BAS2XEX: Convert Atari BAS files to DOS loadable programs

This is a little utility that adds an assembly loader to an Atari BASIC file to convert to a DOS loadable format (XEX file).

The loader also automatically enables BASIC ROM in the XL/XE computers before loading and running the program.

Download

Download the source or the compiled binaries from github releases, at: https://github.com/dmsc/bas2xex/releases

Usage

To convert a BAS file to a XEX file, use the command:

    bas2xex PROGRAM.BAS PROGRAM.XEX

About the loader

The loader works in the following way:

• The loader code is stored at page 6.
• The original BASIC data is stored at $2000 and upwards.
• The loader first enables BASIC and reloads the editor.
• Then a minimal CIO handler for the E: device is installed, that redirects BASIC input to execute the RUN "E:" statement.
• BASIC then opens the redirected CIO handler and reads all the original binary data.
• When BASIC closes the handler, the handler is removed.

As the original BAS is loaded initially at address $2000, BAS files up to $7C00 bytes are supported.