simulation and additional starting points:

$ xda99.py <binary file> -a <bin addr> -r <addr> [...]

Disassemble using a list of symbols:

$ xda99.py <binary file> -a <bin addr> -S <symbol file>

For a complete overview of the available command-line options, see xda99.py -h.

Basic Usage: xdm99

This is just a brief overview of the most common usages for xdm99. For detailed information, please refer to the xdt99 homepage or the manual included with xdt99.

Print disk catalog on screen:

$ xdm99.py <disk image>

Extract one or more files from disk image to local file system:

$ xdm99.py <disk image> -e <file> ...

Extract files in TIFiles or v9t9 format:

$ xdm99.py <disk image> -t -e <file> ...
$ xdm99.py <disk image> -9 -e <file> ...

Print file contents to screen:

$ xdm99.py <disk image> -p <file> ...

Add local files to disk image:

$ xdm99.py <disk image> -a <file> ... [-f <format>] [-n <name>]

Rename file on disk image:

$ xdm99.py <disk image> -r <old name>:<new name> ...

Delete file on disk image:

$ xdm99.py <disk image> -d <file> ...

Convert TIFiles files or v9t9 files to plain files:

$ xdm99.py -F <TIFiles file> ...
$ xdm99.py -F <TIFiles file> ... -9

Convert plain files to TIFiles files or v9t9 files:

$ xdm99.py -T <plain file> ... [-f <format>] [-n <name>]
$ xdm99.py -T <plain file> ... -9 [-f <format>] [-n <name>]

Print contents of TIFiles file:

$ xdm99.py -P <TIFiles file>

Initialize blank disk:

$ xdm99.py <disk image> --initialize <size> [-n <name>]

Resize disk image:

$ xdm99.py <disk image> -Z <sectors>

Repair disk image with corrupt files or other inconsistencies:

$ xdm99.py -R <disk image>

Override disk geometry:

$ xdm99.py <filename> --set-geometry <geometry>

Print sector dump:

$ xdm99.py <disk image> -S <sector>

For a complete overview of the available command-line options, see xdm99.py -h.

Basic Usage: xhm99

This is just a brief overview of the most common usages for xhm99. For detailed information, please refer to the xdt99 homepage or the manual included with xdt99.

Convert disk image to HFE image:

$ xhm99.py -T <disk image> [-o <HFE image>]

Convert HFE image to disk image:

$ xhm99.py -F <HFE image> [-o <disk image>]

Show disk catalog:

$ xhm99.py <HFE image>

Additionally, xhm99 supports all commands of xdm99.

Add or remove files to/from image:

$ xhm99.py <HFE file> -a <files> ... [-n <name>] [-f <format>] [-t | -9]
$ xhm99.py <HFE file> -e <files> ...

Create new image (and add a file to it):

$ xhm99.py <HFE file> -X <size> [-a <files> ...]

Resize image (e.g., DSDD/40T to DSSD/80T):

$ xhm99.py <HFE file> -Z <size>

For a complete overview of the available command-line options, see xhm99.py -h.

Basic Usage: xvm99

This is just a brief overview of the most common usages for xvm99. For detailed information, please refer to the xdt99 homepage or the manual included with xdt99.

Show information about volumes:

$ xvm99.py <device> <volumes>

Read disk images from volumes:

$ xvm99.py <device> <volumes> -r <filename> [--keep-size]

Write disk image to volumes:

$ xvm99.py <device> <volumes> -w <disk image> [--keep-size]

<device> is the platform-specific name of the Compact Flash card drive, e.g., /dev/sd<X> on Linux, /dev/Disk<X> on Mac OS X, or \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE<X> on Windows.

<volumes> is a single value or a combination of values and ranges, e.g., 1,3-4,6-10. If more than one volume is supplied, the same command is applied to all volumes.

Additionally, xvm99 extends most of the functionality of xdm99 to disk volumes.

Print disk catalog of one or more volumes:

$ xvm99.py <device> <volumes> -i

Add file to one or more volumes:

$ xvm99.py <device> <volumes> -a <file> [-n <name>] [-f <format>] [-t | -9]

For a complete overview of the available command-line options, see xvm99.py -h.

Contact Information

The xdt99 tools are released under the GNU GPL, in the hope that TI 99 enthusiasts may find them useful.

Please email all feedback and bug reports to the developer at r@0x01.de.